CHICAGO (April 28, 2000)—The lead defense lawyer representing Fox Television has laid the groundwork for a strategy that seems aimed at convincing a jury that scientists who oppose the use of rBGH are merely cancer scaremongers.  
            The apparent defense plan unfolded during the depositions of plaintiff experts Dr. Samuel Epstein in Chicago today and Dr. Michael Hansen in New York two days earlier.  Both scientists have been named as rBGH experts who will provide testimony on behalf of plaintiffs Jane Akre and Steve Wilson at trial.

        Dr. Samuel Epstein of the University of Illinois School of Public Health was grilled by Fox attorney William McDaniels for three hours. Much of the questioning dealt with concerns Dr. Epstein has voiced about a host of carcinogenic risks associated with various products many Americans use every day.     

Dr. Samuel Epstein

         Epsteins book, The Safe Shopper's Bible: A Consumer's Guide to Non-toxic Household Products, Cosmetic, and Food, was a source for many of McDaniel's questions.  
         The Fox lawyer repeatedly singled out household products and foods named in the book and attempted to get Dr. Epstein to say he believes they cause cancer.  Time and again, the expert repeated that he was merely making available to consumers information that had been hidden away in government files or scientific research studies not wifely available to the public.
         Dr. Epstein, to some a controversial figure in the field of cancer prevention, was awarded the 1998 Right Livelihood Award, an honor widely known as the alternative Nobel Prize. Dr. Epstein was singled out for his scholarship wedded to activism to prevent much avoidable cancer caused by environmental pollution. 

Atty Tom Johnson (left) and Dr. Michael Hansen

       The Fox defense team took the same approach earlier in the week at the deposition of  Dr. Michael Hansen, a scientist for the Consumer Policy Institute, an arm of Consumers Union. Dr. Hansen appeared in New York City  Wednesday.  Also present were plaintiff Akre's counsel Tom Johnson and plaintiff Wilson who has represented himself throughout much of the case.  

       Dr. Hansen is being called by Akre and Wilson to testify as an an expert of the effects of rBGH on animals.  He testified Wednesday about the well-established increase in Mastitus in rBGH-treated cows, calling the effect "very statistically significant" and of serious concern.
        Mastitus, a painful udder infection, is treated by injections of antibiotics.  Many fear that residues from those drugs injected into the cow can find their way into the milk we drink, especially since no thorough testing to detect such a problem is required in Florida and much of the rest of the nation.  
        In response to inquiries obviously designed to question his credibility as an expert, Dr. Hansen admitted he has not worked directly with dairy cows but has conducted thorough reviews of the scientific studies conducted by others around the world.  
        He pointed out that even the FDA does no actual research in laboratories, basing its approval decisions on all new foods and drugs solely on the agency's review of the work of others.  All such laboratory testing is funded by the food and drug companies seeking to market new products.  

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