It’s midsummer.
The sultry hot nights of summer have me lazily distracted. While distressed that foggy Northern California summer days never used to be hot enough to truly be “sultry” until recently, it has been nice to let my mind wander a bit from the nuances of the trials and restock some creativity. I’m also preoccupied by the fact that my littlest labradoodle Dollypop is lugging a few too many lbs and I need to boost her self-confidence. Creative juices can flow at the oddest of times.
In terms of the Roundup world, I’m wavering on whether or not to provide readers with the list of truly awful things that have happened at the EPA, government, and corporate levels in the last few months. Several of you already know this list, and are working hard to change our pesticide and agricultural policies, for which I am extremely grateful. I even texted a new friend who is avidly fighting the more harmful GMO policies in DC – i.e. Trump’s move to fully deregulate GMOs – just to be sure he’s on top of it (he is!)
It got me thinking of the insanely talented, and most hilariously motley, collection of people who are working to right this sinking ship of the toxic effects of US agriculture and its related $3 Trillion healthcare cost. My dream would be to collect this group of 50 or so people into one room, just for a cheesy family picture and a tequila shot toast (my happiest of drinks). Then swap stories.
Today, let’s not dwell on the bad news, and instead have margaritas, laugh so hard that it hurts, and group sing the Pina Colada song. That’s the kind of evening that is worth fighting to protect.
Brief Trial News
Some people are disappointed by reduction in damages in the Hardeman trial. Meanwhile, I am thrilled that the verdict was upheld at all given Chhabria’s unpredictability and well-honed role of contrarian. Chhabria ruled to decrease the award from $80.27 million to $25.27 million. Bayer will appeal. Congratulations to the Hardemans, the legal team, and all of the witnesses who made that win possible.
I attended a hearing for the Pilliod case last Friday. Have these hearings become increasingly less interesting as time passes, or am I just well-primed as to what the likely outcome will be? Bayer presented their long list (and I mean monotonous, head bobbing, sleep-inducing list) of complaints as to why there should be a new trial. The largest of the complaints seemed to fall mostly on Brent Wisner’s behavior during the trial – like the spraying from the Roundup bottle exhibit in front of the jury, as well as many amusing Wisnerisms that frankly make him magnetic to the jury.
Plaintiff attorney Nancy Miller escorted Alberta and Al Pilliod into the courtroom midmorning, and both seemed to be in good spirits as they await the verdict on their own award. The Pilliod award won’t be $2 Billion. In the next week, Judge Smith is likely to adjust that amount to a level that she deems more in line with precedence and state law.
Up next is the St. Louis trial, beginning August 19th. I plan to attend portions of the trial, though may not be posting as much detail as usual while I work on another relevant creative writing project.
And the Academics Say….
Celebrate the progress!!!!!
Several new studies have been published that provide further evidence to the risks of continued application of glyphosate/Roundup:
A new study concludes that Roundup can induce breast cancer. Those who are well aware that Roundup can cause cancer may not be particularly surprised, but the delineation of the mechanisms by which breast cancer can develop from Roundup exposure are unprecedented.
More proof of the mechanisms by which glyphosate exposure can lead to the development of NHL and Multiple Myeloma.
Keep the evidence coming!!!
More Soon
