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`MILSTEIN JACKSON
`
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`FAIRCHILD & WADE, LLP
`Gillian L. Wade, State Bar No. 229124
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`gwade@mjfwlaw.com
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`
`Sara D. Avila, State Bar No. 263213
`savila@mjfwlaw.com
`Marc A. Castaneda, State Bar No. 299001
`mcastaneda@mjfwlaw.com
`10250 Constellation Blvd., Suite 1400
`Los Angeles, CA 90067
`Tel: (310) 396-9600
`Fax: (310) 396-9635
`
`Attorneys for Plaintiff and the Class
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`UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
`FOR THE CENTRAL DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
`
`
`JAMES WEEKS, individually and on
`behalf of all others situated;
`Plaintiff,
`
`
`
`vs.
`
`
`HOME DEPOT U.S.A., INC., a
`Delaware corporation,
`Defendant.
`
`Case No. 2:19-cv-06780 JWH(ASx)
`
`
`SECOND AMENDED CLASS ACTION
`COMPLAINT
`
`
`1. Violations of Unfair Competition
`Law’s, ‘Unfair’ Prong, Cal. Bus. &
`Prof. C. §§ 17200, et seq.
`
`
`
`
`//
`//
`//
`//
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`SECOND AMENDED CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT
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`Case 2:19-cv-06780-JWH-AS Document 67 Filed 10/02/20 Page 2 of 28 Page ID #:1366
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`Plaintiff JAMES WEEKS (“Plaintiff”), by his undersigned counsel, on behalf
`
`of himself and all persons similarly situated, brings this Second Amended Class
`Action Complaint against Defendant Home Depot U.S.A., Inc. (“Home Depot” or
`“Defendant”) and alleges as follows:
`NATURE OF THE ACTION
`Plaintiff brings this action both on his own behalf and on behalf of a class
`1.
`of similarly situated consumers as defined below to redress the unfair business
`practices employed by Defendant in connection with its sale of the glyphosate-based
`herbicide Roundup®.
`2. At all relevant times, Defendant’s retail stores and website have sold and
`continue to sell various Roundup® herbicide products directly to consumers despite
`Defendant’s knowledge Roundup® has the potential to cause cancer in humans, and
`that there is an ongoing scientific debate as to whether Roundup® can cause Non-
`Hodgkin’s lymphoma (“NHL”).
`3. Defendant has been aware glyphosate—the active ingredient in
`Roundup®—is a Class 2A herbicide, meaning the World Health Organization’s
`International Agency for Research on Cancer (“IARC”) has determined it is probably
`carcinogenic to humans.
`4. Defendant has also been aware that California has classified glyphosate
`as a chemical known to cause cancer.
`5. Defendant has also known Roundup® and other glyphosate-based
`herbicides have been banned by many countries, regions, and municipalities
`throughout the California and the world because it may be dangerous to human health.
`6. Additionally, Defendant is aware of the tens of thousands personal injury
`cases brought by individuals who have alleged Roundup® exposure caused their
`cancer.1
`
`
`1 Most of these cases were consolidated in a multi-district litigation (“MDL”) before
`Judge Vince Chhabria in the Northern District of California. As alleged herein (the
`1
`SECOND AMENDED CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT
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`7. Defendant has also been further aware that, within the past two years,
`three California juries found that Roundup® likely caused certain plaintiffs in these
`personal injury cases to develop NHL, and have awarded nearly $100 million in
`compensatory damages and over $2 billion in punitive damages collectively.2
`8. Despite Defendant’s knowledge of Roundup®’s potential carcinogenicity
`throughout the class period, Defendant has sold and continues to sell Roundup® at its
`retail locations and on its website without providing consumers with any additional
`information on its website, store shelves or at the point of sale about the products’
`potential health risks. Defendant, at the very least, should inform consumers there is
`an ongoing scientific dispute over its potential carcinogenicity.
