Since 2004, when he inhaled vapors of monochlorobenzene, a solvent listed as highly toxic and entering 50% in the composition of the Lasso herbicide marketed by Monsanto, Paul François has lived with a major brain failure which plunged him several times in a coma.
Since that date, he has been fighting in court to have his health problems (they still suffer from serious neurological disorders) recognized as an occupational disease, and to have Monsanto responsible for his poisoning. The farmer is indeed convinced that the American firm knew the dangers of the Lasso long before its ban in France, in November 2007. because the product had been banned in the early 90s in Canada and the United Kingdom.
Monsanto was found responsible for the first time in 2012 and sentenced to compensationjust won its fight. er entirely the cereal, but the firm had appealed. This time, the Lyon Court of Appeal upheld the judgment which recognized the group’s responsibility for the farmer’s intoxication.
Paul François against Monsanto: the main dates
- 2007: Paul François takes the multinational Monsanto to civil justice for “failure to label the product” because of its dangerousness.
- 2012: lThe Lyon court recognizes Monsanto’s “responsibility” for this labeling defect. Monsanto is appealing.
- 2015: the Lyon Court of Appeal confirms the judgment. Monsanto appeals in cassation.
- 2017: lhe Court of Cassation overturns the judgment of the Court of Appeal, because the decision does not refer to European regulations.
- 2019: the Court of Appeal of Lyon confirms that Monsanto is responsible “due to defective products”. Bayer appeals in cassation.
- October 2020: the Court of Cassation confirms the judgment of the Court of Appeal.
The Lyon court must now rule on the amount of damages. The farmer asked for 1 million euros.
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