U.S. Federal Court Judge Vince Chhabria was recently called upon to hear arguments from experts on both sides of the product liability litigation currently plaguing Monsanto, developer of the popular herbicide Roundup.

According to an Insurance Journal article, Judge Chhabria was scheduled to hear final arguments regarding the alleged link between glyphosate and non-Hodgkin lymphoma on Wednesday, March 14, 2018. Glyphosate is Roundup’s main active ingredient.

This assessment came after IARC committees spent over a year specifically reviewing data.

At the same time, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) begs to differ according to its up-to-date review of scientific literature and data allegedly made last year. The EPA counters the notion that glyphosate and non-Hodgkin lymphoma and other cancers are connected, given current levels of exposure.

This discrepancy between expert opinion is what Judge Chhabria’s most pressing concern is now. He is charged with determining what experts from both sides should be allowed into the courtroom to present arguments to a jury.

This role could profoundly shape the outcome of 300 plus lawsuits against Monsanto that allege a link between glyphosate and non-Hodgkin lymphoma and other cancers. The litigants in these lawsuits want to hold the company liable for alleged foreknowledge of the chemical’s toxicity and for allegedly failing to warn consumers.

Judge Hears Epidemiologist, Witness for 700 Agricultural Workers

In the Insurance Journal article, it was revealed that Judge Chhabria heard a purported expert witness among the lineup of the plaintiffs alleging a connection between glyphosate and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

This witness, Beate Ritz, is a professor of public health at the University of California at Los Angeles. She presented her scientific case on behalf of this argument for over 700 farmers, agricultural workers, landscapers, and gardeners with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Ritz showed slides during her presentation to the federal judge, which represented the explosion in use of glyphosate just in the State of Iowa between 1994 and 2014. Her data-based conclusion was that every square mile in just this one state is inundated with upwards of 88 pounds of glyphosate each year.

With such a high degree of consumption of this chemical, Ritz indicated it would be impossible to calculate risk based on exposure levels as the EPA wants to do.

Judge Hears Counterpoints from Monsanto Witness and Others

Harvard University professor Lorelei Mucci, one of Monsanto’s expert witnesses, countered Ritz’s argument by indicating that high exposure levels as presented would likely bring forth a greater number of diagnosed cancer cases if glyphosate and non-Hodgkin lymphoma were truly causally linked.

Mucci’s presentation relied heavily on the National Institute of Health’s Agricultural Health Study. This study investigated 54,000 farmers in two states with agricultural economies which has been updated several times over multiple decades.

Judge Chhabria had the opportunity to also hear arguments from many fields including toxicology, oncology, and statistics.

If you or a loved one developed cancer after using Roundup as a farm worker or home gardener, you may have a legal claim. Legal migrant farm workers may also seek help. Learn more by filling out the form on this page for a FREE case evaluation.

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