United States District Judge Vince Chhabria ruled on January 28, 2019, that certain controversial evidence could be presented in the Roundup case. The case will be heard on February 25, 2019, in San Francisco federal court. The case pits Edwin Hardeman against Bayer AG. Hardeman claims that Bayer’s Roundup weed killer gave him cancer. He also says the company knew about the dangers but continued making the product.
Evidence to be Admitted
Hardeman’s lawyers purport that the evidence that Bayer AG wanted withheld from the court in the Roundup case shows that the company attempted to ghostwrite some studies. They hoped to influence the opinion of scientists and others to believe that glyphosate is safe to use. Glyphosate is a major ingredient in Roundup herbicide.
Judge Says Monsanto Should be Disappointed
Judge Chhabria, according to an article published by Reuters, says that his decision is “probably most disappointing for Monsanto.” Monsanto is the division of Bayer AG who was responsible for the production of the Roundup herbicide.
Judge Previously Ruled in Bayer AG’s Favor
The decision to allow into evidence information about the company’s lobbying efforts was probably even more disappointing to Monsanto because the same judge had ruled on January 3, 2019, that internal memos could not be used in the initial trial. The judge in the Roundup case did leave open the door that these memos could be used in the punitive part of the case. Before the case could move to that phase, the jury would have to find Bayer AG and Monsanto guilty of causing Hardeman’s cancer.
