Bayer has been targeted by thousands of consumers claiming that the company knew about the possible dangers of its pesticide, Roundup, and its active ingredient, glyphosate, yet failed to warn the public. Given the volume of litigation, it is possible that Bayer will seek to settle some of these Roundup lawsuits.

What Is the Status of the Litigation?

Bayer is in mediation to potentially settle what could add up to be thousands of U.S. lawsuits based on claims that Roundup weedkiller causes cancer. It is not yet known when these settlements might be achieved or for how much.

A Roundup cancer trial scheduled to begin this month has stalled, leading to speculation of a global settlement on the horizon for the thousands of open cases. Several other trials with similar allegations have also recently been removed from the docket.

How Many Lawsuits Have Been Filed?

More than 42,700 plaintiffs have filed Roundup lawsuits with claims that the pesticide causes non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Several cases have already gone to trial, with Bayer losing three of them.

Although the company has stated its intention to appeal the decisions and it continues to maintain that glyphosate is not carcinogenic, these early losses may encourage Bayer to consider settling.

Why Is Bayer’s Case Unique?

Settlements involving consumer goods, medical devices or drugs may spur product recalls, mandates for warning labels to be added, or having a product discontinued altogether. These outcomes make it easier to predict potential settlement costs because the settlements block future lawsuits.

What makes the Roundup situation unique is that Bayer has never contemplated taking the product off the market, even though it has announced a multi-billion-dollar investment to develop an alternative to glyphosate.

Plaintiffs can continue to file Roundup lawsuits as long as the product is being sold without changes to the label. What makes this especially challenging is that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has repeatedly determined that glyphosate is safe, making it difficult to tell whether or not Bayer would attempt to add a warning label.

What is Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma?

Non-Hodgkins lymphoma is cancer that starts in the body’s lymphatic system. Tumors are formed from lymphocytes, a type of white blood cells.

According to the Mayo Clinic, the symptoms of this cancer include unexplained abdominal swelling or pain, swollen lymph nodes in the groin, armpit, or neck, chest pain, unexplained weight loss, and night sweats.

It can take up to 10 years to for symptoms to present. Early warning signs of non-Hodgkin lymphoma may not be obvious to someone who has the disease, which often results in delays of weeks or months before medical treatment is sought.

If you or a loved one developed cancer after using Roundup as a farm worker or home gardener, you may have a legal claim. Legal migrant farm workers may also seek help. Learn more by filling out the form on this page for a FREE case evaluation.

Learn More