`9. Defendants’ conduct—continuing to sell a line of weed killer products
`despite knowing there has been a credible, ongoing scientific debate about the
`products’ potential carcinogenicity and without informing consumers about the
`potential health risks—constitutes an unfair business practice under the Unfair
`Competition Law, Cal. Bus. & Prof. C. §§ 17200, et seq. (the “UCL”).
`JURISDICTION AND VENUE
`10. Jurisdiction is proper in this Court pursuant to the Class Action Fairness
`Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1332(d) (“CAFA”). Defendant is either incorporated and/or has its
`principal place of business outside the state in which Plaintiff and members of the
`proposed Class reside. Furthermore, there are more than 100 Class Members and the
`amount-in-controversy exceeds $5,000,000 exclusive of interest and costs.
`11. This Court has personal jurisdiction over Defendant because Defendant
`is a foreign corporation authorized to do business in California and has sufficient
`
`
`makers of Roundup® Monsanto Company (“Monsanto”) and Bayer Corporation
`(“Bayer”)) recently announced (a) a $10.1 billion settlement of the majority of these
`cases, and (b) a now-withdrawn separate $1.1 billion MDL class settlement to resolve
`future cases.
`2 As discussed below, these awards were later reduced by the trial courts. Two of the
`cases are on appeal, and one was recently affirmed by the California Court of Appeal.
`2
`SECOND AMENDED CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT
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`minimum contacts with California or otherwise intentionally avails itself of the laws
`and markets of California, through the sale and distribution of its Roundup® products
`in California, to render the exercise of jurisdiction by the California courts
`permissible.
`12. Venue is proper in this District under 28 U.S.C. §1391(b) and (c) because
`Defendant’s improper conduct alleged in this complaint occurred in, was directed
`from, and/or emanated from this judicial district, because Defendant has caused harm
`to Class Members residing in this district, and/or because Defendant is subject to
`personal jurisdiction in this district.
`
`PARTIES
`13. Plaintiff JAMES WEEKS is an individual, a resident of Oxnard,
`California, and a member of the Class alleged herein.
`14. Defendant HOME DEPOT U.S.A., INC. is a publicly traded Delaware
`corporation, California Secretary of State Registry No. C1648357, in “active” status,
`with a principal place of business in Atlanta, Georgia. HOME DEPOT U.S.A., INC.
`is the largest home improvement retailer in the United States and is engaged in the
`marketing, sale, and distribution of a product line of herbicide Roundup®, which
`contains the active ingredient glyphosate. All formulations of Roundup® are
`manufactured by non-parties Monsanto Company, Bayer Corporation, and/or Bayer
`AG.
`
`15. “Roundup” refers to any and all Roundup®-brand products and other
`herbicide products containing glyphosate that have been sold by Home Depot at any
`time during the class period. Roundup includes but is not limited to the following
`products: Roundup Ready-To-Use Weed & Grass Killer III; Roundup Ready-To-Use
`Weed & Grass Killer III with Comfort Wand; Roundup Ready-To-Use Weed & Grass
`Killer III Sure Shot Wand; Roundup Ready-To-Use Weed & Grass Killer III Trigger
`Sprayer; Roundup Ready-To-Use Weed & Grass Killer III with Pump 'N Go 2
`Sprayer; Roundup Ready-to-Use Weed & Grass Killer III Pull N Spray Applicator;
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`Roundup Ready-To-Use Weed & Grass Killer III Refill; Roundup Weed & Grass
`Killer Super Concentrate; Roundup Weed & Grass Killer Concentrate Plus; Roundup
`Weed & Grass Killer Concentrate Plus Value Size; Roundup Ready-to-Use Extended
`Control Weed & Grass Killer Plus Weed Preventer II; Roundup Concentrate
`Extended Control Weed & Grass Killer Plus Weed Preventer II; Roundup Ready-to-
`Use Extended Control Weed & Grass Killer Pump N Go II; Roundup Ready-To-Use
`Extended Control Weed & Grass Killer Plus Weed Preventer II with Comfort Wand;
`Roundup Ready-To-Use Extended Control Weed & Grass Killer Plus Weed Preventer
`II Trigger; Sprayer Roundup Ready-To-Use Extended Control Weed & Grass Killer
`Plus Weed Preventer II Refill; Roundup Ready-To-Use Poison Ivy Plus Tough Brush
`Killer; Roundup Ready-To-Use Poison Ivy Plus Tough Brush Killer with Comfort
`Wand; Roundup Ready-To-Use Poison Ivy Plus Tough Brush Killer Trigger (with
`Trigger Sprayer); Roundup Concentrate Max Control 365; Roundup Ready-To-Use
`Max Control 365 Refill; and Roundup Weed & Grass Killer Precision Gel.
