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Aug 26, 2025

Monsanto Roundup Cancer Lawsuit Settlement and Trial Updates August 2025

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As of August 2025, Bayer (Monsanto’s parent company) has allocated nearly $11 billion to resolve approximately 100,000 Roundup cancer lawsuits, with 4,437 active cases still pending. The Supreme Court recently requested the Solicitor General’s brief on Bayer’s petition, signaling potential interest in the federal preemption argument. A major EPA safety assessment is scheduled for 2026, while scientific evidence continues linking glyphosate to non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The ongoing litigation reveals critical internal documents about corporate knowledge.

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

Over 4,400 active Roundup-related cancer claims remain pending as of August 2025.
Nearly $11 billion has been allocated to resolve Roundup cancer litigation in 2025.
Supreme Court requested the U.S. Solicitor General’s brief on Bayer’s petition on June 30, 2025.
24 completed trials have yielded more than $8 billion in total damages.
Pennsylvania Superior Court upheld a $175 million verdict in May 2025.

Current Settlement Status: $11 Billion Paid to Resolve Nearly 100,000 Claims

Nearly $11 billion has been allocated to resolve the extensive Roundup cancer litigation facing Bayer/Monsanto as of 2025. This settlement analysis reveals thorough resolution of approximately 100,000 lawsuits alleging Roundup caused non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in users nationwide.

The settlement structure includes $2 billion specifically earmarked for future claims, acknowledging the ongoing nature of cancer diagnoses among past Roundup users. This represents one of the largest product liability settlements in corporate history, establishing a standardized compensation framework for claimants.

Despite this massive resolution effort, future implications remain significant as newly diagnosed victims continue filing claims. The World Health Organization classified glyphosate as probably carcinogenic to humans in March 2015. Recent jury verdicts have awarded billions in damages to individual plaintiffs in several high-profile cases. Bayer is considering filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy for its Monsanto subsidiary to manage the overwhelming liabilities. The company has set aside approximately $1.3 billion for litigation provisions to address unresolved claims. You’re witnessing a pivotal moment in mass tort litigation that demonstrates both the financial consequences of widespread product liability and the company’s strategic decision to resolve litigation rather than face continued adverse verdicts. While approximately 67,000 active Roundup lawsuits remain pending as of May 2025, with the majority in state courts across the country.

Missouri Court Upholds $611 Million Verdict Against Monsanto

Four plaintiffs received vindication on May 27, 2025, when the Missouri Court of Appeals definitively upheld a $611 million verdict against Monsanto in a landmark Roundup cancer case. Judge Cynthia L. Martin’s opinion rejected Bayer’s appeal arguments, affirming the jury’s findings that linked glyphosate exposure to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The court allowed consideration of scientific evidence questioning the safety of glyphosate despite Bayer’s claims about federal pesticide law protections.

In a decisive blow to Monsanto, the Missouri Court of Appeals upheld the massive $611 million Roundup verdict, validating cancer patients’ long fight for justice.

The legal implications of this decision include:

Establishing precedent that states can enforce failure-to-warn laws despite federal pesticide regulation
Validating the 9:1 ratio of punitive to compensatory damages as appropriate in public health cases
Confirming jury authority to evaluate scientific evidence questioning glyphosate safety

This ruling, coming just 19 months after the original trial, reinforces plaintiffs’ claims that Monsanto concealed known dangers—strengthening the position of thousands still awaiting resolution in similar cases nationwide. The court significantly reduced the punitive damages from the original $1.5 billion to $549.9 million while maintaining the compensatory amount. Bayer’s CEO Bill Anderson, whose contract was recently extended to 2029, continues to face mounting pressure as litigation costs impact the company’s financial outlook. The jury deliberated for less than eight hours before finding in favor of all plaintiffs, demonstrating the compelling nature of the evidence presented.

Remaining Litigation: 4,437 Open Lawsuits as of August 2025

Over 4,400 plaintiffs with Roundup-related cancer claims remain in active litigation against Monsanto as of August 2025, despite the company’s previous $11 billion settlement efforts. The majority of these cases—4,279—are consolidated within California’s MDL No. 2741, which has been processing Roundup lawsuits since its establishment in October 2016.

Recent litigation trends show considerable momentum favoring plaintiffs, with over $6 billion awarded since October 2023 alone. You’re part of a significant legal movement that’s achieved victories in 24 completed trials, yielding more than $8 billion in total damages. While case outcomes have varied, with occasional defense verdicts interspersed among plaintiff wins, the Pennsylvania Superior Court’s May 2025 decision upholding the $175 million Caranci verdict demonstrates continuing judicial support for plaintiffs’ claims.

