On August 10, Monsanto was found guilty on all counts in the first of many cases connecting Roundup’s main ingredient, glyphosate, to cancer. The jury awarded Dewayne “Lee” Johnson, a Bay Area school district groundskeeper, $289 million.
Johnson sprayed Roundup and a similar product, Ranger Pro, at his job as a pest control manager at a San Francisco Bay Area school district, according to his attorneys.
He sprayed large quantities from a 50-gallon tank attached to a truck, according to his attorney, Brent Wisner. When the wind was gusty, it would cover his face, Wisner said. When a hose broke once, it soaked his entire body.
Johnson read the label carefully and even contacted the company after developing a rash, but was never warned it could cause cancer, Wisner said. He was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in 2014 at the age of 42.
“I never would’ve sprayed that product on school grounds or around people if I knew it would cause them harm,” Johnson said during emotional testimony. “It’s unethical. It’s wrong. People don’t deserve that.”
Monsanto has long noted that independent scientists have vouched for the safety of its Roundup herbicide. Court data show its employees edited some of that research and many of the studies were ghostwritten by Monsanto itself. This monumental case is just the beginning of glyphosate’s downfall from our current agricultural climate. There are 4,000 other plaintiffs with similar cases awaiting their day in court. The next case begins this October in St. Louis.
Here at IRT we’ve been following this case closely. Lead attorney, Brent Wisner spoke with Jeffrey Smith after the Monsanto trial closing remarks, watch this live video below. Since the verdict was announced we’ve gone live on Facebook to share the full announcement, filmed the press , appeared on BBC, and will be following the next steps closely. Please click the words Facebook or YouTube under the title of the video you wish to watch:
- Watch the live closing arguments with lead attorney Brent Wisner and Jeffrey Smith.
- Facebook video
We’ve also been following the news and markets closely to see how this verdict is reverberating in the food movement and beyond. Here are some notable news stories to review. Click the article title to review the latest news.