Roundup Settlement

In 2020, Bayer offered a $10.9 billion Roundup settlement intended to settle about 100,000 Roundup weed killer lawsuits. These lawsuits claimed that Roundup, made with the active ingredient glyphosate, could increase the risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and related cancers.

In June 2023, the company settled environmental claims filed by the New York Attorney General for $6.9 million. The Attorney General said Bayer misled consumers about the safety of Roundup in the environment. The settlement funds will be spent on reducing the effect of pesticides on pollinators and aquatic species.

Bayer acquired Monsanto, the maker of Roundup, in 2018. It has settled with some plaintiffs for confidential amounts right before their trials were set to begin. Bayer also offered about $2 billion to settle Roundup class-action claims and any future claims. However, in 2021, San Francisco District Judge Vince Chhabria denied the company’s $2 billion offer because the amount wasn’t enough.

According to Chhabria, the funds would only last four years and there may not be any money left for people who are diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in the future. Claimants would also lose the ability to sue for punitive damages. Chhabria told the parties to make a better offer and present it to the court.

Roundup Verdicts

Prior to Monsanto/Bayer offering a Roundup settlement, it lost a string of trials in California before it began winning some cases. California juries awarded $289 million in August 2018, $80 million in March 2019 and $2 billion in May 2019 to people who claimed Roundup causes cancer.

Some trials in St. Louis have ended in Monsanto’s favor. The company won its first trial in September 2022.

The global Roundup settlement amount is $10.9 billion. Lawyers estimate the average individual Roundup lawsuit payout could be between $5,000 and $250,000, depending on the claimant’s injuries. The average settlement amount could be about $160,000 per plaintiff, according to experts.

Factors Affecting Roundup Settlement Amounts

The average amount of a person’s Roundup settlement is affected by the seriousness of the injuries and the damages a person claims.

When determining settlement amounts in a global settlement fund, claims administrators typically use a settlement matrix. This assigns a point value to claims by looking at the seriousness of the injury, a person’s age and other factors. Claims with higher point values generally receive higher settlement amounts.

The Roundup settlement process started when several lawsuits went to trial and ended in billions of dollars in losses for Bayer. Often defendants in mass tort cases like Roundup will wait to see how much a jury will award at trial before offering a settlement amount.

In the case of Roundup, Monsanto/Bayer decided to offer a settlement after they lost several trials that added up to more than $2 billion in damages. After both sides negotiated a settlement, Judge Chhambria signed off on the settlement and a fund was established.

Special Master Kenneth Feinberg will determine payout amounts for Roundup plaintiffs. Feinberg previously worked as Special Master for the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund and the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion.

Once the Special Master makes an offer it is final. All plaintiffs are required to participate in the Special Master’s program, but there is no penalty for rejecting an offer to settle and continuing on to trial.

How Long Will It Take for Roundup Lawsuits to Settle?

It may take two to three years to receive a Roundup settlement. After all the paperwork has been signed, some plaintiffs will receive a check within a few months while others may wait more than a year.

Bayer has offered a settlement amount, but because there are more than 100,000 Roundup lawsuits it may take years to settle all the claims. Higher-value claims may take longer to settle.

Do I Have to Pay Taxes on a Roundup Settlement?

No, you do not have to pay taxes on Roundup settlements. According to the Internal Revenue Service, a settlement for injury compensation is exempt from taxes because “IRC Section 104 explains that gross income does not include damages received on account of personal physical injuries or physical sickness.”

You may qualify for a Roundup settlement if you had at least 80 hours of exposure to Roundup and used it at least two years before a diagnosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma or other qualifying disease. If you aren’t sure, a Roundup lawyer can help you determine your exposure.

Keep in mind that these lawsuits are only for Roundup claims and not claims for Roundup alternatives such as paraquat or other herbicides. There are strict time limits to file a lawsuit depending on your state. Make sure you contact a Roundup lawyer right away to preserve your right to file a claim.