Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul joined a coalition of 18 attorneys general in filing an amicus brief before the U.S. Supreme Court on April 2 in the case Monsanto Co. v. Durnell, which addresses whether federal law preempts state law claims against pesticide manufacturers.
The case is significant because it could affect how states protect public health and allow individuals to seek justice if harmed by pesticides. The coalition urged the Supreme Court to uphold state laws that enable people injured by pesticide manufacturers to pursue legal action.
“Limiting the ability of injured consumers to seek justice through the court system is un-American and only rewards large corporations for failing to warn the public about the potential dangers of their products,” Raoul said. “I will continue to advocate for the rights of consumers to pursue justice under the law.”
Monsanto v. Durnell centers on whether federal approval of pesticides like Roundup should prevent states from allowing lawsuits over alleged failures by manufacturers to warn about cancer risks associated with their products. The brief argues that Congress did not intend for federal law to override state protections, and that removing these protections would take important decisions away from juries and state governments.
Raoul’s office has focused on protecting vulnerable groups such as workers, immigrants, and seniors according to its official website. The office also handles thousands of consumer complaints each year according to its official website, works toward promoting safer communities, advocates for environmental issues according to its official website, extends advocacy efforts across Illinois according to its official website, partners with law enforcement agencies according to its official website, and offers services such as complaint filing related to consumer fraud and civil rights according to its official website.
Joining Raoul in this effort are attorneys general from Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin.