Legal actions against Monsanto by those who have contracted cancer or by the family members of those killed by this disease could take a new turn. From the United States, comes a historic decision by a "hero" federal judge, which has effectively paved the way for hundreds of lawsuits against glyphosate. Strong as the truth, like the one that was revealed in the 90s by the legendary Erin Brockovich!
He is about to end up run over, his mother saves him
Legal actions against Monsanto by those who have contracted cancer or by the family members of those killed by this disease could take a new turn. From the United States, comes one historic decision by a "hero" federal judge, which in fact paved the way for hundreds of lawsuits against glyphosate. Strong as the truth, like the one that was revealed in the 90s by the legendary Erin Brockovich!
According to the judge, in fact, there would be sufficient evidence for the jury to consider cases that accuse glyphosate of having favored the appearance of cancer.
The decision by US District Judge Vince Chhabria, in San Francisco, comes after years and years of litigation and weeks of hearings over controversial information regarding glyphosate, the key ingredient in the herbicide sold by Monsanto.
The process in question is that of DeWayne Johnson (nicknamed Lee) against Monsanto. His lawyer Wisner has accused the American giant of denying the risks of glyphosate:
"Monsanto has gone to great lengths to bully ... and to fight independent researchers," said attorney Brent Wisner, who presented internal Monsanto emails showing how the agrochemical company rejected critical research and warnings from experts over the years. "They fought science."
In March, Monsanto told Judge Chhabria that none of the plaintiffs' experts met the scientific or legal eligibility requirements and urged the judge to dismiss the cases. In his opening remarks, Monsanto attorney George Lombardi said the research body over the years was on the side of the company:
"The scientific evidence is overwhelming, glyphosate products do not cause cancer and do not cause cancer by Mr. Johnson," he replied.
But herein lies the novelty. For the first time, Judge Vince Chhabria allowed Johnson's attorneys to present scientific topics. The de facto judge removed a major obstacle by ruling that cancer victims and their families will be able to give their testimony to link the herbicide to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
For Judge Chhabria, a reasonable jury could analyze the matter based on the results of four experts, according to which glyphosate can cause cancer in humans. Plaintiffs will then have to prove that Roundup caused cancer in specific people whose cases will be screened, a stage Chhabria called a "daunting challenge."
Last September, the US Environmental Protection Agency concluded that glyphosate is not carcinogenic to humans. But the World Health Organization in 2015 he ranked it i come “probably carcinogenic to humans".
Over 400 lawsuits from farmers, landscapers and consumers accuse Roundup of causing them non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
Monsanto, for its part, has always denied the allegations and in a statement said it will continue to defend the lawsuits with evidence showing that "there is absolutely no connection between glyphosate and cancer". The company said its position is supported by more than 800 scientific studies and reviews.
Aimee Wagstaff, one of the attorneys representing the people who sued the company, he said Wagstaff to be satisfied with the judge's decision to give space to their cases in court:
"It is time to hold Monsanto accountable for putting this dangerous product on the market."
We await the sentence.
READ also:
- The trial of the terminally ill patient against Monsanto accused of having covered the cancer risk of glyphosate begins
- Glyphosate and cancer: farmer heroes suing Monsanto
- Glyphosate pesticides kill human cells, the study shocks
Francesca Mancuso
