pesticides Archives

New glyphosate papers point to “urgency” for more research on chemical impact to human health

Carey Gillam | November 23, 2020

Newly published scientific papers illustrate the ubiquitous nature of the weed killing chemical glyphosate and a need to better understand the impact exposure to the popular pesticide may be having on human health, including the health of the gut microbiome. In one of the new papers, researchers from the University of Turku in Finland said … New glyphosate papers point to “urgency” for more research on chemical impact to human health

EPA’s assessments of chemicals draws criticism from its own scientists

Carey Gillam | February 24, 2021

Many U.S. scientists working for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) say they don’t trust the agency’s senior leaders to be honest and they fear retaliation if they were to report a violation of the law, according to a survey of employees conducted in 2020. According to the Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey for 2020, which was … EPA’s assessments of chemicals draws criticism from its own scientists

Appeal in first Monsanto Roundup cancer trial to be heard in June

Carey Gillam | April 9, 2020

A California appeals court has set a June hearing for cross appeals resulting from the first-ever trial over allegations that Monsanto’s herbicides cause cancer. The Court of Appeal for the First Appellate District of California said Thursday that it was setting a hearing for June 2 in the case of Dewayne “Lee” Johnson v. Monsanto. … Appeal in first Monsanto Roundup cancer trial to be heard in June

Bayer backs away from plan to contain future Roundup cancer claims

Carey Gillam | July 8, 2020

Monsanto owner Bayer AG is backing away from a plan to contain future Roundup cancer claims after a federal judge made it clear he would not approve the scheme, which would delay new trials and limit jury decision-making. The plan concocted by Bayer and a small group of lawyers was filed last month in U.S. … Bayer backs away from plan to contain future Roundup cancer claims

Appeals court hears arguments over Monsanto’s first Roundup trial loss

Carey Gillam | June 2, 2020

A California jury decision blaming a Monsanto herbicide for a school groundskeeper’s cancer was deeply flawed and incompatible with the law, a Monsanto attorney told a panel of appellate judges on Tuesday. The company’s glyphosate-based herbicides – popularly known as Roundup – have the full backing of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and “regulators around … Appeals court hears arguments over Monsanto’s first Roundup trial loss

Appeals court focused on damages question ahead of Johnson v. Monsanto hearing

Carey Gillam | May 14, 2020

A California appeals court looks poised to issue a ruling that would uphold the first U.S. trial victory involving allegations that Monsanto’s Roundup weed killer causes cancer. The California Courts of Appeal First Appellate District on Wednesday notified lawyers for plaintiff Dewayne “Lee” Johnson and legal counsel for Monsanto that they should be prepared to … Appeals court focused on damages question ahead of Johnson v. Monsanto hearing

Bayer shareholder meeting draws protests, pleas from cancer patients

Carey Gillam | May 1, 2020

The Bayer AG annual shareholders’ meeting got underway Tuesday in Germany, drawing the attention of not only investors and analysts but also activists, lawyers and cancer patients who want to see Bayer make amends for alleged misdeeds by Monsanto, which Bayer bought two years ago. The meeting was to be an in-person event in Bonn, … Bayer shareholder meeting draws protests, pleas from cancer patients

Bayer said to be reneging on Roundup settlement deals as virus closes courthouses

Carey Gillam | April 3, 2020

Bayer AG is reneging on negotiated settlements with several U.S. law firms representing thousands of plaintiffs who claim exposure to Monsanto’s Roundup herbicides caused them to develop non-Hodgkin lymphoma, sources involved in the litigation said on Friday. The reversal comes as U.S. courts are closed to the public because of the spreading coronavirus, eliminating the … Bayer said to be reneging on Roundup settlement deals as virus closes courthouses

Shareholder files suit against Bayer over “disastrous” Monsanto acquisition

Carey Gillam | March 6, 2020

A California shareholder of Bayer AG on Friday filed a lawsuit against the companies’ top executives claiming they breached their duty of “prudence” and “loyalty” to the company and investors by buying Monsanto Co. in 2018, an acquisition the suit claims has “inflicted billions of dollars of damages” on the company. Plaintiff Rebecca R. Haussmann, … Shareholder files suit against Bayer over “disastrous” Monsanto acquisition

