Agricultural Workers Diagnosed with Cancer Sue Monsanto
As numerous other lawsuits are pending
Latest News
Monsanto is being sued again, this time by 2 separate agricultural workers who allege the agribusiness’ Roundup herbicide caused their cancers.
The farm worker and horticultural assistant also say Monsanto intentionally misled the public and regulators about the dangers of Roundup. [1]
Enrique Rubio, 58, filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Los Angeles on September 22. Rubio, a former farm worker in California, Texas, and Oregon, dutifully sprayed fields of cucumbers, onions, and other vegetable crops with Roundup and other pesticides until 1995, when he was diagnosed with bone cancer, according to the lawsuit.
The second suit was filed by Judi Fitzgerald, 64, also on September 22, in federal court in New York. The suit alleges that Fitzgerald was exposed to Roundup in the 1990’s when she was working at a horticultural products company. She was diagnosed with leukemia about 3 years ago. [2]
Fitzgerald’s lawsuit states:
“Monsanto assured the public that Roundup was harmless. In order to prove this, Monsanto championed falsified data and attacked legitimate studies that revealed its dangers. Monsanto led a prolonged campaign of misinformation to convince government agencies, farmers and the general population that Roundup was safe.”
Both lawsuits claim that Roundup was a “defective” product and “unreasonably dangerous” to consumers, and that Monsanto knew or should have known that glyphosate – the main chemical in Roundup – could cause cancer and other illnesses and injuries, and failed to properly warn users of the risks.
Additionally, the lawsuits allege that the Environmental Protection Agency altered an initial classification for glyphosate from “possibly carcinogenic to humans” to “evidence of non-carcinogenicity in humans” after Monsanto pressured them to do so. Though the EPA likely knew glyphosate was carcinogenic for some time as well.
Six months ago, the World Health Organization, citing several studies showing links between cancer and glyphosate, said that glyphosate is “probably carcinogenic to humans.” Monsanto says the findings are incorrect.
“Decades of experience within agriculture and regulatory reviews using the most extensive worldwide human health databases ever compiled on an agricultural product contradict the claims in the suit which will be vigorously defended,” spokeswoman Charla Lord told Reuters.
In early September, California’s Environmental Protection Agency announced that it planned to add glyphosate to a list of known carcinogens. Roundup may even be required to carry a cancer-label in CA soon.
Additionally, a 2012 ruling against Monsanto was upheld by an appeals court in Lyon, France. The company had been found guilty of poisoning farmer Paul Francois. Monsanto says it will appeal the decision.
There are numerous other pending lawsuits against Monsanto.
Additional Sources:
[1] Reuters
[2] NYC Today
Featured image credit: REUTERS/CHARLES PLATIAU
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| Julie Fidler is a freelance writer, legal blogger, and the author of Adventures in Holy Matrimony: For Better or the Absolute Worst. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two ridiculously spoiled cats. She occasionally pontificates on her blog. |
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I for one will insist Wal-Mart stores stop selling Monsanto products. The big box storeswill surly send a message to Monsanto because Wal-Mart doesn’t want any part of a product that is harmfull to it’s customers thus a massive law suit.
Home Depot carries it too and when I tried to talk to the gardening gentleman about Round Up I think he thought I was crazy and dismissed my comments. They are also selling insecticide sprayers with the Round Up name on them.
Like all of the other lawsuits these will fail as well
Yes, Monsanto will drag it out as long as possible by taking advantage of the justice system.
They will throw millions into the case, till their opposition runs out of money having to concede due to lack of funds.
That is one of the ways we get justice.
Good point.
Or they could simply fail because they have no merit.
So true, but usually it is because Monsanto has deeper pockets.
Why didn’t they sue the farmers (employers) Mr Outhouse lawyer?
LO! Thanks for showing everyone you know little about business law. Both businesses and employees are protected by workman comp laws.
Again, I just asked a question.
Maybe there are also OSHA considerations here, not just workman’s comp laws.
Doesn’t possible EPA laws have the potential to have related effect in regards to employee and employer relations.
Isn’t there a bigger picture here?
Employers are regulated and overall responsible for providing a safe work environment as well as safety training for their employee’s.
The judicial system is basically, who is the better legal researcher. After that it’s just the dog and pony show.
Workman’s comp, lmao.
God your an idiot. The EPA, OSHA and a whole string of other letters can fine a company, even close it, however, an employee cannot sue an employer directly for an injury. Your lack of knowledge is never ending. You claim to have been in management, lol. You don’t even know the basics, I guess that is why you “used” to be.
Thanks for answering my question.
So your answer is,
I’m an idiot for asking questions.
Considering and asking questions about other regulatory agencies is further proof of stupidity.
Thanks for being so specific in your response.
Many states exclude from workers’ compensation coverage certain groups of employees, such as farm laborers, domestic workers, railway workers, corporate officers, partners, casual workers and employees of businesses with fewer than a statutorily defined minimum number of employees, thus leaving those employees free to pursue negligence claims for workplace injuries.
Always consult an Attorney in regards to any legal matters,
Yes workman comp companies love for employees to be stupid enough to get lawyers involved. They really are able to make it rough on the employee then.
All legal matters involve attorneys?
Again, in most states farm workers aren’t covered by workmans comp.
You can’t read?
Over 2/3 of the states require it, again you are wrong. Why doesn’t that surprise anyone.
Yes, by today’s insurance regulations.
That was the closest I could come to the workman’s comp laws for 1990-1995.
I have worked on farms when I was younger and was always paid in cash.
Besides your the one who brought up workman’s comp and used today’s laws as your arguing point.
All I asked was why didn’t they sue the farmer.
Because they can’t if they are covered by work and comp. now that we have come full circle and found out how stupid you really are do we need to review?
Labeling information?
DUH, THOSE ARE REGULATORY AGENCIES, DUH.
I have interacted with them many times.
You would be lucky to spell them.
Get ’em!!
I think greedy lawyers are starting to see a cash cow with monsatan! The “Hog Pile” is starting.
See? Lawyers can be good for something. 😐