ABSTRACT
The social burden has often been underlined either by victims or researchers working on Agent orange (AO). Before sanitary damages were linked to AO sprayings by doctors, activists and plaintiffs, the extensive environmental destruction stirred indignation from the public. Chemical companies and the US government have defended their actions by stating their ignorance about the toxicity of the herbicide. Although the lawyers of the plaintiffs insist that manufacturers were aware of the hazards, the proofs are insufficient to establish their knowledge of hazards and their intention to harm human beings. Civil society support is positive for victims but it can discredit attempts to obtain justice by apparently tainting lawsuits with partisanship. In order to be able to sue manufacturers, plaintiffs in AO litigations need to bring proof backing their claims. With time passing by, attesting that a victim has been sprayed, and thereafter suffered diseases is financially costly, if not impossible due to the social situation of victims.
