People filing Roundup lawsuits claim the weed killer caused them to develop cancer. In 2020, Monsanto (now Bayer) agreed to pay almost $11 billion to settle most Roundup cancer claims. In April 2024, 4,281 Roundup cancer lawsuits were still pending in the California Roundup MDL.
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Roundup Lawsuit Facts
Defendants
Bayer, Monsanto
Injuries
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma and other related cancers
Number of Cases
4,281 pending cases in multidistrict litigation
Top Settlement
$10.9 billion
Latest Roundup Cancer Lawsuit Updates
Latest Updates: As of April 2024, there are 4,281 Roundup lawsuit cases still open out of a total of 4,834 cases filed in federal multidistrict litigation in California.
In January 2024, in the largest Roundup lawsuit verdict yet, a Philadelphia jury awarded $2.25 billion to a Pennsylvania man who claimed Roundup caused his non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The verdict followed five other successful plaintiffs’ cases in 2023.
Roundup lawyers are still accepting claims to go to trial or negotiate a potential settlement.
Timeline of Roundup Cancer Lawsuits
April 2024:
A Missouri court reduced the $1.56 Billion verdict from November 2023 to $611 million. This was based on a U.S. Supreme Court decision limiting punitive damages to no more than 10 times the actual damages.
March 2024:
Plaintiffs’ attorneys considered consolidating cases in a New Jersey multicounty litigation. Meanwhile, the plaintiff in Kline v. Monsanto was appealing the Philadelphia jury’s defense verdict.
February 2024:
The 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Bayer's argument on federal labeling of pesticides trumping state requirements that they come with a cancer warning. This complicates Bayer's legal strategy to deal with lawsuits claiming Roundup cancer links.
January 2024:
A Pennsylvania jury awarded John McKivison a $2.25 billion verdict after a trial in which he claimed Roundup caused his non-Hodgkin lymphoma. His lawsuit claimed he'd used the weedkiller around his property for 20 years.
December 2023:
A jury ordered Bayer to pay $3.5 million to a plaintiff who claimed Roundup caused her to develop cancer.
November 2023:
A jury in Missouri awarded $1.56 billion to four plaintiffs who claimed Roundup caused them or their spouse to develop non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Out of about 165,000 lawsuits, 113,000 had been resolved, according to Bayer.
October 2023:
A jury in San Diego jury awarded $332 million to a cancer patient after finding Monsanto didn’t adequately warn of the cancer risks of Roundup.
June 2023:
Bayer settled claims for misleading consumers about the environmental effects of Roundup.
May 2023:
Monsanto won the latest trial in St. Louis, Missouri against plaintiff Sharlean Gordon. This was the company’s seventh consecutive win.
September 2022:
Monsanto won its fifth consecutive trial in St. Louis, Missouri.
May 2021:
San Francisco Judge Vince Chhabria denied Bayer’s Roundup class action lawsuit offer to settle future Roundup cancer claims for $2 billion.
June 2020:
Bayer offered $10.9 billion to settle about 100,000 Roundup weed killer lawsuit claims.
May 2019:
A California state jury awarded $2 billion to a Roundup plaintiff.
March 2019:
A California state jury awarded $80 million to a Roundup plaintiff.
August 2018:
A California state jury awarded $289 million to a Roundup plaintiff.
In 2023, Bayer agreed to pay $6.9 million to resolve claims filed by New York’s attorney general, stating the company misled consumers about Roundup’s safety. The settlement funds will go to reducing the effect of pesticides on pollinators and aquatic species.
In 2021, U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria deemed Bayer’s $2 billion offer to settle future Roundup cancer claims unreasonable and ordered the parties to present a better offer.
“Bayer is a massive, wealthy company, and it continues to make money specifically from Roundup sales. Nor is there any indication that the company will cease its efforts to settle cases,” Judge Chhabria said in his May 2021 order.
Have All Roundup Lawsuits Been Settled?
