What you’ll discover on this page:
- Have you been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after using Roundup?
- What is the Roundup class action lawsuit?
- How do you get non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma from Roundup?
- Who is at risk for exposure to Roundup?
- What are the symptoms of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma?
- What if you were diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma after December 8, 2023?
- Contact a class action lawyer today
Have You Been Diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma After Using Roundup?
Roundup is an herbicide that has been widely used in Canada for more than 40 years. Manufactured by Monsanto (now a subsidiary of Bayer), Roundup is used to eliminate weeds in residential, commercial, and agricultural settings.
Glyphosate, the primary chemical agent in Roundup, has been found to be a probable carcinogen linked to the development of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a cancer that originates in the body’s lymphocytes (a kind of white blood cell). It can spread rapidly to multiple areas of the body without prompt diagnosis and treatment.
Despite its carcinogenic properties, Monsanto and Bayer continue to assure the public and government agencies that Roundup is safe. A proposed class action lawsuit has been filed by Klein Lawyers on behalf of Canadians who were exposed to Roundup and developed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
What Is the Roundup Class Action Lawsuit?
In 2019, Klein Lawyers was hired to file a class action against the manufacturers of Roundup (Monsanto and Bayer) regarding injuries caused by using Roundup. The claim alleges that the defendants knew or ought to have known that significant exposure to Roundup products cause cancer but they distributed or sold Roundup products anyway. It is alleged that they failed to warn users and the public about the risks of cancer. Instead, it is asserted that the makers of Roundup engaged in a lengthy campaign to dismiss and downplay the health hazards associated with exposure to glyphosate. This campaign misled the public about the safety of Roundup.
Klein Lawyers is working with a group of law firms in different provinces across Canada who represent Canadians who used Roundup. We have joined forces with these firms to move the lawsuits forward in a coordinated manner. The class action is being managed by the Ontario Superior Court and has been certified the case as a class proceeding on behalf of the following class:
All individuals in Canada who (a) had Significant Exposure to Roundup® prior to December 8, 2023, and (b) were diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma after their Significant Exposure but before December 8, 2023.
“Significant Exposure” means application of Roundup on more than two occasions in a 12-month period and more than 10 occasions in a lifetime.
To be a member of the Class, you must meet the following criteria:
(i) Before December 8, 2023, you have applied any herbicide containing glyphosate that was manufactured, marketed, distributed, and/or sold by Monsanto Canada ULC (now Bayer CropScience Inc.), the Monsanto Company, or Bayer Inc., regardless of whether it was marketed with the “Roundup®” branding, on more than two occasions in a 12-month period AND more than 10 occasions in a lifetime; AND
(ii) After the exposure scenario described in (i) above, be diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma before December 8, 2023.
A person who meets the criteria above is a “Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Class Member”. You are also a member of the Class if you are the living spouse, child, grandchild, parent, grandparent, or sibling of a Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Class Member. Family members in the Class are referred to as a “Family Class Member”.
How Do You Get Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma from Roundup?
Exposure to glyphosate may occur via inhalation, ingestion, or through contact with the skin or the body’s mucous membranes. Those who come into contact with glyphosate may experience irritation of the eyes, nose, mouth, and throat.
Significant and long-term exposure to glyphosate is associated with an elevated risk of cancer. In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified glyphosate as a probable human carcinogen.
Based on a comprehensive review of independent studies on the carcinogenic effects of glyphosate on humans and animals, the IARC has found what it calls “strong” evidence that glyphosate is genotoxic (i.e., the chemical can cause genetic mutations that can lead to cancer). Currently, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is the cancer most associated with exposure to glyphosate formulations such as Roundup.
Who Is At Risk for Exposure to Roundup?
Roundup has been used in Canada since 1976. Many different individuals could have been exposed to Roundup over the last 45+ years, with some of those most at risk including:
- Homeowners who used Roundup to kill weeds in their yards and gardens
- Owners and managers of rental properties
- Farmers and agricultural workers
- Gardeners
- Landscapers
- And others
Individuals who apply Roundup for work and on their personal property are at the highest risk for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and other adverse effects. However, Roundup is an airborne spray. Particles can be carried by the wind, exposing those in the vicinity of anywhere it is used.
What Are the Symptoms of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma?
