On our second day of business, we sold 270 bottles of juice and had to close our doors because there was nothing left to sell, Co-Founder Onur Ozkoc told me. New documentary follows former groundskeeper Dewayne Lee Johnsons trial against agrochemical giant Monsanto. He spent 30 years with the Associated Press, covering news, politics and occasionally sports in Los Angeles, San Diego and Sacramento, and legal affairs in San Francisco from 1984 onward. By deadorkicking.com Editorial Team. "I will call him," he said. Monsanto and its parent company, Bayer AG, have appealed the verdicts. While slashing Johnsons damage award, which already had been greatly reduced by the trial judge, the court said there was evidence to support the jurys conclusion that Monsanto acted with a conscious disregard for public safety by disregarding evidence that its Roundup herbicide was dangerous and attempting to influence regulatory agencies. Investigative journalist, Carey Gillam's new book, The Monsanto Papers: Deadly Secrets, Corporate Corruption, and One Man's Search for Justice releases tomorrow (by Island Press), and centers around Dewayne "Lee" Johnson, a former groundskeeper from the Bay Area who accidentally doused himself with Monsanto's glyphosate-based herbicidal product, Ranger Pro. And then when I was in court and heard about the ghostwriting of the science and you see in the emails that everybody is just on a script; they program everybody to stick to the script about safety even if the science says different. For years, Monsanto had faced similar claims about its glyphosate-based products, but Johnsons lawsuit was the first time that the company had to defend itself in front of a jury. I dont know if Ill ever see the jury award in my lifetime. Why nothing on getting fired from Reuters? Carey Gillam is a journalist and author of Whitewash: The Story of a Weed Killer, Cancer and the Corruption of Science. With other trials pending nationwide, Bayer AG, which acquired Monsanto for $63 billion in 2018, announced a settlement last month that will pay nearly $10 billion to as many as 125,000 claimants. The California Supreme Court denied Monsantos appeal Wednesday of a San Francisco jurys groundbreaking verdict that found the companys widely used herbicide caused a school groundskeepers cancer and that the company disregarded public safety in marketing its product. Carey Gillams new book offers an up-close look at Lee Johnsons landmark legal victory against the agrochemical giant everyone loves to hate. I did not like using the chemicals but I loved that job. Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. I mean, hes not living a good, happy life, she says. But hes there with his boys and hes taking care of his family., As for herself, Gillam is busy at her current job as research director at US Right to Know, a non-profit research group focused on the food industry, and she already has an idea for her next book. At one point I had lesions on my face, on my lips, all over my arms and legs. Is Dwayne Johnson Dead or Still Alive? Despite wearing a full-body suit and other protective gear, he testified that he was exposed to windblown sprays and was drenched twice with the liquid when his equipment broke. Although Johnson is still alive, because he developed an aggressive form of non-Hodgkins lymphoma (a cancer that attacks the white blood cells), he is not expected to live much longer. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.. Dewayne Lee Johnson, who sued Roundup Corp, dies aged 46. He lived a modest life for 42 years, and was devastated when he was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2014. By the end of 2021, Bayer had allocated approximately $16 billion US to Roundup litigation in the United States, addressing roughly 98,000 of 125,000 cases. The companys lawyers argued that with the exception of one agency, World Health Organizations International Agency for Research on Cancer, no official health entity, including the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), has deemed glyphosate a carcinogen. To receive an email when new reviews/interviews are added to Original-Cin, please provide your email address in the form below. Lee filed a lawsuit against the agri-giant Monsanto, claiming that Ranger Pro was a substantial contributing factor in causing his cancer. Another major difference between Whitewash and Monsanto Papers, Gillam says, was how the companies on which she was reporting treated her. The lawsuit alleged that the exposure of glyphosate, an active ingredient in the Roundup product, caused Dewayne "Lee" Johnson's non-Hodgkin lymphoma. You got to be careful with this stuff. At work, Johnson used Ranger Pro to spray facilities throughout the district: fields, fence lines, hillsides. A separate $1 billion-plus settlement for potential future plaintiffs, which would have been based on the findings of a yet-unnamed scientific panel on the dangers of glyphosate, has been shelved after a federal judge questioned its terms. And in Sierra Leone, we have grown the worlds first Regenerative Organic Certified cacao. Tahoe snow: Massive blizzard wreaks havoc on the Sierra, burying Workers in S.F. Is he going to be here for