Paul Francois (Photo: phyto-victimes.fr)
Sep 11, 2015
A French court on Thursday upheld a prior ruling which found agrichemical giant Monsanto guilty of poisoning a farmer who inhaled the company's Lasso herbicide and ordered the company to fully compensate the man for the neurological problems, headaches, and memory loss he has endured.
The appeals court in Lyon affirmed a previous 2012 court decision--the first of its kind--which found Monsanto "responsible" for poisoning Paul Francois, a grain grower who was exposed to the chemical on his farm in 2004. Francois says the company did not provide adequate warning labels for Lasso.
Francois was reportedly pleased with Thursday's ruling, declaring it to be proof that "David can win against Goliath... And a giant like Monsanto is not above the law."
Monsanto, however, has vowed to appeal the ruling to France's highest appeals court.
Used since the 1960s, Lasso was banned in France in 2007, following earlier prohibitions in Canada, Belgium, and Britain due to the health risks it poses.
Monsanto now widely produces another herbicide, known as Roundup, which contains the ingredient glyphosate that was recently declared by the research arm of the World Health Organization has to be a "probably carcinogen" for humans.
In June, France ceased over-the-counter sales of Roundup over concerns about its health impacts, but Roundup is still one of the most widely-used herbicides in the United States.
Earlier this week, California's Environmental Protection Agency revealed that it will also soon start labeling glyphosate a "probable carcinogenic."
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Sarah Lazare
Sarah Lazare was a staff writer for Common Dreams from 2013-2016. She is currently web editor and reporter for In These Times.
A French court on Thursday upheld a prior ruling which found agrichemical giant Monsanto guilty of poisoning a farmer who inhaled the company's Lasso herbicide and ordered the company to fully compensate the man for the neurological problems, headaches, and memory loss he has endured.
The appeals court in Lyon affirmed a previous 2012 court decision--the first of its kind--which found Monsanto "responsible" for poisoning Paul Francois, a grain grower who was exposed to the chemical on his farm in 2004. Francois says the company did not provide adequate warning labels for Lasso.
Francois was reportedly pleased with Thursday's ruling, declaring it to be proof that "David can win against Goliath... And a giant like Monsanto is not above the law."
Monsanto, however, has vowed to appeal the ruling to France's highest appeals court.
Used since the 1960s, Lasso was banned in France in 2007, following earlier prohibitions in Canada, Belgium, and Britain due to the health risks it poses.
Monsanto now widely produces another herbicide, known as Roundup, which contains the ingredient glyphosate that was recently declared by the research arm of the World Health Organization has to be a "probably carcinogen" for humans.
In June, France ceased over-the-counter sales of Roundup over concerns about its health impacts, but Roundup is still one of the most widely-used herbicides in the United States.
Earlier this week, California's Environmental Protection Agency revealed that it will also soon start labeling glyphosate a "probable carcinogenic."
Sarah Lazare
Sarah Lazare was a staff writer for Common Dreams from 2013-2016. She is currently web editor and reporter for In These Times.
A French court on Thursday upheld a prior ruling which found agrichemical giant Monsanto guilty of poisoning a farmer who inhaled the company's Lasso herbicide and ordered the company to fully compensate the man for the neurological problems, headaches, and memory loss he has endured.
The appeals court in Lyon affirmed a previous 2012 court decision--the first of its kind--which found Monsanto "responsible" for poisoning Paul Francois, a grain grower who was exposed to the chemical on his farm in 2004. Francois says the company did not provide adequate warning labels for Lasso.
Francois was reportedly pleased with Thursday's ruling, declaring it to be proof that "David can win against Goliath... And a giant like Monsanto is not above the law."
Monsanto, however, has vowed to appeal the ruling to France's highest appeals court.
Used since the 1960s, Lasso was banned in France in 2007, following earlier prohibitions in Canada, Belgium, and Britain due to the health risks it poses.
Monsanto now widely produces another herbicide, known as Roundup, which contains the ingredient glyphosate that was recently declared by the research arm of the World Health Organization has to be a "probably carcinogen" for humans.
In June, France ceased over-the-counter sales of Roundup over concerns about its health impacts, but Roundup is still one of the most widely-used herbicides in the United States.
Earlier this week, California's Environmental Protection Agency revealed that it will also soon start labeling glyphosate a "probable carcinogenic."
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.