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is one of the most serious illnesses associated with exposure to Roundup. People with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma may experience the following symptoms:
- Swelling of the lymph nodes, particularly in areas such as the sides of the neck, the armpit, and/or the groin
- Persistent fever
- Difficulty breathing
- Pain in the chest or abdomen
- Cough that won’t go away
- Fatigue
- Night sweats
- Significant weight loss (defined by the Canadian Cancer Society as “unexplained weight loss of more than 10% of body weight within the last 6 months”)
- Itchy skin rash
You should see a doctor as soon as possible if you experience any of these symptoms. Roundup exposure is associated with multiple types of B-cell and T-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Some types of lymphoma are slow-growing (classified as “indolent”) while others are aggressive. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are essential for improving the patient’s outlook.
If you or a loved one is diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, it is important to keep all medical records. You also need to document any and all medical expenses and other losses (time off work, out-of-pocket expenses, pain and suffering, etc.).
What if You Were Diagnosed With Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma After December 8, 2023?
A second lawsuit, Johnston v. Monsanto et al., (“Johnston Action”) was commenced in Ontario to capture the claims of individuals who were excluded from the Class Action only because they received a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma after December 8, 2023. The proposed class definition in the Johnston action is as follows:
(i) all individuals in Canada who (a) had Significant Exposure to Roundup prior to December 8, 2023, and (b) were diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after their Significant Exposure on or after December 8, 2023 (“Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Class Member”); and,
(ii) all individuals in Canada who are the living spouse, child, grandchild, parent, grandparent, or sibling of a Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Class Member.
The Johnson lawsuit has not been certified as a proposed class proceeding. Please contact us if you have any questions.
Contact a Class Action Lawyer Today
Provinces and municipalities in Canada have begun restricting the use of Roundup. Here in Vancouver, for example, the use of Roundup for aesthetic treatment of lawns and gardens is prohibited.
Unfortunately, for many in Canada the damage is already done. The Monsanto Roundup class action lawsuit filed by Klein Lawyers is an effort to pursue justice and fair compensation for those who have been harmed by this hazardous herbicide.
Roundup class action litigation is in its early stages. Klein Lawyers will update this page regularly as developments arise.
If you or a loved one used Roundup and have been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, call Klein Lawyers at (604) 874-7171 today for a free case review. Or you can complete our “Do You Qualify Form” and a member of our team will contact you to obtain more information to assess your eligibility to participate in this proposed class action.
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“The negotiations were conducted by plaintiffs’ counsel with experience in class proceedings.”
“I am satisfied it is apparent from the material, which is complicated, and, I might say very well organized...”
“Plaintiff’s counsel are senior members of the bar who have extensive experience in personal injury litigation and class actions..”
“Mr. Klein is experienced and able in relation to class proceedings. Over time he has acquired expertise that permits him to make a valuable contribution...”
“The lead class counsel is experienced and has been recognized by the courts in approving settlements in other class actions.”
“Counsel for the plaintiffs in the various jurisdictions appear to be experienced in class proceedings, and to be recognized as skilled litigators.”
“…Plaintiff’s counsel retained the British Columbia law firm of Klein Lawyers to assist in the litigation. That firm has extensive experience...”
“Klein Lawyers is a litigation firm focusing on class actions. The firm is based in Vancouver but also has a Toronto office.”
“The proposed Class Counsel have excellent qualifications…”
“Mr. Klein of Klein Lawyers has over 20 years of experience in the field of class action litigation and has appeared as plaintiffs’ counsel in over 25 certified class actions...”
“Class counsel, Klein Lawyers LLP and Kim Orr Barristers P.C., are highly experienced in class action litigation. Both firms have practiced in the specialized area of class action litigation for over 20 years”
“British Columbia class counsel took on this case on a contingency basis, and faced a real risk of not being paid at all for their services.”
“Class counsel pursued this litigation to completion on their own rather than with a consortium of counsel from various provinces.”
“Klein Lawyers has continuously posted updates about the case on its website during the litigation, and has posted the court decisions...”
“There is little doubt that the lawyers of the firm expended a great deal of time in prosecuting the action, in negotiating a settlement...”
“…Class counsel undertook an extensive communication plan to advise potential class members of the proposed settlement and to advise them of the...”
