Man Wins £226 Million In Compensation After Roundup Weedkiller Caused Terminal Cancer

A US jury have supported a groundman's claim that Roundup weedkiller contributed to his terminal cancer and he's been awarded $289,000,000 (£226m) in compensation.

Dewayne Johnson,46, was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in 2014, having used Roundup and Ranger Pro in large quantities while working for a school.

He explained that when using the product in windy conditions it would come into contact with his face, and on one occasion he was left soaked in the weedkiller when a hose broke.

But the manufacturer, Monsanto, insisted that hundreds of studies showed that the herbicide does not cause cancer and said the company would appeal the verdict to 'vigorously defend this product'.

Monsanto vice president Scott Partridge told Press Association: "Roundup has been safe for four decades and will continue to be safe. There is no credible scientific evidence that demonstrates otherwise.

"It is completely and totally safe and the public should not be concerned about this verdict, it is one that we will work through the legal process to see if we can get the right result. The science is crystal clear."

The jury in San Francisco found that the product was a 'substantial factor' in Mr Johnson's illness and that the company should have provided a label warning of the potential health hazard.

They also found that Monsanto officials acted with 'malice and oppression' in their selling of the product despite its risks being known.

Speaking about the outcome in court, Mr Partridge said: "The jury made a decision, but the decision that a jury or a judge makes has to be based on the weight of the evidence and the overwhelming weight of the evidence that went in the trial was that science demonstrates glyphosate is safe, there's no credible evidence to the contrary.

"I understand that we all have sympathy for Mr Johnson, certainly the jury had sympathy for Mr Johnson, but that should not change the manner in which legal decisions are made. They should be made on the weight of the evidence."

On Friday evening, Johnson thanked his legal team, his wife, Araceli, and their two sons.

He said: "'It's taken a lot of prayer, I've taken energy from a lot of people. I'm glad to be here to help. Hopefully this thing will start to get the attention it needs. This case is way bigger than me."