Supreme Court Signals Interest in Bayer’s Appeal Strategy

In a significant development that could reshape the trajectory of Roundup litigation nationwide, the Supreme Court requested on June 30, 2025, that the U.S. Solicitor General file a brief in Bayer’s petition. This move signals potential consideration of the federal preemption implications that could halt thousands of pending cases.

Bayer’s legal strategies revolve around three critical components:

Bayer’s three-pronged legal approach focuses on FIFRA preemption, EPA determinations, and regulatory compliance protections.

Arguing FIFRA preemption supersedes state failure-to-warn claims
Highlighting EPA’s determination that glyphosate cancer warnings aren’t required
Establishing that companies following federal regulations shouldn’t face state-law punishment

You’re witnessing a pivotal moment in this litigation. The Court’s request for the Justice Department’s views represents what Bayer CEO Anderson calls an “encouraging step” toward potentially capping the company’s massive legal exposure through their federal preemption argument. The petition specifically addresses the case of John L. Durnell v Monsanto, where a $1.25 million verdict was upheld by the Missouri Court. Multiple agriculture groups have submitted amicus briefs supporting Bayer’s position in this critical legal battle. The company has already spent approximately 10 billion dollars on previous settlements related to Roundup claims.

Health Secretary Kennedy’s MAHA Report on Glyphosate Exposure

As Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. releases the MAHA Commission’s report, you’ll notice a measured approach to glyphosate regulation. Despite documenting concerning links between chemical exposures and childhood health issues, Kennedy assured the Senate that farmers dependent on glyphosate won’t face business disruption.

The report reveals Americans are exposed to over 40,000 chemicals, with pesticide safety concerns highlighted by detections in children’s blood and urine. The Center for Food Safety has successfully challenged the EPA’s safety assessments, resulting in a ruling that the agency lacks lawful safety finding for glyphosate use. While the U.S. uses approximately 1 billion pounds of pesticides annually, Kennedy’s position remains pragmatic—acknowledging that 100% of U.S. corn production relies on glyphosate. The 2018 case involving Dewayne Johnson resulted in a significant $78 million verdict against Monsanto for Roundup’s connection to cancer. Kennedy’s history as an environmental attorney includes litigation against Monsanto over glyphosate-related cancer claims.

The FDA found glyphosate in 54 of 731 food samples tested, mainly in corn and beans. The EPA’s extensive registration review decision for glyphosate is scheduled for 2026, maintaining what industry advocates call the “gold standard” for pesticide assessment.

Medical Research Linking Roundup to Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Scientific evidence examining glyphosate’s carcinogenicity has yielded both supportive and conflicting results, with the 2019 University of Washington/UC study finding a 41% increased NHL risk while the Agricultural Health Study of 54,251 pesticide applicators found no association with lymphoid malignancies. This research was led by Professor Lianne Sheppard from DEOHS, providing valuable insights into the ongoing debate. In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified glyphosate as a probable human carcinogen. You’ll notice significant methodological differences between these epidemiological studies, particularly regarding exposure assessment and population characteristics. The collective research demonstrates a coherent mechanism for NHL development through glyphosate’s documented genotoxicity to human lymphocytes and activation of B-cell genome mutator enzymes. Risk of developing lymphoma appears to increase with long-term exposure to elevated glyphosate levels in agricultural settings.

Scientific Evidence Mounts

The mounting body of medical research linking Roundup’s active ingredient glyphosate to non-Hodgkin lymphoma has created significant controversy in scientific and regulatory communities worldwide. Recent glyphosate toxicity studies present conflicting evidence that you’ll need to understand as litigation continues.

Key cancer research developments include:

University of Washington’s 2019 meta-analysis demonstrating a 41% increased NHL risk from glyphosate exposure
The 2014 systematic review showing doubled risk for developing NHL, particularly B-cell lymphoma subtypes
Contradictory findings from the Agricultural Health Study (AHS) involving 54,251 pesticide applicators showing no association between glyphosate and lymphoid malignancies

This scientific divide explains why regulatory bodies have reached different conclusions about Roundup’s carcinogenicity, with IARC classifying glyphosate as a probable human carcinogen while the EPA maintains different regulatory standards. Many recent reviews have indicated that 87% of studies report a genotoxic response associated with glyphosate exposure.

Epidemiological Study Results

Epidemiological studies examining the relationship between Roundup exposure and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) have produced compelling evidence that you’ll need to contemplate when evaluating litigation potential.

The University of Washington’s 2019 meta-analysis revealed a striking 41% increase in NHL risk among those exposed to glyphosate-based herbicides, reinforcing cancer associations identified in the IARC’s 2015 classification. Multiple case-control studies across North America and Europe demonstrate consistent epidemiological trends despite the Agricultural Health Study’s limitations regarding follow-up duration.

