A 9-year-old boy from Oxnard, California filed a case against various agricultural companies, claiming he suffered while inside the womb of his farm worker mother. The boy said his mother was recklessly and negligently exposed to pesticides while pregnant. The case was filed in 2015 at the Los Angeles County Superior Court but was transferred last year to the Ventura County Superior Court where the trial is underway.
Erik Joe Morales was diagnosed with hemifacial microsomia after he was born in 2007. He also suffered from developmental and cognitive delays, as well as hearing loss. A medical report from the Children's Hospital Los Angeles indicated unknown causes for his condition.
His lawyer David Bricker claimed the child's injuries came as a result of his exposure to hazardous pesticides during the most critical stages of fetal development, according to VC Star. The lawsuit claimed the farm workers were unduly exposed to pesticides applied to the farm while they were working without protective equipment.
The defendants were Well-Pict's owner T.T. Miyasaka Inc., strawberry producer Well-Pict Berries, grower Soilfume Inc., also known as Anacapa Berry Farms, and labor contractor Ramco Enterprises. Miyasaka representative Lane E. Webb refused to comment on the case due to rules of professional conduct.
Hemifacial Microsomia, known as the most common facial birth defect next to clefts, is a condition that leads to the underdevelopment of one side of the face, as per Faces. Morales suffers from some of the symptoms of the condition including the underdevelopment of the mandible and the ear. Surgery is a known remedy to improve facial symmetry of children suffering from Hemifacial Microsomia.
All types of pesticides have different toxicity levels and exposure to pesticides during pregnancy poses some risks, according to the National Pesticide Information Center. Babies are more sensitive to pesticide toxicity because their brain, organs and nervous system are still in the development stage.
