In January 2020, the latest trial in St. Louis regarding allegations that Bayer’s popular weed killer, Roundup, caused cancer was postponed. The postponement was indefinite and was for the purpose of allowing settlement talks between the parties to continue. Another case in Contra Costa County in California was also postponed due to hopes that settlement negotiations would be successful. Over the last year and a half, Bayer lost the first three Roundup trials for a total of millions of dollars in awards. Another adverse verdict could have given the over 48,600 current plaintiffs helpful ammunition in settlement negotiations.
The lawsuit in St. Louis would have marked the first multi-plaintiff trial over whether the active ingredient in Roundup weed killer, glyphosate, causes non-Hodgkins lymphoma in users of the product. It would also have been the first Roundup lawsuit outside of California. St. Louis is the hometown of Monsanto, the company responsible for Roundup that was purchased by Bayer in 2018.
What Next?
There is no comprehensive agreement at this time and no timetable for when a settlement may be reached. It is estimated that settlement could be somewhere in the $8-12 billion range. Mediators are hopeful that settlement will be successful and that there will not be a need for another trial. However, other lawsuits are still moving forward against Bayer, who is struggling to stay out of the headlines. Other cases are pending in St. Louis, and there is a trial pending on May 5, 2020, in Marin County Superior Court in California.
Even while settlement talks are underway in some Roundup cases, plaintiffs still have the opportunity to move forward with their own cases. Settlement talks may focus on a means by which Bayer can settle all Roundup cases and move forward with compensation plaintiffs. The company hopes that a global settlement could resolve the whole matter, including future cases. According to the Wall Street Journal, the future claims are presenting a difficult obstacle in terms of the global settlement. Shareholders of Bayer stock have a meeting in April and the shareholders are expecting progress on a complete settlement.
If you have non-Hodgkin lymphoma and used Roundup weed killer, you should act quickly to explore your options. Even if you were only an occasional user of Roundup, you might still be entitled to significant compensation for your damages. You should consider scheduling a consultation with an experienced product liability attorney who can evaluate your case for free. Gregg Goldfarb has been helping the victims of dangerous products for over 20 years. Contact us online or call us at 305-374-7000 to schedule a free consultation.