`16. Defendant transacted and conducted business within the State of
`California that relates to the allegations in this Complaint.
`17. Defendant derived substantial revenue from goods and products
`purchased and used in the State of California.
`18. Defendant purposefully availed itself of the privilege of conducting
`activities within the State of California, thus invoking the benefits and protections of
`its laws.
`19. Defendant advertises and sells goods, specifically Roundup, throughout
`California and the United States, including in Ventura County, California.
`FACTUAL ALLEGATIONS
`A. Background on Roundup’s Ingredients and Packaging.
`20. Roundup is sold at Home Depot retail locations throughout the United
`States, including those in California, and on Home Depot’s website.
`
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`SECOND AMENDED CLASS ACTION COMPLAINT
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`21. Glyphosate is the active ingredient in Roundup. Glyphosate is a
`nonselective herbicide that inhibits plant growth through interference with the
`production of essential aromatic amino acids. It was discovered to be an herbicide in
`1970 and was first brought into the market as Roundup by Monsanto Company
`(“Monsanto”) in 1974.
`22. In addition to the active ingredient glyphosate, Roundup formulations
`also contain adjuvants and other chemicals, such as the surfactant polyethoxylated
`tallow amine (“POEA”), which are considered “inert” and therefore protected as
`“trade secrets” in manufacturing. Growing evidence suggests that these adjuvants and
`additional components of Roundup formulations are not, in fact, inert and are toxic in
`their own right.
`23. Exemplar photographs of Roundup’s packaging are attached hereto as
`“Exhibit A.” The front panel of Roundup’s packaging states: “Keep Out of Reach of
`Children” and “Caution.” The back panel booklet provides Roundup may cause
`“moderate eye irritation.”
`24. Roundup’s Safety Data Sheet (“SDS”),3 issued by Monsanto, similarly
`warns it may cause “serious eye irritation.”
`25. These statements about potential eye irritation on the packaging and SDS
`sheet give the false impression that eye irritation is the only potential health risk posed
`by Roundup.
`B. The IARC Classification of Glyphosate.
`26. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (“IARC”), an
`intergovernmental cancer agency within the World Health Organization (“WHO”) of
`
`
`3 The Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR § 1910.1200(g)) requires any
`chemical manufacturer, distributor, or importer to provide SDSs for each hazardous
`chemical to downstream users to communicate information on these hazards. The
`SDS includes information such as the properties of each chemical; the physical,
`health, and environmental health hazards; protective measures; and safety precautions
`for handling, storing, and transporting the chemical.
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`the United Nations, was tasked in 2015 with conducting and coordinating research
`into the causes of cancer it pertained to glyphosate.
`27. In March 2015, an IARC “Working Group” of 17 experts from 11
`countries convened to evaluate several insecticides and herbicides, including
`diazinon, tetrachlorvinphos, malathion, parathion, and glyphosate. The evaluation
`was based on a cumulative review of all publicly available and pertinent scientific
`studies. Some of the studies pertained to people exposed to glyphosate through their
`jobs, such as farmers. Others were experimental studies on cancer and cancer-related
`effects in experimental systems. The IARC Working Group’s full monograph was
`published on July 29, 2015.
`28. In its monograph, the IARC Working Group classified glyphosate as a
`Class 2A herbicide, which means it is probably carcinogenic to humans. It concluded
`non-Hodgkin lymphoma was most associated with glyphosate exposure.
