On October 10th, 2024, a Philadelphia jury ruled that exposure to glyphosate in Roundup weed killer caused a Pennsylvania man to develop cancer. Bayer was ordered to pay the plaintiff, William Melissen, a $78 million settlement. Melissen will receive $3 million in compensatory damages and $75 million in punitive damages.
When Melissen, 51, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) in 2020, he linked the cancer to heavy Roundup use over three decades at work and home. The following year, he brought a lawsuit against Bayer, which acquired the popular weedkiller when it purchased Monsanto in 2018. Melissen’s lawsuit states the company failed to provide adequate warnings about glyphosate on Roundup’s labels, leading him to feel comfortable frequently using the product from 1992 to 2020—which, he alleges, ultimately caused his cancer.
Melissen’s win marks a victory for claimants after Bayer recently won 14 out of 20 Roundup-related trials. The jury awarded $3 million in compensatory damages to help reimburse Melissen for his loss and suffering. The $75 million Melissen will receive in punitive damages, however, were intended to punish Monsanto and Bayer for what the jury viewed as particularly egregious conduct. This outcome is a ray of hope for those eager to see these powerful companies held accountable for their actions.
Bayer disputes the verdict in the Melissen case, maintaining its stance that scientific evidence shows no link between glyphosate and cancer. Scientific views on the correlation are mixed, with agencies like the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classifying glyphosate as a probable carcinogen and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) denying any risk to human health. Bayer announced plans to appeal the settlement decision, citing U.S. Supreme Court guidelines on the acceptable ratio of punitive to compensatory damages and a recent ruling in Monsanto’s favor about pesticide warning labels.
William Melissen’s lawsuit isn’t the only Roundup-related litigation Bayer and Monsanto have found themselves up against. Public concern about glyphosate began around 1996, and since then, thousands of lawsuits have been filed against the companies by those alleging Roundup caused their cancer. Juries have ruled in plaintiffs’ favor in a number of these cases. Billions of dollars in settlements have been awarded to claimants throughout the years, including $2.25 billion (later reduced to $400 million) to another man with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in early 2024. Around 58,000 Roundup lawsuits are still pending.
Though the company stands staunchly behind the safety of its glyphosate products, Melissen’s lawsuit and other Roundup cases motivated Bayer to remove glyphosate from the lawn and garden version of the product in the United States in 2023. While this may seem like a step in the right direction, studies show some alarming information that has raised red flags for environmental agencies and consumers: The chemicals used in the new formulations may be even more harmful than glyphosate. Bayer continues to deny its glyphosate products pose any risk to consumers, claiming the formulation changes are “exclusively to manage litigation risk and not because of any safety concerns.” Versions of Roundup for agricultural or professional use and international Roundup products will still contain glyphosate.
The Road Ahead for Those Impacted by Roundup
William Melissen’s win is a landmark success in the ongoing battle over the dangers of Roundup. Though Bayer continues to double down on its stance on Roundup’s safety, the company is feeling the pressure of the mounting lawsuits and has removed glyphosate from consumer Roundup formulations. However, health concerns remain about the new chemicals used in the product. Verdicts like Melissen’s $78 million settlement serve as powerful reminders that big corporations are increasingly being held legally accountable for their harmful conduct. Litigation is ongoing, with Bayer currently facing thousands of pending cases, providing hope to Roundup victims and those eager to see corporate giants face justice.
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