After more than fifteen years of legal proceedings, the farmer who went on a crusade against Monsanto will be compensated up to 11,135 euros by decision of the Lyon court.
In 2020, the Court of Cassation rejected the appeal of Monsanto, acquired in 2018 by Bayer, confirming the conviction of the former American biotechnology giant in the agricultural sector.
He was accused of intoxication by Paul François, the farmer from Charente who in 2004 had inhaled fumes from the herbicide Lasso, marketed by Monsanto.
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Paul François regrets the derisory amount of compensation, even if he welcomes our colleagues from
Le Monde
the condemnation of the industrial giant in a case brought by a farmer.
He and his advisers had estimated the various damages at one million euros.
"11,135 euros for fifteen years of life put on hold, of sleepless nights, I might have done better to use this time to play the lottery!"
, he told
Le Monde
.
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After suffering several illnesses and even close to death, Paul François resolved in 2007 to take legal action against Monsanto – which had not yet been absorbed by Bayer at the time.
The group's liability was confirmed at first and then at second instance.
Monsanto decided to appeal in cassation for the first time and the case was finally referred to the Lyon Court of Appeal.
Bought by Bayer, the German company had conducted a second appeal in cassation, which resulted in a final conviction.
Justice did not rule on the toxicity of the product marketed by Monsanto, but argued shortcomings in the information provided to users.
The Lasso was banned in France in 2007, many years after being banned in Canada, Belgium and the United Kingdom.
It is the Bayer group which will have to pay the 11,000 euros in compensation.