Bayer Pledges Another $4.5 Billion to Fund Roundup Cancer Cases
Bayer has announced that it will set aside another $4.5 billion to cover the growing costs associated with product liability lawsuits claiming that Roundup causes cancer, on top of the $11.6 billion the company previously said it would put towards Roundup cases. In recent years, Bayer and its Monsanto subsidiary have faced more than 120,000 lawsuits filed by former users of Roundup, each raising similar allegations that the controversial weedkiller increases the risk of cancer. This additional $4.5 billion in reserves would raise the total cost of the Roundup cancer litigation to more than $16 billion. If you or someone you love was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma or another type of cancer after using Roundup, do not hesitate to discuss your legal options with an experienced Roundup cancer lawyer. Contact us today to find out how we can help.
Roundup, Glyphosate Linked to Cancer
Roundup is a broad-spectrum herbicide widely used in the United States to eliminate weeds from crops, orchards, fields, and backyard lawns and gardens. Roundup’s active ingredient, glyphosate, is by far the most widely used herbicide in the U.S. and is known to be effective in managing weed growth across a variety of applications. However, the chemical has also been labeled a “probable human carcinogen” by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and has been linked to a potentially deadly cancer called non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Due to growing concerns about the cost of glyphosate exposure to human health, numerous cities, counties, states, and countries around the world have banned or restricted its use, but it remains in use in the U.S. However, faced with thousands of lawsuits claiming that Roundup causes cancer, Bayer recently announced that it would be replacing glyphosate in residential Roundup products with a different active ingredient by 2023. Commercial weedkiller products sold to farmers and agricultural workers would still contain the controversial chemical.
Bayer Puts Billions Towards Resolving Roundup Cancer Claims
This new proposal from Bayer would add to the funds the company already promised to reserve for the ongoing Roundup cancer litigation and the settlements that continue to be negotiated. Last year, Bayer announced that it would put $11.6 billion towards resolving previously filed claims alleging that Monsanto and Bayer deliberately withheld from consumers information about the human health risks associated with exposure to Roundup’s active ingredient. The proposed settlement included another $2 billion to settle any future Roundup cancer claims that may arise over the next four years. However, the offer, which would have limited Bayer’s liability in future Roundup claims, was rejected by the U.S. District Judge presiding over the federal Roundup litigation, who stated that it would be unfair to former users who had not yet been diagnosed with cancer.
Judge Announces Mediation Program for Roundup Cases
Bayer’s latest settlement offer was announced just days after U.S. District Judge Vincent Chhabria issued an order requiring plaintiffs who have not yet reached a settlement with Bayer to participate in a mediation program with court-appointed Special Master Ken Feinberg in order to receive a settlement offer. “There is no penalty for refusal of an offer, and there will be no delay in the litigation process while a plaintiff timely participates in the Special Master’s program,” Judge Chhabria wrote in a pretrial order issued on July 23. “However, if a plaintiff fails to participate in the program in accordance with the deadlines set by the Special Master, that could result in a delay of the litigation, and it will be deemed a violation of this order, which could result in sanctions.”
Contact Us to Find Out if You Qualify for Compensation
Bayer still faces thousands of Roundup lawsuits that have not yet been settled and thousands of new cases are expected to be filed in the coming months and years, as long-time Roundup users who were never warned about the potential health risks of glyphosate exposure continue to be diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. If you or someone you know was exposed to glyphosate in Roundup and subsequently developed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma or another type of cancer, you may have grounds to file a Roundup lawsuit against Bayer and its Monsanto subsidiary for failing to warn about the potential link between Roundup and cancer. The Roundup litigation is ongoing, and settlements are being negotiated every day, so don’t wait to call us for help.
