As we head into the summer months, our team at Public Justice is busier than ever. From preparing for our virtual Annual Gala and Awards Celebration to celebrating an unprecedented win in court against the corporate behemoth Monsanto (see more below!), we have much to share with you regarding our recent successes, ongoing work, and what's in store for us in the near future.

First, we are excited to announce the finalists for the 2021 Trial Lawyer of the Year Award! This year, our three finalists have accomplished outstanding and historic work. The changes they have made through the legal system echo across countless communities, and we look forward to highlighting them in the coming months. This year's finalist cases tackle issues regarding police brutality and corruption, a historic breach-of-trust lawsuit impacting thousands of Native Hawaiians, and a class action on behalf of thousands of inmates illegally overcharged for making phone calls to their families. Learn more about each of our finalists here.

Finally, this past Tuesday marked a grave reminder of the work that still needs to be done in fighting our nation's systemic racism, as we honored the life of George Floyd and mourned the one-year anniversary of his murder. In a recent update from our team, we renewed our commitment toward bringing about meaningful change by continuing our work to end qualified immunity, and supporting legislation that holds government officials and law enforcement accountable.

"On this one-year anniversary of George Floyd’s murder, we at Public Justice want to especially hold his family, friends and supporters in our hearts and minds. We believe, as Floyd’s then-6-year-old daughter Gianna said, ‘Daddy changed the world’.

But we also believe that in a just world, it would not take the murder of a Black man by police to galvanize action and change. That’s the world Public Justice is fighting for."

Despite a nearly impossible-to-follow news cycle, Public Justice staff have continued to garner press coverage for their vibrant case docket and other legal advocacy. Here are just a few recent highlights:

This month, Public Justice scored a critical victory for consumers nationwide and for access to justice. On May 14, we won the appeal in Hardeman v. Monsanto, in which Monsanto challenged an $80 million verdict on behalf of a California man who contracted non-Hodgkin's lymphoma from his exposure to Roundup.

This is the first appellate ruling in the country on this issue and will affect the rights of millions of current and future victims of the dangerous herbicide. On this important win, our Senior Attorney Leslie Brueckner who served as co-lead counsel on behalf of Hardeman spoke with Law.com: "This is a resounding rejection of Monsanto’s attempts to immunize itself from liability for the terrible injuries caused by Roundup [...] It’s a huge victory for public safety."

Read Leslie's latest blog post for a detailed rundown of the case, and the major significance of this decision for the millions of victims of Roundup across the nation:

"Decisions like this one are the only thing that can put pressure on Monsanto to put a cancer warning on Roundup. That’s what makes this victory so important. The civil justice system is often the only way to hold powerful actors accountable for their wrongdoing. When juries speak out often enough, and loudly enough, companies are forced to listen—and change their ways."

Plant-based meat is all the rage these days. Most recently, it was discussed in a New York Times op-ed by Ezra Klein, in which he argues that removing animals from our food system will solve the many problems it causes.

However, according to our Food Project Director Jessica Culpepper, "there's no silver bullet to curing the destructive industry that is animal agribusiness."

Recently, Jessica recently weighed in on this growing trend of meatless meat in a recent blog post, in which she lays out the larger forces at work that impact our food system and our communities: "Without tackling the root of the problem and dismantling corporate control of the food system, meatless meats will perpetuate the same harms they supposedly prevent."

At the Food Project, we know real food solutions will shift power toward people and communities that are currently being harmed by our food system, and away from corporations who put profit over people and the environment.

We're building a movement that will fight for a food system free from extraction and exploitation. Visit the Food Project's website here.

Save your "seat"! Make your plan to join us virtually on Wednesday, July 21, 2021, at 7 pm ET for Public Justice's 39th Annual Gala and Awards Ceremony.

Join us as we celebrate and honor changemakers from across the country including the 2021 Champion of Justice Award-Winner, Trial Lawyer of the Year Finalists & Winner, Public Justice President Eric L. Cramer, and more!

If you would like to attend or sponsor the Gala, click here or the button below. All sponsors will be recognized on our website and invitation, as well as during the event. The deadline to be included on the invitation is Tuesday, June 1, so don't delay!

For more information contact Susan Gombert, Senior Meetings and Events Manager at [email protected] or (703) 517-6418.

Public Justice welcomes this month's new members—your unwavering commitment to our mission to combat injustice helps us reach our goals.

Questions? Contact us at [email protected].