Roundup Lawsuit Settlement Worth $7.25 Billion Earns Preliminary Approval From Judge
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A settlement that could resolve thousands of Roundup lawsuits has moved one step closer to becoming a reality. A Missouri judge on Wednesday granted preliminary approval for the settlement, which is valued at $7.25 billion.
This step allows people who may be eligible for the settlement to be notified, and has also paused the Roundup cases that are in Missouri court.
The deal is the centerpiece of agricultural giant Bayer’s plan to escape expansive Roundup litigation. The company, which inherited the Roundup lawsuits when it acquired Monsanto, is facing tens of thousands of active cases claiming the popular weed killer is tied to the development of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
But the completion and success of the settlement is far from guaranteed. People who have filed lawsuits will have the option to opt out, and multiple law firms have already begun to push back on the terms of the settlement.
“Many plaintiffs’ firms do not agree on the settlement terms or the amounts being offered. Even if the court gives preliminary approval to a mass settlement, the cases are not over,” said Whitney Ray Di Bona, attorney and consumer safety advocate with Drugwatch.com. “Each plaintiff must decide whether to accept the settlement or opt out. Right now, it looks like many people may choose to opt out unless something changes.”
A fairness hearing will be held on July 9 before the judge decides whether to grant final approval for the settlement.
Supreme Court to Soon Weigh in on Key Roundup Lawsuit Issue
As the Roundup settlement process moves along, the U.S. Supreme Court will also soon decide on a key issue that could impact thousands of Roundup lawsuits.
The court is set to weigh in on federal preemption. This is an argument Bayer has used to defeat these claims, arguing that the lawsuits are preempted – or overruled – by federal labeling laws.
Lower courts have been divided on this issue, offering conflicting rulings.
If the court were to rule in Bayer’s favor, it could be potentially devastating to the thousands of Roundup lawsuits that remain active.
That case will be argued in late April, with a decision from the court expected by early Summer.
