The Pilliod v. Monsanto case marked the third courtroom loss for Monsanto that claimed glyphosate caused the plaintiffs to develop cancer. The first case that initiated this snowball effect of lawsuits against Monsanto involved the California school groundskeeper Dewayne Johnson. After years of Roundup exposure, including several incidences where the product accidentally spilled on his body, Johnson was diagnosed with terminal non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He received an initial reward of $289 million, which was later reduced to $78.5 million.
The first federal case, and the second plaintiff win against the agrochemical corporation, was filed by Edwin Hardeman. Hardeman used Roundup for years to maintain his lawn, and claimed that his exposure to the product contributed to his non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma diagnosis. Hardman’s legal team argued that Roundup’s chemical makeup is linked to various cancer developments, where one study showed that all of the chemicals in Roundup together are more toxic to humans than glyphosate alone. A six-person jury ruled in favor of Hardeman, who received an $80 million payout.
