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Roundup Lawsuits linked to Cancer


Roundup is one of America’s most popular weed killers. However, an important jury decision in August 2018 raised fears Monsanto’s herbicide is linked to thousands of cases of cancer. Roundup lawsuits linked to cancer have been filed across the nation.

Monsanto was hit by a $289 million verdict in the first trial over claims that Roundup weed killer causes cancer. Monsanto appealed the decision of a jury in San Francisco.

The case was brought by Dewayne Johnson, a former school groundskeeper. The trial was expedited because doctors didn’t think he’d live long enough to learn the verdict if the trial took its scheduled course.

The trial was an important bellwether case and a test of the strength of the evidence against Monsanto. It will serve as a template for litigating thousands of other claims over the herbicide.

Johnson sought $412 million in damages. Jurors awarded him $39 million for his losses and $250 million in punitive damages to punish Monsanto for a defective product and failing to warn of Roundup’s risks. In October 2018, Judge Suzanne Bolanos slashed the original award to $78 million. Monsanto sought a new trial or judgment in its favor.

Johnson, 46, sprayed Roundup and another similar herbicide product in his job as a pest control manager at a San Francisco Bay area school district. He was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2014 at the age of 42. His doctor said he had less than three years to live at the time of the trial. Roundup is a popular product that has been used for decades. However, the number of Roundup lawsuits linked to cancer is growing.

What is Roundup?

Roundup weed killer was developed in 1970. It is the most popular herbicide in the world. Health concerns about the product relate to the presence of glyphosate in Roundup.

Glyphosate is found in products in homes and garages across America. It’s the second most widely used lawn and garden weed killer in the country. Roundup products have been promoted as user-friendly and effective on poison ivy, kudzu and other weeds.

The main use of Roundup is in agriculture. Nearly every acre of corn, soy, and cotton grown in the United States is treated with glyphosate, according to many reports.

Seeds were genetically engineered to tolerate the chemical, reported National Geographic. The genetically modified seeds produce plants that are resistant to glyphosate. This means farmers can apply the weed killer to entire fields without worrying about destroying crops.

Agencies Warn of a Possible Link Between Roundup and Cancer

In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) published research suggesting glyphosate is “probably carcinogenic to humans,” meaning it likely causes cancer. Monsanto denies claims that Roundup causes cancer.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency determined that the science does not provide evidence that glyphosate causes cancer. The EPA promised to analyze new findings by IARC that glyphosate probably raises the risk of cancer in people exposed to the product.

Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Fuels Roundup Lawsuits 

The cancer most commonly linked to Roundup is non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Lymphoma is a blood cancer. Hodgkin’s lymphoma develops in the blood and bone marrow. It is one of the more treatable forms of cancer.

Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) is more likely to affect the body’s lymph nodes and tissues. Different forms of the cancer grow at different speeds. Some strains develop rapidly.  Not only is non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma sometimes more difficult to cure, but it’s also the type of cancer most closely linked to Roundup.

Studies completed around the world all point to a connection between glyphosate in Roundup and lymphoma.

Canadian research suggested the more people who were exposed to glyphosate, the greater the risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma, the Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers reported in 2001.

How many Roundup lawsuits are there?

Cases brought by more than 400 farmers, landscapers, and consumers who claim Roundup caused them to develop non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma have been consolidated in California.

However, as many as 5,000 cases are pending in courts across the United States.

Why Weed Killers, Herbicides and Pesticides May be Harmful to Humans

Roundup is the most high profile weed killer to be the subject of lawsuits. However, other herbicide and pesticide products are also under scrutiny.

Studies point to a link between chlorpyrifos, a chemical commonly used in pesticides and a wide range of disorders in children including ADHD, autism, lower intelligence, and tremors associated with Parkinson’s Disease. Many of these disorders are lifelong conditions.

Chlorpyrifos was patented by Dow Chemical more than five decades years ago. This multi-purpose insecticide is used for everything from treating household pets with fleas to protecting crops from mites. Trade names include Lock-On, Lorsban, Cobalt, and Dursban.

Contact a Virginia Roundup Lawyer

The Smith Law Center has represented clients who suffered cancer and other illness linked to exposure to chemicals. If you or a family member has fallen ill after using Roundup, please contact our Virginia roundup injury legal team at (757) 244-7000.

 

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If you or a relative had a severe reaction to military housing mold, it might be time to talk with a toxic mold lawyer. Mold is everywhere, and can be dangerous. Researchers have linked mold to serious respiratory illnesses in some individuals.

Smith Law Center may be able to help if a property owner failed to keep you safe from mold in your military housing. We are one of Virginia’s oldest and most successful firms. We know how to hold negligent property owners responsible, especially when the military is involved.

Call us at (757) 244-700 or contact us online to set up a free consultation. There’s no fee for learning more about Virginia mold laws, your rights, and your legal options.

Mold in Military Housing

Black mold in military housing became widely known when Reuters published an investigation in 2018. Since then, the Department of Defense and the housing providers were supposed to take steps to improve the situation.

Unfortunately, a 2020 audit by the DoD Office of Inspector General found many issues, including the need for mold remediation, still persist.

Monetary Awards in Military Housing Toxic Mold Cases

If the property owner lets toxic mold run wild and continue to cause you harm, talk with our toxic mold attorneys about filing a lawsuit.

You may receive financial compensation for:

Service members and their families do not receive different types of damages than civilians. These are civil lawsuits in traditional courts of law.