`29. The IARC also found that glyphosate caused DNA and chromosomal
`damage in human cells.
`30. The IARC’s conclusions were consistent with scientific developments
`that had occurred in prior decades.
`C. Early Studies on Roundup’s Carcinogenic Properties.
`31. As early as the 1980’s, glyphosate’s carcinogenic properties began to
`come to light.
`32. On March 4, 1985, a group of within EPA’s Toxicology Branch published
`a “consensus review” based on a mouse study conducted by Monsanto in 1983. The
`review “classified Glyphosate as a Category C oncogen,” meaning it is a possible
`human carcinogen.
`33. However in June 1991, EPA published a memorandum entitled, “Second
`Peer Review of Glyphosate,” which changed glyphosate’s classification to Group E
`(evidence of non-carcinogenicity for humans). Two peer review committee members
`did not concur with the conclusions, and the Memorandum itself “emphasized
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`however, that designation of an agent in Group E is based on the available evidence
`at the time of evaluation and should not be interpreted as a definitive conclusion that
`the agent will not be a carcinogen under any circumstances.”
`34. Further studies and developments indicated glysophate indeed posed (and
`still poses) a definite carcinogenic effect on humans.
`35. In 1996, the New York Attorney General sued Monsanto for false and
`misleading advertising by touting its glyphosate-based Roundup products as, e.g.,
`“safer than table salt” and "practically non-toxic" to mammals, birds, and fish.
`36. On November 19, 1996, Monsanto entered into an Assurance of
`Discontinuance with New York Attorney General, in which Monsanto agreed to alter
`the advertising, removing from advertisements that represent, directly or by
`implication, that the weed killers were biodegradable and environmentally friendly.
`Monsanto also agreed to pay $50,000 toward New York’s costs of pursuing the case.
`At the time, New York was the only state to object to the advertising claims.
`37. In 1997, Chris Clements, et al. published a study entitled, “Genotoxicity
`of Select Herbicides in Rana catesbeiana Tadpoles Using the Alkaline Single-Cell
`Gel DNA Electrophoresis (Comet) Assay.” Genotoxicity refers to the property of
`chemical agents which cause damage to genetic information within a cell causing
`mutations, which may lead to cancer. In Clements’ publication, tadpoles were
`exposed to various herbicides, including Roundup, for a 24-hour period. Roundup-
`treated tadpoles showed “significant DNA damage when compared with unexposed
`control animals.”
`38. In 1999, Lennart Hardell and Mikael Eriksson published a study entitled,
`“A Case–Control Study of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and Exposure to Pesticides,”
`which consisted of a population-based case–control study in northern and middle
`Sweden encompassing 442 cases and twice as many controls was performed.
`Exposure data were ascertained by comprehensive questionnaires, and the
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`questionnaires were supplemented by telephone interviews. The results indicated
`exposure to glyphosate and other herbicides yielded increased risks for NHL.
`39. In 2002, Julie Marc, et al. published a study entitled, “Pesticide Roundup
`Provokes Cell Division Dysfunction at the Level of CDK1/Cyclin B Activation.” The
`study found Defendant’s Roundup caused delays in the cell cycles of sea urchins. It
`further noted the deregulations of cell cycle checkpoints are directly linked to
`genomic instability, which can generate diseases and cause cancer. The findings led
`to the conclusion Roundup “causes changes in cell cycle regulation that may raise
`questions about the effect of this pesticide on human health.”
`40. In 2003, A. J. De Roos, et al. published a study entitled, “Integrative
`assessment of multiple pesticides as risk factors for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma among
`men,” which “[r]eported use of several individual pesticides was associated with
`increased NHL incidence, including . . . glyphosate. A subanalysis of these
`‘potentially carcinogenic’ pesticides suggested a positive trend of risk with exposure
`to increasing numbers.”