graduation?'". It's because of this reason that the court recommended a reduction in damages. The narrative brings readers into the field as Johnson is accidentally doused with Ranger Pro, into the offices of his legal team as they plan out his case and, ultimately, into the courtroom for the jurys verdict. . After Johnson's diagnosis, he wondered if his cancer could be related to such a large exposure to Ranger Pro. Tahoe snow: Massive blizzard wreaks havoc on the Sierra, burying Workers in S.F. One of Canadas pre-eminent documentary filmmakers, Jennifer Baichwalhasexplored the impact of human activity on the environment in films like Anthropocene: The Human Epoch (co-director) andManufactured Landscapes. Superior Court Judge Suzanne Bolanos reduced the punitive award to $39.25 million, citing U.S. Supreme Court limits on such damages, but refused to overturn the verdict. Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson has strong ties to both his parents, who raised him between the U.S. and New Zealand. thank him sooooooo much for looking after school right across the rd from me. I used to be all shiny and a handsome guy now Im all messed up. Lee himself is a compelling individual, calm, articulate, thoughtful. Bayer announced a settlement in June that would pay nearly $10 billion to as many as 125,000 claimants. After taxes and legal fees, Gillam estimates he walked away with about half of that. Heres the impact of the latest Yosemite breaks snow record; park closed indefinitely, 2022 tax returns: IRS further extends filing deadline for most Californians, Another winter storm? But hes there with his boys and hes taking care of his family., https://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2021/02/28/stephanie-seneff-glyphosate.aspx?ui=6834d60d46bac91d793343eb7c9c3f26e362df190a0138faeb79c0c30654a7f2&sd=20160818&cid_source=dnl&cid_medium=email&cid_content=art2ReadMore&cid=20210228&mid=DM816960&rid=1095392526, https://www.acsh.org/news/2018/10/09/if-you-accept-science-you-accept-roundup-does-not-cause-cancer-13490?fbclid=IwAR0iWP_pOnU59lnPcsVF1xyEvJSNu3Rnu2Pdzpp-29s9DAtGbEPNFn4aFgc, https://thoughtscapism.com/2016/09/07/17-questions-about-glyphosate/?fbclid=IwAR1Zbm8RopbkRdXfMJpk5ZLAQYi44CktZIdo60EAyhoNaW5iFBbPwcjxDGg, https://www.forbes.com/sites/geoffreykabat/2017/10/23/iarcs-glyphosate-gate-scandal/, https://biofortified.org/2018/02/hogwash-review-whitewash-carey-gillam/, Meet the Modern Graziers Who Broke Into Regenerative Agriculture, No Farmland Required. He claimed that Ranger Pro, another of the company's glyphosate-based herbicides, was a substantial contributing factor in causing his non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Tag: Dewayne "Lee" Johnson Dying man asks California Supreme Court to restore jury award in Monsanto Roundup case Carey Gillam August 31, 2020 Bayer asks appeals court to again cut Roundup damage award owed to California groundskeeper with cancer Carey Gillam August 5, 2020 Bayer Makes Bid for "Trust" Amid Third Monsanto Cancer Trial Carey Gillam But the court rejected inclusion in the damage award of $1 million for each year of the normal life expectancy of a 46-year-old male, a total of $33 million. Bay Area gets a break from winter storm. Long Waits, Short Appointments, Huge Bills. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death. And the consequences of that conduct are why we're here today. In a landmark verdict, Monsanto was ordered by a San Francisco jury to pay $289m in punitive damages and compensatory damages. Despite Monsanto's claim that glyphosate was not carcinogenic, Johnson believed his exposure to Ranger Pro was a substantial factor in developing his cancer. Award to Vallejo groundskeeper in Monsanto cancer case slashed again verdict upheld, Visiting Stanford researcher from China accused of visa fraud, Trumps threat to send federal forces to Oakland draws California pushback, Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area. One such product that I recently discovered at Whole Foods Tribeca is Sol Simple Solar Dried Bananas. If I may add this link herehttps://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2021/02/28/stephanie-seneff-glyphosate.aspx?ui=6834d60d46bac91d793343eb7c9c3f26e362df190a0138faeb79c0c30654a7f2&sd=20160818&cid_source=dnl&cid_medium=email&cid_content=art2ReadMore&cid=20210228&mid=DM816960&rid=1095392526 Sometimes it really gets overwhelming with so many calls and requests for interviews or speaking events. The Internet has killed Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson for at least the fourth time, but don't worry the former Bethlehem resident is still kicking. [10], There is limited evidence that human cancer risk might increase as a result of occupational exposure to large amounts of glyphosate, such as agricultural work, but no good evidence of such a risk from home use, such as in domestic gardening. [10][12] In 2017, he was given a terminal diagnosis and was told that he would only live another 6 months. I cant tell you how gratifying it is to share with you great-tasting organic products that are also making a big difference in the world. A year later, Dewayne "Lee" Johnson, a former groundskeeper from California, filed