As settlement talks drag on, another Monsanto Roundup trial nears

Carey Gillam | February 20, 2020

Continuing to lack a resolution in the massive nationwide Roundup cancer litigation, a leading U.S. plaintiffs’ law firm is pressing ahead with preparations for a California trial involving a critically ill cancer patient and his wife who are suing the former Monsanto company claiming the man’s disease is due to years of his use of … As settlement talks drag on, another Monsanto Roundup trial nears

St. Louis Roundup cancer trial “will not resume;” settlement news expected

Carey Gillam | February 3, 2020

A Roundup cancer trial in St. Louis, Missouri, will not open on Wednesday as expected, a court spokesman said Monday, fueling fresh speculation that a global settlement of tens of thousands of lawsuits brought by cancer victims against the former Monsanto Co. may be near. St. Louis City Circuit Court Judge Elizabeth Hogan issued the … St. Louis Roundup cancer trial “will not resume;” settlement news expected

St. Louis Roundup trial postponed as large settlement appears near

Carey Gillam | January 24, 2020

Update – Statement from Bayer: “The parties have reached an agreement to continue the Wade case in Missouri Circuit Court for St. Louis. The continuance is intended to provide room for the parties to continue the mediation process in good faith under the auspices of Ken Feinberg, and avoid the distractions that can arise from trials. While Bayer … St. Louis Roundup trial postponed as large settlement appears near

Stakes are high with two Roundup cancer trials starting amid settlement talks

Carey Gillam | January 22, 2020

It’s been nearly five years since international cancer scientists classified a popular weed-killing chemical as probably carcinogenic, news that triggered an explosion of lawsuits brought by cancer patients who blame the former chemical maker Monsanto Co. for their suffering. Tens of thousands of U.S. plaintiffs – some lawyers involved in the litigation say over 100,000 … Stakes are high with two Roundup cancer trials starting amid settlement talks

St. Louis Monsanto Roundup Trial Postponed, Bayer stock climbs

Carey Gillam | January 8, 2020

A highly anticipated Roundup cancer trial set to start later this month in the St. Louis area has been pulled from the docket, a court official said on Wednesday. The trial, which was to pit a woman named Sharlean Gordon against Roundup maker Monsanto Co., was to start Jan. 27 in St. Louis County and … St. Louis Monsanto Roundup Trial Postponed, Bayer stock climbs

More Monsanto Roundup Cancer Trials Expected to be Postponed

Carey Gillam | January 7, 2020

(UPDATE Jan. 8, 2020- On Wednesday, St. Louis County Court spokeswoman Christine Bertelson confirmed that one trial set to start Jan. 27 has been officially postponed with no new trial date yet set. That trial was to pit a woman named Sharlean Gordon against Monsanto. ) Discussions are underway to postpone one or more highly … More Monsanto Roundup Cancer Trials Expected to be Postponed

Monsanto Makes New Bid to Block St. Louis Trial

Carey Gillam | September 23, 2019

Less than a month away from what would be the fourth Roundup cancer trial to pit cancer victims against the former agrochemical giant Monsanto Co., lawyers for the opposing sides continue to battle over how, when and where the case should – or should not – be heard. Lawyers for Monsanto and for its German … Monsanto Makes New Bid to Block St. Louis Trial

UPDATED- St. Louis Trial over Monsanto Roundup Cancer Claims in Limbo

Carey Gillam | September 19, 2019

(UPDATE) – On Sept. 12, the Missouri Supreme Court closed the case, agreeing with plaintiffs’ attorneys that Monsanto’s request for the high court to take up the venue issue was moot. St. Louis Circuit Court Judge Michael Mullen then transferred all plaintiffs except Winston to St. Louis County in a Sept. 13 order.) An October … UPDATED- St. Louis Trial over Monsanto Roundup Cancer Claims in Limbo

Emails Reveal Science Publisher Found Papers On Herbicide Safety Should Be Retracted Due to Monsanto Meddling