`41. In 2004, Julie Marc, et al. published another study entitled, “Glyphosate-
`based pesticides affect cell cycle regulation.” In that study, which tested Roundup
`3plus on sea urchin eggs, determined “glyphosate-based pesticides are clearly of
`human health concern by inhalation in the vicinity of spraying,” given the “molecular
`link between glyphosate and cell cycle dysregulation.” It observed, “roundup may be
`related to increased frequency of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma among farmers, citing
`the study by A. J. De Roos., et al.
`42. In 2005, Francisco Peixo published a study entitled, “Comparative effects
`of the Roundup and glyphosate on mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation,” which
`suggested the harmful effects of Roundup could be the result of Roundup’s specific
`combination of chemicals, and the interaction of glyphosate and the surfactant POEA.
`43. In 2008, Mikael Eriksson, et al. published a study entitled, “Pesticide
`exposure as risk factor for NHL including histopathological subgroup analysis,”
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`based on a case-control study of exposure to various pesticides as a risk factor for
`NHL. Eriksson’s study strengthened previous associations between glyphosate and
`NHL.
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`44. In 2009, France’s highest court ruled that Monsanto had not told the truth
`about the safety of Roundup. The French court affirmed an earlier judgment that
`Monsanto had falsely advertised its herbicide Roundup as “biodegradable” and that
`it “left the soil clean.”
`45. Also in 2009, Nora Benachour and Gilles-Eric Seralini published a study
`entitled, “Glyphosate formulations induce apoptosis and necrosis in human umbilical,
`embryonic, and placental cells,” which examined the effects of four different
`Roundup formulations on human umbilical, embryonic, and placental cells—at
`dilution levels far below agricultural recommendations. The study found the
`formations caused cell death in a few hours in a cumulative manner, caused DNA
`damage, and found that the formulations inhibit cell respiration. In addition, it was
`shown the mixture of the components used as Roundup adjuvants, particularly POEA
`(polyoxyethyleneamine) amplified the action of the glyphosate. The Roundup
`adjuvants actually changed human cell permeability and increased the toxicity of
`glyphosate in Roundup alone. This study suggests Roundup poses even greater risks
`than glyphosate alone, as a result of Roundup’s specific combination of chemicals,
`and the interaction of glyphosate and POEA.
`D. Glyphosate-Based Herbicides,
`Including Roundup, are Banned
`Throughout California and the World.
`46. Following the IARC’s report on glyphosate, several countries have issued
`outright bans or restrictions on glyphosate herbicides, including Roundup.
`47. In May 2015, the Netherlands banned all non-commercial use of
`glyphosate.
`See
`https://www.collective-evolution.com/2015/05/30/why-the-
`netherlands-just-banned-monsantos-glyphosate-based-herbicides/.
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`48. In 2016, Italy adopted a law prohibiting the use of glyphosate in areas
`frequented by the public or by "vulnerable groups" including children and the elderly
`and in
`the
`pre-harvest
`phase
`in
`agriculture.
`See
`https://www.soilassociation.org/news/2016/august/italy-bans-toxic-glyphosate/.
`49. In June 2017, the Flemish government approved a ban on glyphosate for
`individual-use.
`See
`https://www.brusselstimes.com/all-news/belgium-all-
`news/43150/flemish-government-approves-ban-on-glyphosate-for-individuals/.
`50. In September 2018, the agriculture ministry of the Czech Republic stated
`the country would ban the blanket use of glyphosate as a weedkiller and as a drying
`agent.
`See
`https://phys.org/news/2018-09-czech-republic-restrict-glyphosate-
`weedkiller.html. The ban came
`into effect on January 1, 2019. See
`http://www.arc2020.eu/czech-out-this-roundabout-way-to-not-ban-roundup/.
`51. In October 2018, the Indian state of Punjab banned the sale of glyphosate.
`See https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/punjab-government-bans-
`sale-of-herbicide/article25314146.ece. And in February of 2019, the Indian state of
`Kerala followed suit, issuing a ban on the sale, distribution and use of glyphosate. See
`https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/kerala-government-bans-glyphosate-
`deadly-weed-killer-96220.
