Son's deformities: Grataloup family loses lawsuit against Bayer due to lack of invoices
The courts have not acknowledged Bayer-Monsanto 's responsibility for Théo Grataloup's serious deformities. Agrochemical giant Monsanto, since acquired by Bayer, was absolved of all liability in a ruling handed down Thursday by the Vienne (Isère) court.
The group was sued by the family, who accused it of causing their son Théo's severe deformities . In 2006, his mother sprayed her weeds with glyphosate while she was pregnant, but was unaware of it at the time.
But the court ruled that the evidence was insufficient to demonstrate the purchase and use of the product. "This is, of course, disappointing," the Grataloup family said in a statement, announcing its intention to appeal.
Because the argument of proof of purchase is absurd, denounces Théo's mother, Sabine Grataloup on RMC : "What tipped the balance were details. It is essential that the level of proof requested be adjusted to reality."
"A family isn't going to keep receipts for all the documents they use and take pictures of themselves every time they handle a product, thinking that if it causes cancer, they'll have to prove it. Now, we're in combat mode," she assures.
The family had, however, provided photos; two former employees of the equestrian center testified that they had seen Sabine using a total weedkiller there for several days. "But none of them specifically mentioned that the product used was Glyper," the court wrote.
Without a receipt , without proof of purchase, there is no point in going any further and analyzing the consequences of pesticide exposure on the fetus? if the exposure itself is not proven.
Born in 2007 with severe malformations of the larynx and esophagus, Théo Grataloup has undergone a total of 55 operations since birth. The young man lives with a tracheostomy. He breathes through a hole in his windpipe. He has no vocal cords. But he manages to express himself despite everything.
The doctors then assured his parents that no genetic or behavioral factor explained these malformations.
Sabine Grataloup then searched for and eventually found a weedkiller, Glyper, in her shed, which she had used in 2006 to maintain her riding center. She didn't yet know she was pregnant.
However, the first weeks of pregnancy are the most important for the development of the fetus. Sabine and her husband Thomas are convinced that Glyper, and the glyphosate it contains, is responsible for their son's malformations.
Bayer expressed "its deepest sympathy to the Grataloup family." The group also emphasized that its products are marketed in strict compliance with regulations and ensure they are "safe."
But this is controversial: glyphosate, the world's best-selling herbicide (800,000 tonnes in 2014), was classified in 2015 as a "probable carcinogen" by the WHO 's International Agency for Research on Cancer.
Since the end of 2018, the product has been banned in France for domestic use. However, in 2023, the marketing authorization will be renewed by Europe! for agricultural uses.
A year earlier, in 2022, doctors and researchers nevertheless recognized "the possibility" of a link between Théo's malformations and his prenatal exposure to pesticides. The "Pesticide Victims Compensation Fund" therefore pays him 1000 euros per month until he is 20 years old.
RMC
