New Evidence Shows Glyphosate is Not the Only Carcinogen in the Weed Killer
ST. LOUIS, MO. (Oct. 20, 2023) A Soulard man who suffered non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after using Bayer-Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide has been awarded $1.25 million in a landmark ruling by a City of St. Louis jury in Missouri 22nd Judicial Circuit Court, John Durnell v. Monsanto Co., et al., case number 1922-CC00221.
The 12 jurors unanimously found Bayer-Monsanto liable for Durnell’s cancer, granting him damages. However, only nine jurors signed the verdict form, as the three holdouts thought the damage award was insufficient.
The trial resulted in the first verdict against Bayer-Monsanto outside of California and the first loss for the chemical giant in its St. Louis hometown. The verdict spells bad news for Bayer-Monsanto due to damning new evidence showing that glyphosate is not the only carcinogenic chemical in Roundup.
Durnell began using the weed killer in 1996 while maintaining his neighborhood grounds for the Soulard Restoration Group. He was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma several years later after discovering a painful knot.
“New evidence that Monsanto’s herbicide cocktail contains additional carcinogens does not bode well for Monsanto’s decades-long claim that Roundup is safe,” said OnderLaw attorney Wylie Blair. “Those carcinogenic chemicals include 1,4 Dioxide, NNG, arsenic, and formaldehyde. These chemicals alone, independent of glyphosate, can cause cancer, effectively rendering moot Monsanto’s position that glyphosate does not cause cancer.”
John Durnell was represented by Wylie Blair, Greg Pals, and Scott Sifton from St. Louis-based OnderLaw; Roe Frazer, Trey Frazer, and Grant LaBar from Nashville-based Frazer Law Firm; and Isaac Conner from Manson, Johnson, Conner PLLC of Nashville.
Bayer-Monsanto was represented by Shayna Cook of Chicago’s Goldman Ismail Tomaselli Brennan & Baum, and Mike Brown of Baltimore-based Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough.
James G. Onder, founder and managing partner of OnderLaw, expressed his respect for the court’s decision, stating, “While Monsanto claimed to have many consecutive defense verdicts, such was really nothing more than a hoax to mislead shareholders, for it settled far more than were ever tried.”
“We are proud that John Durnell had the courage to stand up to Monsanto, that the truth might be brought to light,” added Onder.
OnderLaw’s successful representation in this case further solidifies the firm’s reputation as a leader in legal advocacy. The commitment to championing the rights of individuals and communities remains at the core of their mission, and they will continue to provide relentless support to those in need.
For more information about OnderLaw and their legal services, please visit www.onderlaw.com.
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