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U.S. NEWS Saturday 11 auguSt 2018

Jury backs man who claims

Roundup weed killer caused cancer

By PAUL ELIAS they wanted in punitive Johnson and his family,"
Associated Press damages. Partridge said. "We will ap-
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A "This jury found Monsanto peal this decision and con-
San Francisco jury on Friday acted with malice and tinue to vigorously defend
ordered agribusiness gi- oppression because they this product, which has a
ant Monsanto to pay $289 knew what they were do- 40-year history of safe use
million to a former school ing was wrong and doing and continues to be a vital,
groundskeeper dying of it with reckless disregard for effective, and safe tool for
cancer, saying the com- human life," said Robert F. farmers and others."
pany's popular Roundup Kennedy Jr., a member of Johnson used Roundup In this July, 9, 2018, file photo, plaintiff DeWayne Johnson looks
weed killer contributed to Johnson's legal team. "This and a similar product, up during a brief break as the Monsanto trial continues in San
his disease. should send a strong mes- Ranger Pro, as a pest con- Francisco.
Dewayne Johnson's law- sage to the boardroom of trol manager at a San Associated Press
suit was the first of hun- Monsanto." Francisco Bay Area school
dreds of cases filed in state Monsanto has denied a district, his lawyers said. He ner said. He was diagnosed The U.S. Environmental
and federal courts alleg- link between the active sprayed large quantities with non-Hodgkin's lympho- Protection Agency says
ing that Roundup causes ingredient in Roundup — from a 50-gallon tank at- ma in 2014 at age 42. Roundup's active ingredi-
non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, glyphosate — and cancer, tached to a truck, and dur- "The simple fact is he is go- ent is safe for people when
which Monsanto denies. saying hundreds of stud- ing gusty winds, the prod- ing to die. It's just a matter used in accordance with
Jurors in state Superior ies have established that uct would cover his face, of time," Wisner told the jury label directions.
Court agreed the product glyphosate is safe. said Brent Wisner, one of his in his opening statement However, the France-
contributed to Johnson's Monsanto spokesman Scott attorneys. last month. based International Agen-
cancer and the company Partridge said the com- Once, when a hose broke, But George Lombardi, an cy for Research on Cancer,
should have provided a pany will appeal. Partridge the weed killer soaked his attorney for Monsanto, said which is part of the World
label warning of the po- said scientific studies and entire body. non-Hodgkin's lymphoma Health Organization, clas-
tential health hazard. John- two government agen- Johnson read the label and takes years to develop, sified it as a "probable hu-
son's attorneys sought and cies have concluded that even contacted the com- so Johnson's cancer must man carcinogen" in 2015.
won $39 million in compen- Roundup does not cause pany after developing a have started well before California added glypho-
satory damages and $250 cancer. rash but was never warned he began working at the sate to its list of chemicals
million of the $373 million "We are sympathetic to Mr. it could cause cancer, Wis- school district. known to cause cancer.q

Man says he killed city worker over yard rule 'harassment'

By LINDSAY WHITEHURST documents. cused the neighbors of re- Police say they found an and dedicated employee
Associated Press Jill Robinson had dealt with porting his yard to the city, assault-style rifle, a hand- who loved softball. She
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — A Billings before, but it was a a spokeswoman for the gun, bolt cutters, a pro- had worked for the city for
Utah man who shot and routine call and code en- couple who lived next door pane torch and gas con- 10 years.
killed a city worker, torched forcement officers don't said. tainers in his house. "She was always very friend-
her truck and set his neigh- aim to harass residents, of- As the fires burned, he Robinson, 52, was an un- ly, quick to wave when
bor's house on fire told wit- ficials said. stood in his driveway, near armed, civilian worker who you'd see her," city spokes-
nesses that he did it after He poured gasoline on Rob- the body, witnesses told typically dealt with com- man Sam Johnson said.
"years of harassment" over inson's city pickup truck, police. plaints about unkempt Other code enforcement
laws requiring cleanup of then set it ablaze Thursday, Billings was arrested on yards or abandoned cars, officers were pulled off the
trash and weeds outside his police said. He also started suspicion of aggravated West Valley City officials streets immediately after
home, police said Friday. a fire on his neighbor's deck arson, murder and other said. Code enforcement the slaying.
Kevin Wayne Billings, 64, that spread to their home charges. No attorney was officers are trained to leave It wasn't clear how long
said the code enforce- and destroyed it, killing six listed for him in court re- and call police if people that would last and it was
ment officer in suburban dogs and two cats, police cords, and there was no get hostile. too early to say if any safety
Salt Lake City "got what she said. answer at a publicly listed Robinson was remembered changes would be made,
deserved," police said in jail Billings had wrongly ac- phone number. as a mother, grandmother Johnson said.q