The agent orange connection to various afflictions exposed veterans are experiencing is overwhelming, and if the government were to deny it on a case-by-case basis they would lose every time and spend hundreds of thousands on each case. In addition, many of the Agent Orange prostate cancer victims have already experienced some or all of the other identified Agent Orange related problems, and probably will experience others as they are identified, such as Parkinson’s Disease and Ischemic Heart Disease. The government is either doing the right thing with respect to Agent Orange, or covering its 180 in taking care of the afflicted whose exposure clearly can be connected to their exposure while on active duty.
On the other hand, these same chemicals were around more generally in the sixties and others may have been exposed to them routinely or inadvertently, minimally or substantially. There might be a case to be made against manufacturers and users, but it would not likely have the overwhelming statistical evidence that the agent-orange-exposed-veterans cases present. Believe me when I say that there is no possibility that the government could defend itself in an Agent Orange exposure case where the plaintiff presented symptoms consistent with Agent Orange Exposure and any evidence that the exposure occurred during military service.
“Believe me when I say that there is no possibility that the government could defend itself in an Agent Orange exposure case where the plaintiff presented symptoms consistent with Agent Orange Exposure and any evidence that the exposure occurred during military service.”
I agree with you wholeheartedly.