Military Housing Mold Toxicity Symptoms

The Institute of Medicine discovered there was evidence connecting exposure to indoor mold with:

  • Upper respiratory tract symptoms;
  • Coughing;
  • Wheezing;
  • Asthma symptoms in individuals with asthma; and
  • Hypersensitivity pneumonitis in individuals with weak immune systems.

There is also limited evidence that mold causes respiratory illnesses in healthy children or causes people to develop asthma.

Understanding Exposure to Toxic Mold in Military Housing

The topic of toxic mold is complicated. This Is in part because the term “toxic mold” isn’t accurate. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) explains mold isn’t toxic or poisonous. However, some molds are toxigenic, which means they produce toxins called mycotoxins.

Mold is common in military housing because it’ll grow anywhere there’s moisture. That includes on and inside walls, carpet, upholstery, wallpaper, and heating and air conditioning systems. This is especially pronounced in humid conditions such as those present in Virginia.

Some people have no difficulties around mold, even large infestations in their homes. Other individuals are sensitive to molds, including those that produce mycotoxins. Someone can have a severe reaction when exposed to a large amount of mold indoors.

People may be more likely to experience mold toxicity symptoms if they have:

  • Allergies,
  • An underlying lung disease,
  • Immune suppression,
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder,
  • Asthma, or
  • Another chronic respiratory disease.

Common Types of Military Housing Mold

When you’re trying to learn more from the CDC and other resources, you’ll see the word “fungus” a lot. Mold is a type of fungus, which is something that exists all around us. Fungi are living organisms different from animals, plants, and bacteria. There are over 200,000 types of fungi and over 100,000 types of molds.

If you discovered mold in your military housing, it could be Cladosporium, Penicillium, Stachybotrys chartarum, Aspergillus, or many other types. Stachybotrys is what everyone knows as black mold. Aspergillus is a common indoor fungus, which releases mycotoxins and can cause illness. Your symptoms may resemble common allergy or asthma symptoms.

Who is Liable for Military Housing Mold?

Since 1996, most military housing has come under the management of private companies:

  • Belfour Beatty Communities: Fort Eustis and Fort Story/li>
  • Lincoln Military Housing: Dahlgren, Little Creek, Naval Station Norfolk, Northwest Annex, Oceana, Portsmouth, Quantico, and Yorktown/li>
  • Hunt Military Communities: Fort Lee and Langley AFB

Outside of Virginia, Lendlease and Corvias Military Living are two more housing providers. Together, these five companies formed the Military Housing Association.

Military families living in on-base housing must take their complaints to their private management company — not the military. The company is responsible for providing habitable conditions and making repairs, including mold remediation.

If you’re unsure about your rights, review your state law and local ordinances about mold. In general, it’s the landlord’s responsibility to provide a habitable unit, which means it has to be safe to live in. A unit isn’t safe if it’s causing a tenant health issues due to mold.

The Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act requires landlords to disclose if there’s mold in the written report of the move-in inspection. If a tenant discovers visible mold in the unit, then the Act requires the landlord to remove the mold and relocate the tenant until it’s gone at no additional cost to the tenant.

Unfortunately, many families find their housing providers aren’t receptive to complaints. Attorney Stephen M. Smith has handled many mold lawsuits against military housing providers who fail to abide by their lease terms and the law when it comes to mold remediation and other hazards.

Other Hazards in Military Housing

Many service members and their families deal with uncomfortable, if not hazardous, conditions in privatized military housing, including:

Lead Paint: Lead-based paint can cause headaches, nausea, fatigue, irritability, behavioral problems, learning disabilities, seizures, organ damage, and in extreme cases, death.

Asbestos: Exposure to asbestos harms a person’s lungs, and can lead to lung fibrosis (scarring), lung cancer, and mesothelioma.

Radon: Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking. It naturally forms underground, however cracks and gaps in buildings lead to over-exposure indoors.

Poor Water Quality: Dozens of military sites have water with detectable levels of harmful chemicals.

Other issues involve rodent or insect infestations, pesticides, and faulty electrical wiring.

What Happens When a Lot of People Get Sick?

Sometimes mold exposure impacts a single individual or family. However, when the mold spreads throughout military housing, it can impact hundreds or thousands of people.

Occasionally, a large enough group of people are injured to allow for a class action or mass tort lawsuit. A class action lawsuit is one where a class representative acts as the plaintiff on behalf of the group of hurt individuals. Not every victim participates in the lawsuit. There are rules about when a group is big and similar enough to create a class action.

Mass tort lawsuits are different. When there are fewer plaintiffs who have their own set of circumstances, each person files a lawsuit. For efficiency’s sake, one or a couple of law firms may represent most plaintiffs, and the lawsuits are consolidated in a federal court.

Call the Military Housing Mold Lawyers at Smith Law Center for Help Right Away

Mold cases come about in a few ways. You or a loved one may start getting sick, and after weeks or months of struggling to find answers, you finally realize your military housing has a mold infestation. In other cases, you struggle with visible mold and then become ill.

Once you connect the illness with the mold, it’s time to talk with a toxic mold lawyer. Reaching out to an attorney early helps you build a strong compensation claim. We know how to collect evidence, identify who is liable, and craft a successful argument for a settlement or court award.

Attorney Stephen M. Smith has decades of experience handling injury claims and has been internationally recognized for his work. He has litigated cases involving catastrophic injuries and complex legal and scientific issues. In 2019, he was inducted into the Virginia Lawyers Hall of Fame.

You’re in good hands when you come to Smith Law Center for help. Reach out online or call (757) 244-7000 to schedule your 100% free consultation.

Military Housing Mold Lawsuits: FAQs

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Use the simple form below to send a message directly to our lawyers. We will respond within 1 hour or less during business hours.
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