A Melbourne based gardener has commenced a lawsuit against German company Bayer, claiming that its product Roundup is responsible for his development of cancer. Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Roundup, which is the most commonly used pesticide worldwide. It is claimed that Mr Ogalirolo’s consistent exposure to the chemical over 20 years caused him to contract non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The key issues underpinning the action are whether the product caused the cancer and whether dangers associated with the product were sufficiently disclosed.
This is the first case of it’s kind in Australia, however it follows a string of cases in the US. Most recently, Mosanto (acquired by Bayer) was ordered to pay $2.89 billion to claimants suffering from cancer. The outcome of this case could potentially open a floodgate of claims. Further, these cases are creating a growing need for farmers to investigate new methods of managing weeds and emphasising the importance of personal protective equipment. Please call Daniel Morgan to discuss.
