A Pennsylvania man has been awarded $78 million in damages after he sued for developing cancer from using the herbicide Roundup.
William Melisen, 51, said he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, a type of blood cancer and leukemia, in 2020, which he blamed on exposure to chemicals in herbicides. philadelphia inquirer.
This is the latest in a series of lawsuits against the company, which have already resulted in nearly $11 billion in settlements, with thousands more pending.
Melisen claims he used the product frequently for approximately 30 years, from 1992 to 2020. He is working with agricultural giant Monsanto, which manufactures Roundup, It will acquire German parent company Bayer in 2021.
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William Melisen, 51, sued and won $78 million in damages, alleging that he developed cancer from using the herbicide Roundup. (Getty Images)
A Philadelphia jury ruled Thursday that the man's cancer was caused by glyphosate, the main ingredient in Roundup. The jury awarded him $3 million in compensatory damages and $75 million in punitive damages.
Monsanto said in a statement that it disagreed with the jury's verdict and said claims that Roundup causes cancer are not supported by evidence. The company also said the trial error gave it strong grounds for appeal.
The alleged error comes after three judges on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit ruled in August that Pennsylvania law cannot mandate pesticide warning labels that are broader than those approved by the Environmental Protection Agency. , including that the case was not dismissed.
William Melisen said he was diagnosed with a blood cancer called non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2020. (Getty Images)
During the trial, Monsanto's attorney Bert Williams presented the jury with transcripts of testimony from Melissen and his doctor, stating that Monsanto's cancer was in remission and that he was undergoing five days of chemotherapy. Showed.
Melisen's lawsuit is one of thousands across the country in which people with cancer accuse Monsanto of failing to include adequate warnings on its herbicide products.
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A jury in Philadelphia ruled that the man's cancer was caused by glyphosate, the main ingredient in Roundup. (Paul Hennessy/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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Monsanto settled approximately 100,000 Roundup lawsuits, paying approximately $11 billion. Monsanto estimates there are still 54,000 outstanding Roundup lawsuits.
“This is yet another jury recognizing 50 years of Monsanto's outrageous conduct,” Melisen's attorney, Tom Klein, told the Philadelphia Inquirer after Thursday's verdict. .
