For years, farmers and agricultural workers have used pesticides to control weed and grass growth that can be detrimental to crops, dry out certain plants, and remove leaves from them before harvesting. But over time, regular pesticide use has caused plants to become resistant, leading to stronger – and in many cases, more toxic and dangerous – pesticides sprayed on crops.

Paraquat dichloride is a prominent example of a highly toxic, yet commonly used pesticide in the U.S. While it’s extremely effective and only sold commercially, the risks of using the pesticide are beginning to emerge. Research into the health effects of pesticides have demonstrated there may be serious dangers of working with paraquat.

In fact, studies have associated paraquat with a higher risk of Parkinson’s disease, among other illnesses. As a result, thousands of lawsuits have been filed against its manufacturers, including Syngenta and Chevron.

Jul 19 2022

3M Earplug Lawsuit Began As A Small Patent Fight With Rival

3M Earplugs

The mountain of legal cases facing 3M Co. over its military-grade earplugs — it’s facing tens of thousands of lawsuits from veterans and potentially more than $1 billion in liability — may have its roots in a much smaller intellectual-property fight with another earplug maker.

That’s the takeaway from a report in The Wall Street Journal, which delves into the legal history behind 3M’s Combat Arms earplugs. The earplugs have drawn legal complaints from veterans who say they damaged their hearing.

But the company has lost more than half the 16 lawsuits decided so far, with damages ranging from $1.7 million to more than $75 million. 3M is appealing some of the cases, but there are tens of thousands more ahead; a judge has ordered settlement talks.

3M got into the earplug business when it bought Aearo Technologies Inc. for $1.2 billion in 2008. A few years later, the Journal

Jul 17 2022

Roundup $45 Million Weed Killer Settlement

Roundup

Use Roundup Weed Killer? You May Be Owed Money

Amid allegations that Monsanto failed to disclose the herbicide’s cancer risk clearly, the company has agreed to a $45 million settlement.
If you’ve purchased Roundup, HDX or Ace weed and grass killer in recent years, you might have some money coming to you. Agricultural giant Monsanto, which produces all three, has agreed to a $45 million settlement in response to a class-action lawsuit accusing the company of failing to warn customers that the glyphosate-based herbicides could potentially cause cancer or other adverse health effects.

The payout is unrelated to the tens of thousands of personal injury claims filed against Monsanto and its parent company, Bayer, by people diagnosed with cancer after using Roundup. The claimants in this suit alleged Monsanto was negligent in not warning them of the danger.

Read on to find out what the Roundup case is about, who

May 2 2022

3M loses latest earplug trial, now has nine defeats and six victories

3M Earplugs

A $2.2 million verdict against 3M is the latest outcome in an ongoing legal battle over allegedly defective earplugs the company long made for the U.S. military.

3M has now lost nine and won six bellwether trials aimed at setting the groundwork for a settlement in one of the largest U.S. mass tort cases ever. With only one more bellwether trial forthcoming, a settlement still appears elusive.

A jury in the case before the U.S. District Court for northern Florida on Friday ruled in favor of Jonathon Vaughn, who served in the U.S. Army from 2006 to 2010. Vaughn, of Southside, Ala., claimed that 3M’s Combat Arms CAEv2 earplugs caused his hearing loss and tinnitus.

Damages awarded to plaintiffs — all with similar claims — amount to about $220 million.

“It is clear 3M’s defenses — whether in the courts, to investors or the public — are unconvincing and without merit,

Mar 6 2022

Health Concern: What You Need to Know About the 2020 Zantac Recall

Zantac

What is Zantac?
Zantac is a popular OTC (over-the-counter) drug that is taken to relieve and prevent heartburn. It is also used to treat indigestion, acid reflux, and a variety of other health issues associated with GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), and it can be prescribed by a physician to treat any of these disorders.

In early 2020, the FDA issued a recall on Zantac due to the fact that its active ingredient ranitidine may be linked to the development of certain cancers, including stomach, colon, and bladder cancers.

Ranitidine Explained
Prior to April 2020, the main ingredient in Zantac (and some other antacids) was ranitidine, which is an H2 blocker (histamine-2 antagonist). The purpose of H2 blockers in antacids is to prevent certain cells in

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