Carey Gillam | August 23, 2019

Secretive influence by Monsanto in a set of papers published in the scientific journal Critical Reviews in Toxicology was so unethical that an investigation by the publisher found that at least three of the papers should be retracted, according to a series of internal journal communications. The journal editor refused to retract the papers, which … Emails Reveal Science Publisher Found Papers On Herbicide Safety Should Be Retracted Due to Monsanto Meddling

St. Louis Roundup Cancer Trial Reset for January, Talk of Bayer Settlement

Carey Gillam | August 7, 2019

The much-anticipated Roundup cancer trial set to get underway in two weeks in Monsanto’s former hometown of St. Louis is being rescheduled, according to the a spokeswoman for the St. Louis County Court where the trial was set to begin Aug 19. Court spokeswoman Christine Bertelson said Judge Brian May, who is overseeing the … St. Louis Roundup Cancer Trial Reset for January, Talk of Bayer Settlement

Monsanto fails bid to banish experts from St. Louis Roundup cancer trial

Carey Gillam | July 29, 2019

Monsanto is not finding an early hometown advantage as it prepares for the next Roundup cancer trial after the St. Louis judge who will oversee the trial denied Monsanto’s motion for summary judgment and denied the company’s request to ban experts scheduled to testify for the plaintiff. Before selling to Germany-based Bayer AG last year, … Monsanto fails bid to banish experts from St. Louis Roundup cancer trial

Sick Children Among Cancer Victims Suing Monsanto Over Roundup

Carey Gillam | July 16, 2019

A 12-year-old boy suffering from cancer is among the newest plaintiffs taking on Monsanto and its German owner Bayer AG in growing litigation over the safety of Roundup herbicides and Monsanto’s handling of scientific concerns about the products. Lawyers for Jake Bellah were in court Monday in Lake County Superior Court in Lakeport, California arguing … Sick Children Among Cancer Victims Suing Monsanto Over Roundup

Judge Cuts Amount Monsanto Owner Bayer Owes Cancer Victim

Carey Gillam | July 15, 2019

A federal judge has slashed the punitive damages a jury ordered Monsanto to pay to cancer victim Edwin Hardeman from $75 million to $20 million, despite the judge’s description of Monsanto’s conduct surrounding questions about the safety of its Roundup herbicide as “reprehensible.” U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria ruled Monday that the jury’s decision in the … Judge Cuts Amount Monsanto Owner Bayer Owes Cancer Victim

Conflict of Interest Concerns Cloud Glyphosate Review

Carey Gillam | May 12, 2016

By Carey Gillam It’s been a little more than a year since the World Health Organization’s (WHO) cancer research experts upended the agrichemical industry’s favorite child. The group, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) declared the globe’s most widely used herbicide – glyphosate – to be a probable human carcinogen. Since then, Monsanto … Conflict of Interest Concerns Cloud Glyphosate Review

My Friend Died from Cancer Today

Susan Lang | December 18, 2017

By Carey Gillam My friend died from cancer today. His was a short, eight-month-long battle for survival, but it was a brutal one. Now his wife and young children are not planning for Christmas; instead they are planning his funeral. This man’s passing is a tragedy for his family and friends to be sure. But … My Friend Died from Cancer Today

Corporate power, not public interest, at root of science committee hearing on IARC

Carey Gillam | February 5, 2018

(First published in Environmental Health News) Score another point for corporate power over protection of the public. U.S. Rep Lamar Smith, chairman of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space, & Technology, has slated a full committee hearing for Feb. 6 with an agenda aimed squarely at attacking some of the world’s top … Corporate power, not public interest, at root of science committee hearing on IARC

EPA Glyphosate Registration Review Public Comments Now Due

Carey Gillam | March 21, 2018

For anyone interested in commenting on the EPA’s latest safety review of the weed killing chemical glyphosate: Docket ID:EPA-HQ-OPP-2009-0361 Abstract:Federal Register for Tuesday, February 27, 2018 (83 FR 8476) (FRL–9973–07) EPA–HQ–OPP–2017–0720; Registration Review; Draft Human Health and/or Ecological Risk Assessments for Several Pesticides; Notice of Availability Document Type:Notice Status:Posted Received Date:Feb 27, 2018 FR Citation:83 … EPA Glyphosate Registration Review Public Comments Now Due

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