Although Bayer offered up to $10.9 billion to settle more than 100,000 Roundup personal injury claims, thousands of cases are still pending.
People could still be diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma after using Roundup, and there could be future Roundup settlements and jury verdicts for these claimants. Lawyers are still accepting claims for potential settlements or jury trials.
Drugwatch partners with trusted law firms to help you take legal action. After submitting the form, one of Drugwatch's partners will contact you for a free case review.
Why Are People Filing Roundup Lawsuits?
People file Roundup lawsuits because they claim Monsanto’s herbicide caused their non-Hodgkin lymphoma or related cancers. People say Bayer — and its Monsanto subsidiary — didn’t warn the public about the cancer risks. They target Roundup’s active ingredient, glyphosate.
“Regarding recent lawsuits attempting to link glyphosate to non-Hodgkin lymphoma, it’s essential to understand that while there’s an ongoing debate, some studies suggest a correlation,” Jonathan Rosenfeld, founder and managing attorney at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, told Drugwatch. “However, causation isn’t definitively established yet, and legal battles often hinge on proving this link in court.”
Lawsuits also claim the company actively deceived the public about Roundup’s safety.
The “Monsanto Papers” — a collection of internal corporate communications presented in court — revealed that the company may have hidden Roundup’s cancer link for years. Bayer acquired Monsanto in 2018 and maintains that Roundup is safe, but stopped selling residential formulas in 2023. Commercial formulas remain available.
Banning or restricting glyphosate faces challenges, both because of its widespread use in agriculture and the lack of equally effective alternatives.
“Regarding recent lawsuits attempting to link glyphosate to non-Hodgkin lymphoma, it’s essential to understand that while there’s an ongoing debate, some studies suggest a correlation.”
Injuries Named in Roundup Lawsuits
Injuries in Roundup lawsuits primarily involve non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a cancer affecting white blood cells, though lawsuits also mention several related cancers.
Injuries Claimed in Roundup Lawsuits
Anaplastic large cell lymphoma
B-lymphoblastic lymphoma
Burkitt lymphoma
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia
Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
Extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue
Glyphosate’s link to cancer is controversial, largely because of differing opinions from regulatory agencies. The World Health Organization classifies glyphosate as a “probable human carcinogen,” while the Environmental Protection Agency disagrees.
An independent meta-analysis published in Mutation Research shows a 41% increased risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in agricultural workers exposed to large amounts of glyphosate.
“Through my legal practice, I’ve witnessed the devastating impact glyphosate exposure can have on individuals and their families, underscoring the importance of addressing this issue comprehensively,” Rosenfeld said.
Bayer maintains more than 800 studies submitted to the EPA confirm that glyphosate “can be used safely and does not cause cancer.”
Drugwatch partners with trusted law firms to help you take legal action. After submitting the form, one of Drugwatch's partners will contact you for a free case review.
Am I Eligible To File a Roundup Cancer Lawsuit?
If you used Roundup regularly before being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, you might be eligible to file a lawsuit.
You could be eligible to file a Roundup cancer lawsuit if:
You were directly exposed to Roundup for a long period or were exposed to large amounts of Roundup at 12 years of age or younger.
You received a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma or another qualifying cancer on June 1, 2018, or after.
You used Roundup at least two years before your diagnosis.
The statute of limitations in your state hasn’t passed.
People have filed individual lawsuits seeking compensation for their injuries. Others filed class action claims for reimbursement of the cost of the product.
Roundup Lawsuit Case Study #1: Donnetta Stephens vs. Monsanto
Donnetta Stephens filed her suit against Monsanto and Bayer in the Superior Court of California in Alameda County in August 2020.
Roundup Usage:
Stephens regularly used Roundup to maintain her yard biweekly from 2000 to 2017 from April through September each year.
Injuries Alleged:
Stephens was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma on Dec. 15, 2017, attributing her illness to Roundup exposure. Her complaint cites significant harm, pain and suffering, physical injury and bodily impairment, including non-Hodgkin lymphoma and other cancers requiring medical intervention.
