Do I Need a Lawyer to File a Roundup Lawsuit?

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Tamara Armstrong

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Reviewed By Adam Ramirez, J.D.

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Summary

  • You can file a lawsuit without an attorney. However, representing yourself against a billion-dollar corporation with teams of lawyers is unlikely to be successful.
  • Contingency fees mean no financial risks. You only pay your attorney if you win.
  • Victims may achieve bigger payouts with lawyers. Even after paying attorney fees, represented plaintiffs typically recover more compensation than those going solo.

You’ve recently been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after years of using Roundup at work. Do you really need to hire a lawyer, or can you just file the Roundup lawsuit yourself?

The answer is yes, you can represent yourself. But should you?

Going up against a global pharma giant like Bayer without a lawyer is doomed to fail. You’ll be up against teams of corporate lawyers who’ve been fighting Roundup cases for years. Learn why hiring an attorney is crucial for getting what you deserve.

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Filing a Roundup Lawsuit Is Easy, but Winning Is Hard

The real challenge starts after filling out the initial paperwork to file a lawsuit.

You’ll need to gather and present evidence, such as pathology reports, treatment records, and expert medical testimony linking your cancer to Roundup exposure.

Proving that Roundup caused your cancer is complicated and involves scouring scientific studies and finding the right expert witnesses to strengthen your claim. You’ll also need knowledge of how glyphosate affects the human body. And you must follow the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure like a qualified attorney would.

Most Roundup Lawyers Work on Contingency Fees

One good reason to get an attorney into your corner is that Roundup lawyers work on contingency fees. This means the attorney only gets paid if they win your case, and you don’t pay any attorney’s fees upfront. It also means that lawyers won’t waste hours on a case they don’t believe they can win. If an attorney takes a case, they’re betting their time and money that their client wins and recovers compensation.

While every law firm has a different fee structure, standard contingency fees are about 33-40% of whatever you recover. Some firms use sliding scales. For example, an early settlement might cost 25-30%, but if your case goes to trial, you could be looking at 40%.

The average Roundup settlement is around $160,000. With a 33% fee, your lawyer takes $52,800, and you keep $107,200. At 40%, the attorney gets $64,000, and you receive $96,000. While this seems like a large fee, consider that without a lawyer, you might get nothing.

Free Roundup Lawsuit Case Review

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Common Problems in Roundup Lawsuits Without Lawyers

Each state maintains different filing deadlines for claims like Roundup lawsuits. The deadlines are called “statutes of limitations,” and can range from one to six years from diagnosis. If you miss the deadline, your case may be thrown out of court regardless of its strength.

You may also struggle with proving causation, which is the legal requirement to demonstrate that Roundup directly caused your cancer diagnosis. This requires coordinating medical expert testimony, toxicology studies, and exposure documentation, which can be challenging to get without the knowledge and resources of an attorney.

And federal courts don’t cut self-represented litigants any slack. They receive no special considerations and must meet the same standards as licensed attorneys.

Should Roundup Cancer Victims Hire Lawyers?

Bayer has spent billions fighting Roundup cases. They will use every legal trick available to minimize or refuse your payout. Ask yourself whether you have the financial resources, medical and scientific knowledge, and legal expertise to fight your case, and all while battling cancer. Hiring an attorney means less stress and more focus on your health and recovery.

ConsumerShield connects you with experienced Roundup lawsuit lawyers who know how to build strong cases. The consultation costs nothing, and you’ll know quickly whether your claim is worth pursuing.

Free Roundup Lawsuit Case Review

Preparing Case Review Form. ConsumerShield is transforming the way consumers experience law.

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