Monsanto’s Unethical Tactics in Combating Weedkiller Cancer Controversy

August 27, 2019 | Attorney, Matthew Dolman
Monsanto’s Unethical Tactics in Combating Weedkiller Cancer Controversy

Monsanto Meddles With Science Papers on Herbicide Safety 

Over the past couple of years, there has been a growing controversy surrounding a specific weedkiller product produced by the agrochemical company known as Monsanto. The product in question is Roundup weedkiller, a common household weedkilling chemical used across the country and world to help manage gardens, and property's weed problems. As of late, Monsanto and their parent company, Bayer, have come under fire because of the alleged ties between exposure to Roundup weedkiller and the development of certain cancers such as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. As a result, Monsanto and Bayer have been the targets of several successful lawsuits that have found them accountable for the damage their product caused. In addition to these already successful lawsuits, thousands more are pending as many people realize their cancer may be tied to the use of this product. 

Monsanto Weedkiller Cancer Lawsuits

If you or a loved one have suffered long term exposure to Roundup weedkiller and developed cancer then you may be able to seek compensation for the damages you suffered by filing a lawsuit against Monsanto. The damages you likely have suffered if this is the case have been tremendous and you may also feel that those responsible for your pain and suffering should be held accountable for their actions. The lawyers of Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA can assist you in seeking this justice.  Our lawyers specialize in cases involving product liability and negligently made products that have harmed consumers. The attorneys of Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA will fight for a settlement that you will feel satisfied with and provide the guidance and resources you will need to prove that Monsanto was negligent and owes you compensation. To schedule a free consultation with Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA about your Roundup weedkiller case you can either call our Clearwater office at 727-451-6900 or contact us online

Monsanto Resorts to Tampering With Herbicide Safety Papers

A recent development in the ongoing controversy surrounding Monsanto and their weedkiller woes includes a revelation that they had secretive influence over several papers contradicting the findings that certain herbicides may pose a cancer risk. The influence over these papers poses such an ethical problem that several of the papers are being considered for retraction.  Lawyers representing the interests of many plaintiffs allegedly injured as a result of Roundup weedkiller exposure were the ones to discover that several internal journal communications between employees of Critical Reviews in Toxicology indicated issues with Monsanto's meddling. This is not counting the internal Monsanto emails that were discovered and revealed the company's manipulation of scientific literature about its herbicides for their benefit. 

The Scientific Papers and Monsanto's Involvement

The content of the papers in question revolved around the carcinogenic potential of the substance glyphosate which is a major ingredient in Roundup and other weedkillers. The controversial papers published by Critical Reviews in Toxicology directly contradicted the findings of the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer which found that glyphosate is a probable human carcinogen.  The paper's authors stated at the end of their work that they came to their conclusions free of any interference from Monsanto and that they worked independently. This was later found to be false after internal Monsanto emails shed light on the fact that several of the authors had received direct payments from Monsanto. In addition to this, the emails also showed that Monsanto scientists had direct involvement when it came to drafting and editing the papers along with the fact that Monsanto also had a direct hand in selecting the authors.  Naturally, this behavior exhibited by Monsanto demonstrates a blatant disregard for the ethical sharing of scientific information. Monsanto clearly manipulated scientific information that was presented as credible for their own benefit. The information contained in the CRT papers was published at a time where Monsanto was facing a high degree of scrutiny when it came to glyphosate use in their products. The information was used as a counterpoint to arguments made in several cases involving glyphosate and its carcinogenic qualities. 

Other Underhanded Tactics Utilized by Monsanto

It is sad to say that Monsanto's unethical tactics when it comes to handling the controversy surrounding their products do not stop with the manipulation of scientific papers for their own benefit. Monsanto has also been caught taking remarkable measures to discredit a book that questions their use of glyphosate and criticizes them. The book in question is titled Whitewash: The Story of a Weedkiller, Cancer, and the Corruption of Science written by journalist Carey Gillam. A Monsanto spreadsheet showed that the agrochemical company went as far as to pay google to promote a webpage of theirs that would make points to downplay Gillam's findings and attempt to assuage any fears people may have regarding their products specifically when people googled Gillam's name in conjunction with keywords such as Monsanto and glyphosate. They also paid google to promote search results critical of her book. Monsanto, purposefully went out of their way to wage a campaign to attempt to discredit a single book and author criticizing them with factual evidence.  It actually does not stop there. Monsanto has also been caught using tactics such as surveillance on those critical of their operation. The most notable instance of this is their surveillance of popular musician Neil Young who released an album titled The Monsanto Years that was critical of the company.

Seek an Experienced Product Liability Attorney

If you or a loved one have been injured because of a product's negligent design or manufacture, then do not hesitate to contact Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA about a free consultation on your claim. Our skilled lawyers have the expertise you will need to secure the settlement that you deserve. Dolman Law has years of experience when it comes to handling product liability claims and ensuring that our clients receive the compensation that they need in order to pay off their medical expenses, lost wages, etc. When you enlist the assistance of Dolman Law you are ensuring that your case gets the small firm attention it deserves with big firm results. Contact us at Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA's offices. Please fill out our online contact form or call us at 727-451-6900. Dolman Law Group Accident Injury Lawyers, PA 800 North Belcher Road Clearwater, FL 33765 727-451-6900

 

Matthew Dolman

Personal Injury Lawyer

This article was written and reviewed by Matthew Dolman. Matt has been a practicing civil trial, personal injury, products liability, and mass tort lawyer since 2004. He has successfully fought for more than 11,000 injured clients and acted as lead counsel in more than 1,000 lawsuits. Always on the cutting edge of personal injury law, Matt is actively engaged in complex legal matters, including Suboxone, AFFF, and Ozempic lawsuits.  Matt is a lifetime member of the Million Dollar Advocates Forum and Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum for resolving individual cases in excess of $1 million and $2 million, respectively. He has also been selected by his colleagues as a Florida Superlawyer and as a member of Florida’s Legal Elite on multiple occasions. Further, Matt has been quoted in the media numerous times and is a sought-after speaker on a variety of legal issues and topics.

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