Relief Sought:
Stephens sought compensatory damages from Bayer to cover medical costs and suffering. Additionally, she pursued exemplary and punitive damages against both Bayer and Monsanto for their alleged negligence in the development, testing, manufacture, promotion, distribution, marketing and sale of Roundup, alongside court costs.
Verdict:
The jury ultimately ruled Roundup exposure did not reasonably cause Stephens’ cancer. Her counsel plans to appeal the decision.
Roundup Lawsuit Case Study #2: Class Action Lawsuit Over Roundup Labeling
In February 2019, Lisa Jones, Horacio Torres Bonilla and Kristoffer Yee filed a class action lawsuit against Monsanto on behalf of Roundup purchasers. This suit focused on deceptive marketing practices. Plaintiffs sought refunds for Roundup product purchases rather than filing personal injury claims.
Deceptive Labeling Allegations:
Plaintiffs accused Monsanto of deceptive labeling regarding Roundup products. The label claimed glyphosate, the active ingredient, targeted only plant enzymes. Plaintiffs argued Monsanto knew glyphosate was found in human and animal gut bacteria, rendering the label false.
Proposed Settlement Agreement:
An initial settlement proposed a $39.55 million Common Fund, with 25% for attorney fees. Claimants were to receive 10% of average retail prices for products purchased, with remaining funds for cy pres distribution.
Notice Efforts:
Comprehensive notice efforts reached approximately 82% of class members via various platforms, including digital banners and email distribution. An updated settlement proposal in October 2020 included a possible payment increase to claimants and extended notice incorporating TV and radio advertising.
Final Claims and Distribution:
In total, class members filed 285,399 claims representing about 1 million products. The value of valid claims reportedly ranged between $11.72 million and $13.34 million. After deducting fees and administration costs, $14 to $16 million remained for cy pres distribution.
An experienced Roundup lawyer can guide you through the complex process of filing a lawsuit against giant international companies like Bayer. An attorney experienced in environmental law is necessary to help you negotiate settlements and prove your case in court.
Drugwatch partners with Weitz & Luxenberg, the award-winning national firm that filed the first Roundup lawsuits in 2015. It has negotiated multibillion-dollar settlements for clients affected by environmental toxins.
“It has been a long journey, but we are very pleased that we’ve achieved justice for the tens of thousands of people who, through no fault of their own, are suffering from non-Hodgkin lymphoma after using a product Monsanto assured them was safe,” Robin Greenwald, firm partner and co-chair of the Environmental Toxic Torts and Consumer Protection Litigation group at Weitz & Luxenberg, said in a press release.
“It has been a long journey, but we are very pleased that we’ve achieved justice for the tens of thousands of people who, through no fault of their own, are suffering from non-Hodgkin lymphoma after using a product Monsanto assured them was safe.”
You can prove Roundup exposure by providing receipts of purchases or information from your job about Roundup use and showing proof of non-Hodgkin lymphoma or another related diagnosis. An experienced Roundup lawyer can help you obtain proof for evidence in your lawsuit.
Some lawyers have estimated the average payout for a Roundup lawsuit is around $150,000. This amount could be higher or lower depending on the age and injuries of each claimant. An experienced Roundup lawyer can help you determine a potential settlement amount for your case.
Getting a free case review about qualifying to join a Roundup lawsuit is still possible. But each state has a statute of limitations, so state laws may limit your time to qualify. In some cases, the statute date may have already passed. Contact an attorney immediately to preserve your right to file a Roundup lawsuit and see if you qualify.
No, Roundup is not banned in the U.S., though Bayer has said it would stop selling residential formulas with different active ingredients. Commercial formulas of Roundup remain available.
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“It has been a long journey, but we are very pleased that we’ve achieved justice for the tens of thousands of people who, through no fault of their own, are suffering from non-Hodgkin lymphoma after using a product Monsanto assured them was safe.”