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Monsanto 'bullied scientists' and hid weedkiller cancer risk, lawyer tells court
Monsanto has long worked to "bully scientists" and suppress evidence of the cancer risks of its popular weedkiller, a lawyer argued on Monday in a landmark lawsuit against the global chemical corporation.
"Monsanto has specifically gone out of its way to bully ... and to fight independent researchers," said the attorney Brent Wisner, who presented internal Monsanto emails that he said showed how the agrochemical company rejected critical research and expert warnings over the years while pursuing and helping to write favorable analyses of their products. "They fought science."
Wisner, who spoke inside a crowded San Francisco courtroom, is representing DeWayne Johnson, known also as Lee, a California man whose cancer has spread through his body. The father of three and former school groundskeeper, who doctors say may have just months to live, is the first person to take Monsanto to trial over allegations that the chemical sold under the Roundup brand is linked to cancer. Thousands have made similar legal claims across the US.
Monsanto? Never heard of it.
Also at the San Francisco Chronicle.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Wednesday July 11 2018, @01:57PM
Greed and lust for power are innate in all humans.
It does not disappear in persons who rise to the top levels of gigantic multi-national concentrations of wealth and power. In fact, they are probably prerequisites for getting into that position.
Limiting legal liabilities is a problem. Without other government oversight, it removes the restraint to act with any motive other than the pursuit of money and power. (And fame) When our system makes it a breach of fiduciary duty to act in any manner that does not increase shareholder value, then the only option becomes one of increasing shareholder value, especially short term, regardless of other consequences. Putting executive incentive systems in place to further motivate such bad behavior only makes it worse.
And that is how we got to where we are now.
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