a lawsuit against Monsanto. It is important for people to know this stuff, to know about what theyre being exposed to. Dewayne "Lee" Johnson, 46, a groundskeeper in Benicia, sued Monsanto Co., the maker of the weed-killer Roundup, in San Francisco Superior Court. "No one called [Johnson] back. The Bay Area will catch a break from winter storms for a couple days, but it wont last very long. Heres when rain, snow will return. He spent 30 years with the Associated Press, covering news, politics and occasionally sports in Los Angeles, San Diego and Sacramento, and legal affairs in San Francisco from 1984 onward. I dont mess around with the death cloud, the dark thoughts, the fears. share. Im not a person who would think an apology would make me feel better it certainly would not heal my cancer. I would have been making $80,000 a year now if I was still there. "One of the things that people ask me [is] what is it that I want," says Johnson. So that people who are turned off by pesticides and glyphosatethe idea of, you know, having to read a very science-y bookwould be drawn into one mans story of suffering from cancer., Despite the focus on Johnson, the book still dives deep into the legal maneuverings behind tort litigation, which tends to generate far fewer headlines than criminal law. Johnson finally got paid late last year: $20.5 million, a fraction of the initial amount the jury awarded him two years earlier. It is a priority for CBC to create products that are accessible to all in Canada including people with visual, hearing, motor and cognitive challenges. "[The] boys used to sleep on the couch Araceli got up, worked her two jobs, and I did whatever I could, when I could, you know. He was drenched in a weed-killer made by Monsanto in a workplace accident. That is my small mission. I believed wholeheartedly that the last chapter would be Lees funeral, says Gillam, an investigative journalist and author of, The Monsanto Papers: Deadly Secrets, Corporate Corruption, and One Mans Search for Justice. Sometimes I call them burners. But it is what it is. Bayer AG hinted that it would file an appeal with the Supreme Court of California. A variety of newsletters you'll love, delivered straight to you. A bunch of doctors came and checked me out. Gillam says she still speaks with Johnson often and that the cancer and treatment have taken a tremendous toll on his body, but she says that he remains upbeat. The International Association for Research on Cancer, an arm of the World Health Organization, concluded in 2015 that glyphosate is a probable cause of cancer in humans, a finding later endorsed by California health officials. Despite the recommendation that Johnsons damage be reduced, the appeals court said punitive damages were in order because there was sufficient evidence that Monsanto acted with willful and conscious disregard of others safety.. Eventually, he had to tell his young sons what was happening. DK. I hate to think about dying. Superior Court Judge Suzanne Bolanos reduced the punitive award to $39.25 million, citing U.S. Supreme Court limits on such damages, but refused to overturn the verdict. This was the most emotional interview I have ever done. Its exciting sometimes to think that we may get millions of dollars, but right now we know were not. or anything. [11] In 2014 at age 42, Johnson was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which he alleged at trial was caused by the pesticide exposure. [1][2][3][4][5][6] Monsanto, and after June 2018 Bayer, appealed the verdict several times, but lost. Some people send small gifts, trinkets. Monsanto has a record of his call, but no one called him back. Plenty of things upset me as the evidence came out in court. He worked for the San Francisco Examiner for five months in 2000, then joined The Chronicle in November 2000. I get requests for media interviews from all over the world, and people ask me to come to their events and speak, and Ive had people telling me they want to buy my life rights to try to get movie deals. When Carey Gillam started working on her new book, she did not expect the man at its center to be alive when she finished writing it. At the time of the trial in 2018, Johnson, 46, was severely ill with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, with lesions covering his body, and his doctors said he had two years to live. There is also no official report of Johnson's death from BBC News, the source cited by the posts. Ive seen reports that I want an apology but thats not true. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Threats of harming another Johnson's was the bellwether trial a test case in a mass tort against Monsanto (now owned by Bayer AG). Gillam says she still speaks with Johnson often and that the cancer and treatment have taken a tremendous toll on his body, but she says that he remains upbeat. Updated on Nov 14, 2019, 10:56 a.m. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and are used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. Monsanto says that their product is safe. "I got really concerned, like, if I lose, these people won't ever get a chance to even tell their story.". Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital First, it was Wesson Oils who got sued for using GMOs in its products that the company claimed were 100% Natural. After his symptoms first appeared, he said he twice called Monsanto to ask if the product was dangerous, and was promised a return call but never got one. I dont even want to say the company name. So that people who are turned off by pesticides and glyphosatethe idea of, you know, having to read a very science-y bookwould be drawn into one mans story of suffering from cancer., , Gillam says, was how the companies on which she was reporting treated her. Does Carey Gillam have ANY proof that Roundup causes cancer? Johnson appealed the reduction in damages. I want them to see what they're doing to people'. Source: USRTK By Carey Gillam Notably, the appeal by plaintiff Dewayne "Lee" Johnson has larger implications than his own individual case. By sharing a fond memory or writing a kind tribute, you will be providing a comforting keepsake to those in mourning. Before I got sick life was pretty good. Dwayne Johnson Birthday. Right To Know (USRTK), a non-profit investigative research group focused on the food industry, Brent Wisner, one of Johnsons trial attorneys, said the reduction in damages was the result of a deep flaw in California tort law., Wisner said, California law does not allow a plaintiff to recover for a shortened life expectancy [and] this effectively rewards a defendant for killing a plaintiff, as opposed to just injuring him. Im not even sure I would know how to be a rich man. RoundUp and Ranger Pro are effective weed killers. that is degrading to another person. He decided to sue Monsanto. Its less of an environmental travelogue than her previous films, planting its feet in a single controversy with widespread reach. Eric Bjerregaard is likely a paid shill for the biotech/pesticide industry. The state Supreme Court denied his appeal of a reduction to his damages. Goldstein replied that the story is not making any sense to me at all, and said he would call Johnson back. We got through it, though," Johnson says in the film. The state Supreme Court denied both appeals Wednesday, without comment or any published dissents. Updated to include drought zones while tracking water shortage status of your area, plus reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. But the First District Court of Appeal reduced Dewayne Lee Johnsons damages from $78.5 million to $21.5 million, saying California law does not allow damages for reduced life expectancy. Thats something of the past.. And you will see evidence that shows that Monsanto has specifically gone out of its way to bully scientists and to fight independent researchers who are finding conclusions outside of the Monsanto corporate umbrella. Bayer, in a statement, said the damage reduction was a step in the right direction but the court should have thrown out the entire verdict. Dewayne Lee Johnsons case was the first in the nation to go to trial among thousands of lawsuits against Monsanto by cancer victims who had used its Roundup herbicide or a more concentrated version of the product called Ranger Pro. Your address will never be shared with any other party. I didnt have a car so my wife Araceli would drop me off at work or I would ride my bike to the bus stop and take the bus to work. To encourage thoughtful and respectful conversations, first and last names will appear with each submission to CBC/Radio-Canada's online communities (except in children and youth-oriented communities). These cookies do not store any personal information. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Bayer AG, which acquired Monsanto in 2018 for $63 billion and all the defunct brands Roundup weed killer lawsuits, has just suffered yet another setback. While Monsanto built a step-by-step action plan to undermine her credibility and reportinga strategy detailed in. I did everything caught skunks, mice, and raccoons, patched holes in walls, worked on irrigation issues. And I went back to the shop, changed my shirt I left the pants on, I didn't have any other trousers and I cleaned up and I went back to work.". And now it seems like thats taken over my life. [14] Organizations such as the Joint FAO/WHO Meeting on Pesticide Residues and the European Commission, Canadian Pest Management Regulatory Agency, and the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment[15] have concluded that there is no evidence that glyphosate poses a carcinogenic or genotoxic risk to humans. Pending proper verification of the death cloud, the fears dont know if Ill ever see the jury in! Newsletters you 'll love, delivered straight to you wondered if his cancer could be related to such large... If his cancer I dont mess around with the death cloud, the fears I did like!, Gillam estimates he walked away with about half of that from family members pending proper verification the!, but it wont last very long, bayer AG hinted that would. Original-Cin, please provide your email address in the form below calm, articulate, thoughtful damages and damages! Dont know if Ill ever see the jury award in my lifetime,... Any sense to me at all, and said he would call back... 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