In 2019, the number of lawsuits filed regarding Roundup weed killer, 3M earplugs, and hernia mesh grew significantly. Most of the lawsuits were part of a multi-district litigation (MDL) which transferred similar lawsuits to one judge. According to a November 2019 report on the MDLs, lawsuits involving Roundup and 3M earplugs were among the country’s largest. Hernia mesh was also near the top.
3M Earplugs
In April 2019, the 3M Combat Arms Earplug MDL was established as cases were consolidated in a federal court in the Northern District of Florida. By November of 2019, 3M was facing more than 3,600 lawsuits. The lawsuits allege that the company sold dual-ended earplugs to the U.S. military between 2003-2015. Due to a design defect in the product, the earplugs were ineffective, and service members suffered hearing loss and tinnitus as a result of the defect. It is believed that there are thousands more military service members who may have been affected by the earplug defect. It is likely that 3M will face more lawsuits in 2020.
Roundup Weed Killer
The number of Roundup cases tripled in 2019. At the beginning of 2019, there were 700 cases against Monsanto and Bayer, the company that acquired Monsanto in 2018. The litigation grew to over 2,500 cases in federal court by November 2019. Additional Roundup lawsuits have been filed in state courts. The lawsuits allege that glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, caused users of the product to develop non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The cases allege that Monsanto failed to warn consumers of the potential dangers involved with the use of their product. In March of 2019, a jury awarded a California man $80 million finding that Roundup weed killer contributed to his cancer.
Hernia Mesh
The report from November of 2019 showed that there are currently three MDLs involving hernia mesh. The products involved in the lawsuits include Atrium C-QUR mesh, Ethicon Physiomesh Flexible Composite Mesh, and polypropylene mesh made by Bard Davol. The lawsuits claim that the hernia mesh caused severe complications and injuries after surgery. All products contained a material called polypropylene, which is known to shrink, break, and erode. This can cause organ damage and other complications. The number of lawsuits more than doubled over 2019, with over 7,700 lawsuits as of November 2019.
Contact a Product Liability Attorney
If you’ve been injured by a dangerous product, you should explore your options with the help of an experienced product liability attorney. Gregg Goldfarb has been helping the victims of dangerous products for over 20 years. Contact us online or call us at 305-374-7000 to schedule a free consultation.