Farmer’s Widow Sues Giant Biotech Firm for Wrongful Death Linked to Herbicide
A California widow recently filed a wrongful death lawsuit against a large biotech company that developed a weed killer containing glyphosphate. The case sought punitive damages against the defendant for alleged defrauding farmers including the decedent, about the herbicide’s safety.
Wrongful Death Allegations
The complaint alleged that the decedent discovered sometime in September 2015 that he was suffering from a rare and aggressive type of cancer known as anaplastic large cell lymphoma. The decedent had allegedly been using a specific brand of weed killer which contains glyphosphate, a chemical known to cause cancer and linked to the particular type of cancer that affected the decedent.
The decedent allegedly stopped using the herbicide immediately after learning of its links to cancer. But three months after his cancer diagnosis, the decedent died from a severe stroke that resulted from complications of his cancer treatment.
The plaintiff further alleged that:
- The biotech company failed to adequately warn farmers that their product causes cancer
- The defendant designed a defective and dangerous product
- The defendant committed gross negligence in the manufacture and promotion of the herbicide
Defendant’s Stand on Glyphosphate
The defendant company denies that the main ingredient of its immensely popular weed killer is carcinogenic. It even filed a lawsuit to stop the state of California from listing glyphosphate as a chemical known to cause cancer.
Wrongful Death Compensation
California personal injury laws allow the surviving heirs of a decedent to pursue negligent persons for compensation arising from the wrongful death of their loved ones. A successful plaintiff may be awarded economic damages such as:
- Loss of financial support
- Loss of gifts or bequests
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Reasonable value of household services that the decedent would have provided
The plaintiff may also claim non-economic damages for loss of love, companionship, care, and moral support.
Losing a loved one can be an emotionally difficult time made more painful when you know that someone’s negligence or misconduct led to your loss. Talk to an experienced wrongful death attorney about your situation and learn about your legal options.
In Los Angeles, California, the Bedford Law Group has over a decade of experience in wrongful death cases. We have helped clients recover compensation and obtain justice for loved ones who lost their lives due to someone else’s fault. Call us today at (310) 507-7900 to learn more about how we can help you.