Roundup Weed Killer Lawsuit
Thousands of plaintiffs allege that Monsanto's Roundup herbicide caused them to develop non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Bayer, which acquired Monsanto in 2018, resolved most then-pending claims through a 2020 settlement program of about $10 billion while continuing to defend the product's safety.
Key Takeaways
- Over 1,100 cases pending as of October 2026, down from 3,925 in September
- Bayer's 2020 settlement program, about $10 billion, resolved most then-pending claims
- Supreme Court ruling: in Monsanto v. Durnell (June 25, 2026, 7–2), the Court held that FIFRA preempts a state-law failure-to-warn claim that would require a cancer warning on Roundup's label; it did not decide design-defect or negligence claims
- Proposed class settlement of up to $7.25B (King v. Monsanto, Missouri state court): Reuters reported a final-approval hearing on Sept. 14, 2026 and no ruling as of Sept. 29
- WHO/IARC classified glyphosate as "probably carcinogenic" (Group 2A) in 2015
- Largest verdict: $2.25 billion (McKivison, Philadelphia, 2024; cut by the trial judge to about $400M)
- Cases allege Roundup caused non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Key Facts (October 2026)
| Pending Lawsuits | 1,104 cases in federal MDL |
| Total Cases (Historical) | 5,324 cases filed |
| Settlement Total | About $10 billion (2020 settlement program) |
| Largest Individual Verdict | $2.25 billion → about $400M (McKivison, Philadelphia, 2024) |
| First Trial Verdict | $289M → about $20.5M (Johnson, California state court, 2018) |
| First Federal Bellwether | $80M → about $25M (Hardeman, 2019) |
| Active Ingredient | Glyphosate |
| IARC Classification (2015) | Group 2A - "Probably carcinogenic to humans" |
| Defendant | Bayer AG (acquired Monsanto in 2018) |
| Presiding Judge | Hon. Vince Chhabria (N.D. Cal.) |
| Can You Still File? | Limited - Most claims resolved via settlement |
Case Tracking - 2025-2026
The federal case count has declined 75% since January 2025. Most of that came in the October 2026 report, when the JPML count fell to 1,104 from 3,925. Court filings show Monsanto has been filing stipulated dismissals and moving to clear an "inactive docket" of settled cases. No court has dismissed Roundup MDL cases en masse under Durnell.
Source: JPML MDL Statistics Reports, January 2025-October 2026
1 What Is This Lawsuit?
The Roundup lawsuit involves thousands of plaintiffs who allege that exposure to glyphosate—the active ingredient in Monsanto's Roundup herbicide—caused them to develop non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), a cancer of the lymphatic system.
What is Glyphosate?
Glyphosate is a broad-spectrum systemic herbicide first introduced by Monsanto in 1974. It's the most commonly used herbicide worldwide, applied to crops, lawns, gardens, and commercial landscapes. It kills plants by inhibiting an enzyme essential for plant growth.
What is Roundup?
Roundup is Monsanto's brand name for glyphosate-based herbicide products. Different formulations (Original, Pro, Extended Control) contain varying concentrations of glyphosate plus surfactants. "Roundup Ready" GMO crops allow direct application without harming crops.
The litigation accelerated after the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified glyphosate as "probably carcinogenic to humans" in 2015. Bayer acquired Monsanto in June 2018 for $63 billion, inheriting thousands of pending lawsuits.
IARC Classification (March 2015)
The International Agency for Research on Cancer classified glyphosate as Group 2A - "probably carcinogenic to humans" based on "limited evidence" in humans for non-Hodgkin lymphoma and "sufficient evidence" in experimental animals. Other Group 2A agents include red meat and working night shifts.
2 The Scientific Debate
IARC Position (WHO)
Classified glyphosate as "probably carcinogenic" (Group 2A) in 2015 based on epidemiological studies showing associations with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, animal bioassays, and mechanistic evidence of DNA damage.
Source: IARC Monograph Volume 112 (2017)
EPA Position (U.S.)