`52. In January 2019, French authorities banned the sale of Roundup following
`a court ruling that regulators failed to take safety concerns into account when clearing
`the widely used herbicide. See https://www.france24.com/en/20190116-weedkiller-
`roundup-banned-france-after-court-ruling. In April 2019, a French appeals court
`ruled Bayer’s Monsanto business was liable for the health problems of a farmer who
`inhaled
`Roundup.
`See
`https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/international/2019/04/11/523456.htm.
`53. In March 2019, Vietnam announced it has banned the import of all
`glyphosate-based herbicides. See https://sustainablepulse.com/2019/03/25/vietnam-
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`bans-import-of-glyphosate-herbicides-after-us-cancer-trial-verdict/#.XS-
`xCT9Kh9O.
`54. In July 2019, Austria’s Parliament passed a bill banning all uses of
`glyphosate.
`https://www.reuters.com/article/us-austria-glyphosate/austrian-
`See
`parliament-backs-eus-first-total-ban-of-weedkiller-glyphosate-idUSKCN1TX1JR.
`Although the ban was supposed to take effect on January 1, 2020, Austria’s
`Chancellor refused to sign it into law due to a legal technicality. See
`https://www.reuters.com/article/us-austria-glyphosate/austrian-leader-blocks-ban-
`on-weedkiller-glyphosate-citing-technicality-idUSKBN1YD11Z.
`55. In January 2020, Luxembourg issued a total ban on glyphosate. See
`https://www.brusselstimes.com/all-news/eu-affairs/92006/luxembourg-will-be-first-
`eu-country-to-totally-ban-glyphosate/.
`56. Several municipalities and regions in Spain, the United Kingdom, and the
`United States, have also banned glyphosate-based herbicides.
`57. Furthermore, the following local governments and municipalities in
`California have banned or restricted the use of glyphosate-based herbicides:
`a. The East Bay Regional Park District, a special district operating regional
`parks in Alameda and Contra Costa Counties, banned glyphosate around
`picnic and play areas effective July 2019.
`b. The City of Benicia discontinued its use of glyphosate products in 2018.
`c. The City of Burbank discontinued its use of Roundup in 2017.
`d. The City of Clayton discontinued its use of glyphosate products on city
`property in 2019.
`e. The Mount Diablo Unified School District in the City of Concord
`unanimously voted to ban glyphosate use on school property in 2019.
`f. The City of Davis voted to officially end the use of glyphosate-based
`herbicides in February 2020.
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`g. The City of Encinitas banned the use of Roundup and other glyphosate-
`based weed killers in city parks in 2015.
`h. The City of Greenfield adopted a resolution to halt the use of Roundup
`and replace it with “greener” alternatives in 2019.
`i. The City of Irvine passed resolution to cease spraying Roundup and other
`chemicals on public parks, streets and playgrounds in 2016.
`j. The City of Lodi decided to ban the use of Roundup within 25 feet of
`playgrounds in 2019.
`k. The Long Beach Parks & Recreation Director announced an immediate
`halt on the spraying of Roundup in Long Beach Parks in 2018.
`l. The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors issued a moratorium on
`glyphosate-based herbicides in 2019.
`m. Marin County stopped using glyphosate on all county-maintained parks,
`landscaping, playgrounds, walkways and parking areas in 2015.
`n. The City of Napa in March 2019 announced a policy banning glyphosate
`use on city property.
`o. The City of Novato announced it would stop using glyphosate-based
`herbicides in 2018.
`p. The City of Oakland formally halted the use of Roundup in September
`2018.
`q. Orange County Parks banned the use of glyphosate on and around
`playgrounds, picnic shelters, trails and campgrounds in 2019.
`r. The Oxnard School District board voted to ban Roundup use on campuses
`in 2019.
`s. The City of Richmond issued an ordinance to ban the use of glyphosate
`for all weed abatement activities conducted by the city in 2015.
