Roundup Settlement
Though Bayer has agreed to pay nearly $11 billion to settle Roundup safety claims, over 40,000 active Roundup lawsuits remain in litigation. Lawsuits claim using Roundup, a popular herbicide containing glyphosate, caused plaintiffs’ non-Hodgkin lymphoma and other cancers.
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Has There Been a Roundup Settlement?
As of December 2024, 4,373 cases remain pending in the MDL in the Northern District of California. There has been no settlement so far in these remaining cases, and trials are continuing.
In 2020, Bayer offered $10.9 billion to settle 100,000 lawsuits claiming Roundup weed killer increased cancer risks.
Bayer has previously settled with some plaintiffs for undisclosed amounts and offered $2 billion to settle class action claims, but the federal judge overseeing the Roundup multidistrict litigation rejected Bayer’s offer in 2021. Judge Vince Chhabria declared the amount insufficient to cover future cancer claims and instructed the parties to come to a better offer.
In 2023, Bayer settled with the New York Attorney General to pay $6.9 million for misleading consumers about Roundup’s safety. The state planned to use the money to reduce the effect of pesticides on pollinators and aquatic species.
Roundup Verdicts
In January 2024, a Pennsylvania man won the largest single Roundup verdict of $2.25 billion. In that case, the jury found that Roundup caused his cancer. John McKivison claimed he developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma after using Roundup for 20 years on his property.
After plaintiffs won three California lawsuits with jury verdicts totaling more than $2.4 billion, Bayer won a string of eight Roundup lawsuit trials in Missouri and California courts. The plaintiffs then won six of the next seven cases.
What Is the Average Roundup Settlement Amount?
The 2020 global Roundup settlement was $10.9 billion. Lawyers estimate payouts between $5,000 and $250,000. According to legal experts, the average settlement amount would be $150,000 per plaintiff.
“Many lawsuits have resulted in substantial settlements, highlighting the seriousness of the issue and the responsibility of companies producing glyphosate-based products,” product liability attorney Jonathan Rosenfeld told Drugwatch.
Factors Affecting Roundup Settlement Amounts
The seriousness of the injuries and the damages a person claims each affect the amount of a person’s Roundup settlement.
- Amount of monetary and emotional damages
- Duration and strength of Roundup exposure
- Plaintiff’s general health and age
- Proof that Bayer was negligent
- Strength of the evidence in a plaintiff’s claim
Claims administrators use a settlement matrix to determine individual settlement amounts. The matrix assigns a point value to each claim based on factors like the seriousness of the injury and the age of the person. Claims with higher point values receive higher settlement amounts.
The Roundup Settlement Process
During the 2020 Roundup settlement process, Bayer offered a settlement after losing several trials totaling more than $2 billion in damages. After both sides negotiated a settlement, Judge Chhambria signed off on it and established a settlement fund. He appointed Special Master Kenneth Feinberg to determine payout amounts for Roundup plaintiffs.
- Plaintiffs provide the Special Master with requested supporting documentation.
- Bayer provides its own documentation regarding the plaintiff's claim.
- The Special Master weighs the documentation and analyzes the claim.
- The Special Master issues a written offer of settlement to the plaintiff.
- Plaintiffs may accept or reject the offer.
- Bayer is required to pay the settlement once the plaintiff agrees.
Remember, these specific steps only applied to those affected by the 2020 settlement and future settlements may vary.
Do You Qualify for a Roundup Settlement?
People who used Roundup for at least 80 hours and two years before being diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma or any other qualifying disease may qualify for a settlement. Contact a Roundup lawyer to confirm your eligibility.
- You used Roundup for a long period of time.
- You were exposed to large amounts of Roundup at 12 or younger.
- A doctor diagnosed you with non-Hodgkin lymphoma or another qualifying cancer on June 1, 2018, or after.
- Your claim is filed within the statute of limitations.
Roundup lawsuits are time-sensitive and only apply to Roundup claims, not alternatives like paraquat or other glyphosate-based herbicides. Contact a Roundup lawyer ASAP to secure your right to file a claim.
- Do I have to pay taxes on a Roundup settlement?
No, you do not have to pay taxes on Roundup settlements. According to the Internal Revenue Service, a settlement for injury compensation is exempt from taxes because “IRC Section 104 explains that gross income does not include damages received on account of personal physical injuries or physical sickness.”
- What are the verdicts for Roundup?
Of 18 Roundup lawsuit trials, 10 have resulted in verdicts for people claiming the herbicide injured them. Three of those 10 verdicts have been for awards exceeding $1 billion. The largest jury verdict was $2.25 billion in 2024.
- Has anyone been paid from this Roundup lawsuit?
While Bayer settled roughly 100,000 Roundup lawsuits in 2020, 4,305 more lawsuits remain pending in multidistrict litigation. As of July 2024, there has been no negotiated settlement of those cases.
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