NOT DWAYNE THE ROCK JOHNSON.
Dewayne Lee Johnson, 46, worked as a school groundskeeper for several years. He regularly used commercial-grade roundup to spray for weeds on the school grounds. He followed label safety instructions for application, but twice, equipment broke and he was drenched head to toe in the chemical. He reported skin irritation and stinging sensations after, and followed label instructions for skin exposure, but was told the herbicide was not dangerous.
Shortly after, he developed health problems and was diagnosed with
non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. His case was expedited through the legal system, as his doctors don’t think he’ll live more than a few months. (This is not uncommon with cases where the plaintiff has a terminal illness.)
He is not the only person to develop non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after Roundup exposure. Not even close. There’s a class-action against Monsanto for people who developed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, leukemia, and
multiple myeloma after Roundup exposure now.
One of the things Mr. Johnson said during the trial was that, while his own health problems are obviously severe, he’s more worried for the children who may have been exposed over the years. He said to the judge that he’s absolutely horrified that his actions may have exposed children to dangerous chemicals, and that had he known how dangerous roundup was he never would have used it near children.
But, of course he didn’t, and neither did the school that employed him. Because the information was purposefully withheld by Monsanto.
He’s stated that he hopes that his case can prevent kids and other people from getting sick from exposure to the stuff in the future, and his main concern financially was to make sure his family (his wife and daughters) are taken care of, since his case is, of course, terminal.
His wife has been working two 40 hour a week jobs to keep the bills paid since his diagnosis, and they’ve racked up a LOT of medical debt during his treatment that he was worried would ruin his family after his death.
Not to mention, a wife is going to lose her husband, his parents their son, and his daughters their father. And so are many other people. Because Monsanto lied. For decades.
boy do i hate that bloody company.
Ink Child Writing 