In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a division of the World Health Organization, classified glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, as a possible carcinogen. While this is not the first product that presents a risk of cancer to users, the Roundup cases are unique because so many people have been exposed to the product. Since the discovery that Roundup may cause cancer, there have been thousands of product liability lawsuits filed against Bayer, the German manufacturing giant. Bayer purchased Monsanto, the company that initially created and marketed Roundup, in 2018.
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These product liability claims seek to hold the company accountable for tragic effects caused by its herbicide, which the company did not disclose to consumers. Over the past few years, several of these cases went to trial, resulting in multi-million-dollar verdicts, totaling over $2 billion to date.
According to a recent news report, Bayer has shown an interest in settling these Roundup cases, which are approximately 18,000 in number. Evidently, Bayer initially proposed a settlement range between $6 and $8 billion. However, the plaintiffs’ attorneys are requesting upwards of $10 billion before their clients will settle their claims. Although the mediator presiding over the case told reporters that there had been no official talks put on the record, it seems that the parties are nearing an agreement. Recently, an upcoming trial date was pushed back by agreement so that the parties could continue to discuss settlement options.
Any settlement agreement in the Bayer cases may still be far off, however, because the two sides have yet to agree on how to compensate individuals who have been exposed to Roundup but not yet contracted an illness. One possible resolution would be to establish a fund that could provide future claimants compensation upon proving that Roundup was the cause of their illness or diagnosis. Not long ago, thousands of National Football League (NFL) players reached a similarly structured settlement with the NFL related to the undisclosed risks of head injury.
Regardless, the settlement talks mark a significant shift in Bayer’s previous stance on the pending lawsuits, which was characterized as a “defend at all costs” approach. The settlement talks arose shortly after Bayer shareholders expressed frustration that the company’s management was not handling the cases responsibly. The value of Bayer stock has lost about one-third of its value since the company purchased Monsanto about 14 months ago.
Have You Been Diagnosed with Cancer After Being Exposed to Roundup?
If you or a loved one was recently diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma or leukemia, and you believe that your diagnosis may have been due to exposure to Roundup, contact Moll Law Group. At Moll Law Group, we represent plaintiffs in Illinois and across the United States in product liability cases. Through our advocacy efforts, we seek to make the world a safer place by discouraging companies from manufacturing and selling dangerous products. To learn more about how we can help you pursue a claim for compensation based on the injuries you have sustained, call 312-462-1700 to schedule a free consultation today.