Concluded glyphosate is "not likely to be carcinogenic to humans." However, in June 2022, the Ninth Circuit vacated the human health portion of EPA's interim decision and remanded it for further analysis. EPA is currently updating its evaluation.
Source: U.S. EPA Glyphosate Review
Key Research Studies
3 Landmark Verdicts
Dewayne "Lee" Johnson, a school groundskeeper diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, won the first Roundup trial. The jury found Monsanto liable for failure to warn and design defect. The trial judge cut the award to $78 million, and a California appeals court reduced it to about $20.5 million in 2020.
Edwin Hardeman, who used Roundup for 26 years on his property, was awarded $80 million after the jury found Roundup was a "substantial factor" in causing his NHL and that Monsanto failed to warn of the risk. The award was later reduced to about $25 million, and the Ninth Circuit affirmed in 2021.
Alva and Alberta Pilliod, a married couple both diagnosed with NHL after decades of Roundup use, won a $2 billion jury verdict. The trial judge cut it to $86.7 million, and the reduced award was affirmed on appeal in 2021.
A Philadelphia jury awarded $2.25 billion in 2024, topping the $2 billion Pilliod verdict. The trial judge later cut the award to about $400 million.
4 The 2020 Settlement Program
In June 2020, Bayer announced a settlement package valued at approximately $10.9 billion. About $10 billion was paid or committed to resolve most then-pending claims. The separate $1.25 billion future-claims class piece was never approved.
| Component | Amount | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Current Cases | $8.8-9.6B | Resolve ~75% of then-pending claims |
| Future Claims Fund | ~$1.25B | Proposed for future claimants; never approved |
In February 2026, Bayer raised its provision for glyphosate litigation to €9.6 billion. The company continues to defend the product's safety while maintaining that settlements were made to avoid the uncertainty and costs of continued litigation.
2026 developments: the Durnell ruling, the King settlement and the MDL docket
The litigation is not over, but three 2026 developments have reshaped it:
U.S. Supreme Court — Monsanto v. Durnell (decided June 25, 2026)
After oral argument on April 27, 2026, the Court ruled 7–2 on June 25, 2026 that the federal pesticide law (FIFRA) preempts Durnell's state-law failure-to-warn claim, because the claim would require Monsanto to add a cancer warning to Roundup's label. Justice Kavanaugh wrote for the majority; Justice Jackson dissented, joined by Justice Gorsuch. The Court reversed the Missouri judgment and remanded. It did not decide design-defect or negligence claims.
Since the ruling, Missouri trial courts have let design-defect claims proceed: summary judgment was denied in Shull on Aug. 31 and in Aretino and Alison on Sept. 9. Opening statements in Aretino v. Monsanto (St. Louis County, Judge Brian May) were given on Sept. 29, 2026. Its three plaintiffs are outside the class settlement and are suing on design-defect theories. The trial is expected to run four to five weeks.
A proposed class settlement — King v. Monsanto (up to $7.25B)
Announced Feb. 17, 2026, this proposed class settlement in Missouri state court (St. Louis) would pay up to $7.25 billion in capped, declining annual amounts over up to 21 years. It would cover people exposed to Roundup before Feb. 17, 2026 who have non-Hodgkin lymphoma now or are diagnosed within 16 years. It received preliminary approval in March 2026, and the deadline to opt out or object was June 4, 2026. It is contested — it has drawn formal objections, and MDL Judge Chhabria has been openly critical of it — and after a federal removal fight the case was remanded to Missouri state court in June 2026. Reuters reported that Judge Timothy Boyer held the final-approval hearing on Sept. 14, 2026, did not rule from the bench, and still had the settlement under review as of Sept. 29. (This is a second attempt at a future-claims class structure, after the 2021 fund Judge Chhabria rejected.)