`t. The San Lorenzo Valley Water District voted 4-1 for a permanent ban of
`glyphosate pesticide use by the district in 2019.
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`u. The San Luis Coastal Unified School District banned all pesticides,
`including Roundup, on school properties in 2018.
`v. The Santa Barbara Unified School District Board of Education voted to
`ban glyphosate spraying at all district schools in 2019.
`w. The City of Santa Rosa banned the use of Roundup at city parks in 2018.
`x. The City of Sonoma banned glyphosate use on all city-owned property in
`2019.
`y. The City of Thousand Oaks instituted a ban on glyphosate use on public
`golf courses in 2015.
`z. The City of Watsonville voted unanimously to ban Roundup use on city
`property in 2019.
`aa. Woodland Joint Unified School District suspended the use of Roundup
`on school campuses in 2018.
`Given Defendant has retail locations in many of the areas listed above, it was likely
`aware of these bans and the concerns around glyphosate-based herbicides.
`
`E. Monsanto Loses Three Jury Trials after Roundup is Found to Cause
`Cancer in Humans.
`58. Tens of thousands of individuals have filed personal injury lawsuits
`against Monsanto and Bayer on grounds Roundup exposure caused their NHL.
`59. Many of these lawsuits, filed in federal courts throughout the United
`States, were consolidated before Judge Vince Chhabria in an multi-district litigation
`(“MDL”), entitled In re: Roundup Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2741 (N.D.
`Cal.).
`
`60. On August 10, 2018, a unanimous California jury in Johnson v. Monsanto
`Co., No. CGC16550128 (Cal. Super. Ct., Cnty. of S.F.) held Monsanto’s Roundup
`and Ranger Pro herbicides were unsafe and were a substantial factor in causing harm
`to the plaintiff. The jury also found Monsanto failed to adequately warn customers
`of the risks associated with its Roundup and Ranger Pro products, and that the
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`company acted with malice or oppression. The jury awarded the plaintiff a total of
`$289 million, with $250 million in punitive damages and $39.25 million in
`compensatory damages. The court later reduced the punitive damages award, bringing
`the total award to $78.5 million. On or about July 21, 2020, the California Court of
`Appeal affirmed the judgment, found the plaintiff’s claims were not preempted, and
`reduced the total award.
`61. On March 27, 2019, a unanimous California jury in Hardeman v.
`Monsanto Co., No. 3:16-cv-00525-VC (N.D. Cal.) found Monsanto liable for failing
`to warn Roundup could cause cancer, liable for negligence, and liable in a design
`defect claim. The jury awarded the plaintiff a total of $80.27 million, with $75 million
`in punitive damages and $5.27 million in compensatory damages. The court later
`reduced the punitive damages award, bringing the total award to $25.27 million.
`Monsanto has appealed the judgment and the matter is currently before the Ninth
`Circuit Court of Appeals.
`62. On May 13, 2019, a California jury found Monsanto likely caused a
`couple’s cancer in Pilliod v. Monsanto Co., No. RG17862702 (Cal. Super. Ct., Cnty.
`of Alameda). The jury found on a preponderance of the evidence Roundup was a
`significant contributing factor in causing the plaintiff’s NHL. The jury awarded the
`plaintiffs a total of $2.055 billion, with $2 billion in punitive damages and $55 million
`in compensatory damages. The court later reduced the punitive and compensatory
`damages awards, bringing the total award to $87 million. Monsanto has appealed the
`judgment and the matter is currently before the California Court of Appeal.
`63. On information and belief, throughout the class period, Home Depot was
`aware of the existence of the aforementioned personal injury litigation involving
`Roundup, and has been aware of as well as the ultimate jury verdicts.
`F. The Makers of Roundup Agreed to Pay Over $10 Billion to Settle Personal
`
`Injury Suits.
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`64. On June 24, 2020, the makers of Roundup announced they reached a
`$10.1 billion settlement with thousands of plaintiffs in the MDL. When finalized, the
`settlements will bring closure to approximately 75% of the current Roundup personal
`injury litigation, invo