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PufPuf23

(8,679 posts)
Thu Dec 19, 2019, 03:59 AM Dec 2019

Roundup suit lawyer accused of $200 million extortion plot

Source: CBS News via MSN.com


Law enforcement officials have arrested a Virginia lawyer involved in litigation over the health risks of Monsanto's Roundup weed killer product, with prosecutors accusing him of trying to extort an unnamed company into a $200 million consulting fee with his legal firm.

Timothy Litzenburg, 37, was charged with interstate intentions to extort, the U.S. Department of Justice said on Tuesday. Litzenburg represented a former school groundskeeper win a $289 million lawsuit last year against agribusiness giant Monsanto over Roundup, which has been linked to cancer (The settlement was later reduced to $78 million.)

In the Justice Department complaint, federal officials didn't name Monsanto as the company Litzenburg allegedly tried to extort and instead described Litzenburg's victims as "Company 1" and "Company 2." Company 1 is a privately owned chemical manufacturer, and Company 2 is a publicly traded corporation that acquired Company 1 in 2018, the complaint states.

Publicly traded Bayer acquired privately owned Monsanto in June 2018. "Monsanto is not a party to this matter," a Bayer spokesperson told

Federal officials allege Litzenburg contacted the companies in October and said they had a potentially large liability for making a harmful chemical used in their household product for killing weeds. Litzenburg threatened to find people who he would advise to sue the companies for exposing them to the chemical, according to the complaint. Litzenburg told the companies lawyers that he would cease searching for potential plantiffs in exchange for a multi-million-dollar consulting agreement, the complaint claims.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/roundup-suit-lawyer-accused-of-dollar200-million-extortion-plot/ar-BBY8mBV

16 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Roundup suit lawyer accused of $200 million extortion plot (Original Post) PufPuf23 Dec 2019 OP
Not very subtle keithbvadu2 Dec 2019 #1
Do you mean the arrested attorney or the heat of the Justice Department PufPuf23 Dec 2019 #5
Post removed Post removed Dec 2019 #2
I love when lawyers are arrested 7wo7rees Dec 2019 #3
This lawyer put his head in the mouth of a fiery beast. PufPuf23 Dec 2019 #6
Oh. He thought they were withholding aid? bucolic_frolic Dec 2019 #4
The lawyer had done well getting the $289 million judgement PufPuf23 Dec 2019 #7
I see far more ads for shyster lawyers like this guy. Archae Dec 2019 #9
I was referring to all the lawyer media ads for potential claiments PufPuf23 Dec 2019 #10
As To The Risks of Glyphosate ProfessorGAC Dec 2019 #11
Was not aware of the R&D regarding glyphosonates, PufPuf23 Dec 2019 #12
I Know Folks Working On It ProfessorGAC Dec 2019 #13
Before Roundup, Monsanto produced Agent Orange denem Jan 2020 #15
I'm not surprised in the least. Archae Dec 2019 #8
Message auto-removed Name removed Jan 2020 #14
How did Litzenburg miss out "serving" on MF45's legal team? MFGsunny Jan 2020 #16

PufPuf23

(8,679 posts)
5. Do you mean the arrested attorney or the heat of the Justice Department
Thu Dec 19, 2019, 11:48 PM
Dec 2019

joining the fray to defend Bayer and Montsanto?

Response to PufPuf23 (Original post)

7wo7rees

(5,128 posts)
3. I love when lawyers are arrested
Thu Dec 19, 2019, 05:24 AM
Dec 2019

If we could only do the same to subpoenaed govt officials. And their lawyers.

PufPuf23

(8,679 posts)
6. This lawyer put his head in the mouth of a fiery beast.
Thu Dec 19, 2019, 11:50 PM
Dec 2019

Off topic but IMO way too many politicians are first lawyers and this may be part of our political problems.

bucolic_frolic

(42,479 posts)
4. Oh. He thought they were withholding aid?
Thu Dec 19, 2019, 08:27 AM
Dec 2019

you gotta be a pretty obtuse lawyer not to see how this could backfire big time.

PufPuf23

(8,679 posts)
7. The lawyer had done well getting the $289 million judgement
Thu Dec 19, 2019, 11:54 PM
Dec 2019

Pretty precarious having the Justice Department and Montsanto and Bayer for enemies.

Wonder what the entire story is?

I know TV and the internet are flooded with ads for Montsanto RoundUp claims.

PufPuf23

(8,679 posts)
10. I was referring to all the lawyer media ads for potential claiments
Fri Dec 20, 2019, 12:13 AM
Dec 2019

against Montsanto.

Looks like a scam by lawyers but there may also be merit. Both can be true.

Maybe RoundUp (glyphosate) is not a safe herbicide to use?

RoundUp and RoundUp resistant GMO crops are ubiquitous in our food chain.

Mega $$$ involved.

ProfessorGAC

(64,184 posts)
11. As To The Risks of Glyphosate
Fri Dec 20, 2019, 10:12 AM
Dec 2019

There is a reason the agribusiness giants are working on things like glyphosonates.
Since glyphosates are effective, what would the benefit be in developing applications and industrial processing of a more expensive chemical?
Seems logical to suggest they know they need a safer product.
The newer molecule is more biodegradable, and yet does not metabolize in the human body as readily.
So, they are fighting the lawsuits, but the R&D activities suggest they know the have to lower human effects.

PufPuf23

(8,679 posts)
12. Was not aware of the R&D regarding glyphosonates,
Fri Dec 20, 2019, 12:20 PM
Dec 2019

a new term to me.

What you say makes sense.

Thank you.

ProfessorGAC

(64,184 posts)
13. I Know Folks Working On It
Fri Dec 20, 2019, 08:02 PM
Dec 2019

They can't "tell" me the motivation, but they also "didn't not tell me". If you catch my drift.

 

denem

(11,045 posts)
15. Before Roundup, Monsanto produced Agent Orange
Thu Jan 30, 2020, 06:32 AM
Jan 2020

2,4-D / 2,4,5-T. Glyphosate was the 'safe alternative'.
Back to the drawing board boys.

Archae

(46,246 posts)
8. I'm not surprised in the least.
Fri Dec 20, 2019, 12:02 AM
Dec 2019

A corrupt, ambulance-chaser lawyer, who grabbed a HUGE chunk of what that gardener won, (according to one report the gardener got less than 30% of the actual award,) using hysteria and fake "science."

Turns out he's also an extortionist.

I'm getting bombed in my e-mail DAILY from lawyers like this guy saying "Jump on the bandwagon! Let's sue anyone who manufactures anything!"

Response to PufPuf23 (Original post)

MFGsunny

(2,356 posts)
16. How did Litzenburg miss out "serving" on MF45's legal team?
Thu Jan 30, 2020, 09:08 AM
Jan 2020

Sounds amazingly like every other crooked scheme MF45 and cabal have drummed up since he/they first sullied all that is holy in our democracy.

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