Monsanto Opposes Cancer Victim’s Quick Trial Request

Monsanto Opposes Cancer Victim’s Quick Trial Request

Introduction

On November 16, attorneys representing a plaintiff in a lawsuit filed against Monsanto company requested U.S District Judge Vince Chhabria for an expedited trial as the plaintiff has less than six months to live as per his oncologist. On Friday, November 30, Monsanto told the California federal judge the dying man should not be granted a fast-track trial. The lawsuit filed on behalf of the 66-year-old California resident stated he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) due to exposure to glyphosate-containing weed killer Roundup.

The second bellwether trial case selected is the lawsuit filed by a plaintiff, which is scheduled to go for trial on February 25, 2019. A California couple allegedly affected by Roundup's adverse effects was granted an expedited trial by Superior Court Judge Ioana Petrou in Oakland last month; the case will head to trial on March 18, 2019, in California.

Several individuals affected by Roundup herbicides have sued the agricultural company in California, Missouri, and Delaware state courts. Multidistrict litigation has been formed in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, overlooked by Judge Vince Chhabria.

Monsanto has a brief history of legal troubles and Glyphosate is just another herbicide of the company to attract lawsuits. Plaintiffs across the U.S. have filed numerous lawsuits. IARC, considered to be the apex in the field of cancer research, classified glyphosate as a “probable human carcinogen.” According to IARC, Roundup is made up of other ingredients that are toxic in themselves, and are also known to increase the toxicity of glyphosate. Monsanto has known this for many years but still refuses to study the link between cancer and Roundup.