Bayer’s proposed $7.25 billion nationwide settlement over lawsuits tied to its Roundup weedkiller is facing its first coordinated challenge, as law firms representing nearly 20,000 plaintiffs asked a Missouri judge to slow down the approval process. The development was first reported by Reuters.
In a filing made public in St. Louis state court, the firms urged the court not to fast-track preliminary approval of the agreement, which could be reviewed as soon as March 4 — just 15 days after it was announced.
The attorneys argue that accelerating the timeline would compromise the rights of cancer patients and their families, many of whom allege that exposure to Roundup caused non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and other cancers.
Plaintiffs seek more time to review 600-page agreement
The filing marks the first significant organized opposition to Bayer’s effort to resolve most of the roughly 65,000 remaining Roundup claims pending in state and federal courts.
According to the court submission, the law firms received the more than 600-page settlement package on the same day it was announced. They contend that meaningful analysis of the complex terms cannot be completed within such a short window. By contrast, they note that Bayer and the negotiating plaintiffs’ attorneys spent two years developing the proposal.
Bayer said in a statement that it remains confident the settlement is fair and deserves court approval. A company spokesperson said the firm anticipated debate over the deal and was not surprised by either support or opposition from plaintiffs’ attorneys.
The agreement would create a nationwide class action designed to resolve nearly all current and future claims. It would establish a compensation program lasting 21 years, covering individuals who have already filed claims as well as people diagnosed with cancer in the future after past exposure to the product.
Bayer acquired Roundup in 2018 through its $63 billion purchase of Monsanto. The company maintains that decades of scientific studies show glyphosate, Roundup’s active ingredient, is safe and does not cause cancer.
Settlement requires broad participation
The proposed deal does not require Bayer to admit liability. However, the company has indicated it can withdraw if too many plaintiffs opt out. Chief Executive Bill Anderson told investors last week that Bayer needs the “vast majority” of claimants to participate and expects that threshold to be met.
Attorneys seeking the delay argue that granting preliminary approval would trigger a sweeping stay of all Roundup litigation, including cases that have been pending for nearly a decade. They say this would unfairly disadvantage plaintiffs who have waited years for their day in court.
The firms are requesting at least a 60-day postponement of the approval hearing to allow thorough review of the settlement’s terms.
Meanwhile, the group of plaintiffs’ lawyers who negotiated the agreement with Bayer said they hope the court will move forward without delay. They criticized efforts to postpone the process, suggesting it could slow compensation for thousands of claimants.
St. Louis City Circuit Court Judge Timothy Boyer, who is overseeing the class action, has not yet scheduled a hearing.
As the case unfolds, the court’s next steps will determine whether Bayer’s ambitious attempt to bring long-running Roundup litigation to a close proceeds swiftly or faces a more extended legal battle.
