Monsanto Opposes Victim’s Wishes in Cancer Trial

In a lawsuit filed against Monsanto company, attorneys representing plaintiff Richard Giglio requested an expedited trial due to Giglio’s short time left to live. Giglio, a California resident, was fatally diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The diagnosis is attributed to exposure to toxic chemicals in the weed killer called, Roundup. On November 30, Monsanto’s legal team expressed their opinion that the case should not be expedited despite Richard Giglio’s deteriorating condition.

Several individuals in multiple states are currently involved in legal action against Monsanto because of the toxic chemicals in Roundup herbicide, which plaintiffs allege cause fatal cancer diagnoses. Earlier this month, a California Superior Court judge affirmed that Monsanto was responsible for plaintiff Dewayne Johnson’s terminal non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Due to the terminal condition of the plaintiff, the trial was approved for a fast-tracked pace by the presiding judge.

Currently, the next toxic torts case is scheduled for trial on February 25, 2019 in federal court in California. A California couple allegedly impacted by Roundup’s negative effects was granted an expedited trial in Oakland last month, with a scheduled trial data on March 18, 2019. There are pending suits from individuals in California, Missouri, and Delaware, which will be heard in California District Court as part of a multidistrict litigation effort.

The defendants are alleged to have negligently included glyphosate, a suspected carcinogen, in the mass production of chemical weed killer Roundup. Monsanto has contested that glyphosate can be a cause for cancer due to exposure, citing a US Environmental Protection Agency report in 2017 that concluded the chemical is not likely carcinogenic to humans. The World Health Organization, however, still lists glyphosate as a possible carcinogen.

Toxic torts and other mass torts lawsuits are becoming more common as our understanding of product liability increases. A company’s failure to properly safeguard consumers from the dangerous effects of their products can have dangerous consequences for everyday individuals. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer after exposure to Roundup, consider contacting a compassionate mass torts lawyer. They could advocate on your behalf and fight to hold a reckless corporation accountable for their negligence. Contact us today for an evaluation of your case.