When evaluating your case, consider that combined statistical analyses maintained significance even when including negative studies. Recent thorough reviews in Science Direct and the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism further validate these findings. A key 2019 pooled analysis found that individuals handling glyphosate for more than 2 days per year had significantly elevated risk of developing diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The IARC’s review of approximately 1000 studies by independent experts provided strong scientific foundation for the glyphosate-cancer link. The EPA’s determination that glyphosate is unlikely to be carcinogenic contradicts these studies, creating significant debate in ongoing litigation. You’re joining thousands of plaintiffs supported by multinational research validating the NHL-glyphosate connection through robust epidemiological evidence.

Corporate Documents Reveal Internal Knowledge of Cancer Risks

As internal Monsanto documents entered the public domain through litigation discovery, they’ve revealed a troubling pattern of corporate behavior regarding Roundup’s potential health risks. Internal memos exposed Monsanto’s $17 million campaign to discredit independent scientific findings while maintaining cancer awareness internally. Emails indicated attempts by the EPA and Monsanto to hinder independent research findings about glyphosate’s safety. Studies indicate that widespread herbicide exposure has significantly contributed to the rise in cancer cases among agricultural workers and consumers. These documents directly contradict the corporate narrative that glyphosate poses no public health risk, despite IARC’s 2015 classification as probably carcinogenic. The declassification of these Monsanto Papers has been instrumental in ensuring corporate accountability and informing the public about potential health risks.

The most damning evidence includes:

Ghost-writing scientific papers that Monsanto employees authored but outside scientists signed, creating false impressions of independent validation
Executive William Heydens’ explicit strategy to “keep costs down” by having company staff write studies while paid scientists merely “edit & sign their names”
Active suppression of studies showing adverse health effects, including preventing publication of research demonstrating potential carcinogenicity

These revelations have strengthened plaintiffs’ claims that Monsanto knew about Roundup’s risks while publicly denying them. The documents have been crucial evidence in the MDL No. 2741 cases, where thousands of cancer patients continue to seek justice against the herbicide manufacturer.

Upcoming Federal Safety Assessment Expected in 2026

While Monsanto’s internal documents have revealed concerning patterns regarding Roundup’s health risks, federal regulatory decisions now hang in the balance with a major safety assessment looming.

You’ll need to monitor the EPA’s thorough glyphosate safety review, now scheduled for 2026 after the agency withdrew its interim decision following the 9th Circuit Court ruling. The Center for Food Safety has called this withdrawal a “major victory” while still criticizing the EPA for not taking more immediate action. This extended timeline requires the EPA to revisit its cancer risk analysis and complete mandatory Endangered Species Act compliance assessments.

The regulatory implications remain significant as glyphosate products maintain their legal status during this review period. The EPA continues to maintain that glyphosate is likely not carcinogenic to humans despite the ongoing review process. The court found serious flaws in the EPA’s previous cancer analysis, necessitating the comprehensive reassessment. The final biological evaluation completed in November 2021 found glyphosate likely to harm over 1,600 endangered species. Farmers can continue using Roundup with unchanged label restrictions while the review proceeds. Though Bayer has exited the residential market, agricultural applications continue under existing frameworks. The 2026 assessment will ultimately determine whether glyphosate’s widespread use continues or faces new restrictions.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Roundup Still Being Sold in Stores Despite the Lawsuits?

Yes, you’ll find Roundup still on shelves at Home Depot and other retailers despite lawsuit impact. Bayer has modified some formulations while maintaining sales channels for both consumer and agricultural markets.

How Can I Determine if My Cancer Diagnosis Qualifies for Compensation?

Your eligibility depends on specific cancer types, primarily non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, documented Roundup exposure exceeding 150 hours, diagnosis after 2018, and a clear timeline connecting your exposure to diagnosis. Consult a specialized attorney immediately.

What Is the Deadline to File a New Roundup Lawsuit?

Lawsuit timelines vary by state, with most requiring filing within 2-3 years of diagnosis. Your filing process must begin immediately as many jurisdictions have deadlines approaching or already passed.

Has Monsanto Changed Roundup’s Formula to Remove Potentially Harmful Ingredients?

Roundup’s partial reformulation effects are inconsistent – Bayer removed glyphosate from residential products but commercial formulas still contain it. Your consumer safety concerns are valid as new ingredients may pose different toxicity profiles.

Are Roundup Settlements Taxable as Income for Plaintiffs?

Your settlement taxation status depends on specific circumstances. Generally, physical injury compensation is tax-exempt under IRC Section 104, while punitive damages and lost wages are taxable. Protect your plaintiff rights by consulting tax professionals.