August 20, 2025
A Pennsylvania appellate court has upheld a $3.5 million verdict against Monsanto in a Roundup weed killer lawsuit, ruling that the plaintiff presented sufficient evidence to support her claims.
In its June 25 opinion, the Pennsylvania Superior Court rejected Monsanto’s arguments challenging a December 2023 jury verdict in a case brought by Kelly J. Martel, who developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma after years of using Roundup to control weeds. Martel testified that she first used Roundup in 1998 and continued to apply it several times each year for many years. Martel was represented by Roundup lawyers from Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel, a Dallas-based law firm that focuses on representing individuals harmed by exposure to toxic chemicals—including Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide.
Roundup Lawsuit Trial Exposes Dangers of Glyphosate
Over three weeks of the Monsanto lawsuit trial in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, jurors learned about the mixture of harmful substances found in Roundup—including glyphosate, arsenic, and formaldehyde. In 2015, the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer concluded that glyphosate is “probably carcinogenic to humans.” According to the National Cancer Institute, formaldehyde is known to cause myeloid leukemia and several rare cancers of the nasal passages and nasopharynx, while arsenic is also widely recognized as a carcinogen.
The 2023 verdict is one of several multimillion-dollar jury awards against Monsanto for cancers linked to Roundup. In Martel’s case, jurors awarded $500,000 in compensatory damages and another $3 million in punitive damages—an outcome Monsanto challenged on appeal.
Roundup Lawsuit Juries: Time for Monsanto to Take Responsibility
“Monsanto has spent decades concealing the dangers of glyphosate and attacking independent scientists who discovered its hazards,” said attorney Suzi Chester-Schindler, a partner at Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel, who represented Ms. Martel in the Roundup litigation. “This appellate ruling is an important step toward justice for Ms. Martel—and it’s time for Monsanto to take responsibility for its failure to warn Americans about the dangers of glyphosate.”
Monsanto now faces tens of thousands of Roundup lawsuits across the United States.
What Is Glyphosate?
Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Monsanto’s Roundup herbicide and is widely used to kill weeds in gardens, farms, and public spaces. Concerns over the link between glyphosate and cancer have grown in recent years, especially following the World Health Organization’s findings in 2015.
What Is Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma?
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a group of blood cancers that begin in the lymphatic system, which includes lymph nodes and lymphatic tissue found in organs. Symptoms can include swollen lymph nodes, unexplained weight loss, and persistent fatigue. It is one of the cancers linked to glyphosate exposure.
The case is Martel Kelly J. v. Monsanto et al. in the Court of Common Pleas of Philadelphia. In addition to Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel, Ms. Martel was represented by Allen Stewart, P.C., Scott Frieling and Williams, Hart, & Boundas.
How We Help Roundup Cancer Victims
If you’ve been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after repeated exposure to Roundup weedkiller, you may be entitled to compensation. Our national law firm has spent decades taking on Monsanto and other chemical companies, holding them accountable for dangerous products that harm consumers. Contact our experienced Roundup attorneys to find out if you have a case.
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