The federal MDL docket — count falls to 1,104
In the October 1, 2026 JPML report, the count fell to 1,104 from 3,925 in September. Court filings show only about 184 cases were being actively litigated in July (co-lead counsel's July 8, 2026 statement, Dkt. 22244), and Monsanto has been filing stipulated dismissals and moving to clear an "inactive docket" of settled cases (Sept. 22, 2026 minute entry, Dkt. 22664). Examples include stipulated dismissals with prejudice of 112 plaintiffs (Sept. 8), 80 cases (Sept. 11) and 162 plaintiffs (Sept. 18). No court has dismissed Roundup MDL cases en masse under Durnell.
Pretrial Order 335 (Jan. 28, 2026) keeps Special Master Feinberg's settlement program mandatory; not participating means dismissal. On Aug. 7, 2026, the JPML clerk denied Monsanto's Aug. 5 motion to stop new transfers and wind down the MDL.
Next on Judge Chhabria's schedule: a Nov. 16, 2026 hearing on the first group's renewed summary-judgment motions; second-group motions due Dec. 1 (hearing Feb. 1, 2027); and the remaining groups' motions to dismiss due Feb. 12, 2027 (hearing March 19, 2027).
5 Understanding Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is a cancer that develops in the lymphatic system from white blood cells called lymphocytes. It's the cancer type most commonly alleged in Roundup lawsuits.
| NHL Statistics (SEER 2018-2022) | Value |
|---|---|
| Estimated new cases (2025) | 80,350 |
| Estimated deaths (2025) | 19,390 |
| 5-year survival rate | 74.2% |
| Lifetime risk | ~2.0% |
Indolent (Slow-Growing)
- • Follicular lymphoma (most common)
- • Marginal zone lymphoma
- • Lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma
Aggressive (Fast-Growing)
- • Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
- • Burkitt lymphoma
- • Mantle cell lymphoma
6 Who May Be Affected
Plaintiffs in Roundup litigation typically allege years to decades of regular exposure before cancer diagnosis. The following groups have the highest exposure levels:
High Exposure Groups
- Agricultural workers and farmers
- Landscapers and groundskeepers
- Licensed pesticide applicators
- Nursery and greenhouse workers
Residential Users
- Homeowners with regular lawn/garden use
- Years to decades of consistent use
- Direct mixing and application
- Diagnosed with NHL after exposure
7 The "Monsanto Papers"
During litigation, plaintiffs obtained internal Monsanto documents through discovery. These documents, released as public court exhibits, became known as the "Monsanto Papers" and formed a key part of plaintiffs' cases.
Ghostwriting Allegations
Allegations that Monsanto scientists drafted portions of published scientific articles and had academic scientists sign on as authors to give the appearance of independent research.
Regulatory Influence
Allegations of inappropriate communications and influence attempts with EPA officials regarding glyphosate safety evaluations.
Internal Risk Awareness
Allegations that Monsanto was aware of potential cancer links but did not adequately warn consumers or conduct sufficient safety testing.
Note: These documents are part of the public court record. Bayer/Monsanto disputes the characterizations and maintains its products are safe when used as directed.
8 Frequently Asked Questions
Is Roundup still being sold?
What does the EPA say about glyphosate safety?
Why do IARC and EPA disagree?
Can I still file a Roundup lawsuit?
Is this a class action lawsuit?
What is Bayer's position?
Sources & References
7 official sources citedJudicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) — Official MDL statistics
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency — Glyphosate regulatory information
IARC Monographs (WHO) — Glyphosate carcinogenicity classification
NCI SEER — Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma statistics
Andreotti et al., J Natl Cancer Inst. 2018; Zhang et al., Mutat Res Rev Mutat Res. 2019
Monsanto v. Durnell, No. 24-1068 (U.S. June 25, 2026); MDL-2741 court docket (N.D. Cal.)
Court records, Bayer corporate announcements, and news reports. Data current as of October 2026.
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Every case is unique, and results depend on the specific facts and circumstances involved. Past settlement amounts and case outcomes do not guarantee similar results in your case. If you believe you have a legal claim, you should consult with a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction who can evaluate your specific situation.