In the mid-1980s, a young couple purchased their first home, a foreclosure property with an overgrown yard. Without the means to excavate and replant, one of the homeowners relied on a commonly used herbicide for years to clear and maintain the property, believing it to be safe.

In 1999, the homeowner was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma at the age of 43 and endured nearly a decade of chemotherapy. By 2007, the condition had worsened, leading to temporary paralysis and dependence on a ventilator and feeding tube for over five months. After extensive rehabilitation, mobility was regained, and the homeowner remained in remission.

Despite conflicting medical research on the risks associated with prolonged exposure to certain household chemicals, proving a direct connection in court has been legally complex. However, our team was never discouraged by it and in the end, this case resulted in a $5 million settlement—one of the largest ever for residential exposure to toxic products.