Roundup Class Settlement: Where the $7.25 Billion Deal Stands as Bayer Predicts a Ruling Before Christmas
ST. LOUIS — Nov. 6, 2026 — Bayer AG told investors on Nov. 3 that a Missouri judge’s decision on its proposed $7.25 billion Roundup class settlement could come “any week now” and is expected before Christmas, according to Bloomberg reporting published by Insurance Journal. The company’s third-quarter statement, released the same day, confirms that final approval by the St. Louis trial court is still pending nearly two months after a Sept. 14 fairness hearing.
The ruling matters well beyond Bayer’s balance sheet. The class in King v. Monsanto Co. reaches farmers, landscapers, groundskeepers, gardeners and others exposed to Roundup or other glyphosate-based weed killers in the United States before Feb. 17, 2026, including people who have not been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. If the deal is approved and survives any appeals, it would set the compensation path for current and future claims for up to 21 years. Monsanto denies all wrongdoing, and the court has made no finding on the merits.
What Happened
On Nov. 3, 2026, Bayer released its quarterly statement for the period ending Sept. 30. In it, the company said that Monsanto, its subsidiary, did not exercise its right to terminate the class settlement before the Sept. 14 final approval hearing, that final approval by the state trial court “is still pending,” and that the settlement cannot become final until all appeals are exhausted, a process the company said could take several years, according to Bayer’s Q3 2026 statement.
On a press call that day, CEO Bill Anderson said the ruling could come “any week now” and that Bayer expects it before Christmas, according to Bloomberg reporting. Bayer also said it faces roughly 65,000 Roundup claims in U.S. state and federal courts, the same report said. That figure comes from the company’s statements to reporters; the quarterly statement itself does not give a claim count.
The settlement is pending before Judge Timothy Boyer of the Circuit Court of the City of St. Louis (22nd Judicial Circuit). Judge Boyer heard from supporters and objectors at a lengthy fairness hearing on Sept. 14 and did not rule from the bench, The New Lede reported. He told the parties he could not predict when he would rule.
A Bayer trial win in the meantime
While the settlement decision has been pending, Bayer won a unanimous jury verdict in late October in a St. Louis trial brought by three women who said they developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma from Roundup exposure, Claims Journal reported. All three plaintiffs had opted out of the class settlement. The case relied on design-defect theories rather than failure-to-warn claims, which the Supreme Court limited in June. Plaintiffs’ counsel’s response to the verdict was not included in the report.
What the Settlement Would Do
The settlement was filed on Feb. 17, 2026, and preliminarily approved on March 4, 2026, according to the official settlement website and a court-authorized notice. Its core terms, as described in those sources and Bayer’s filings, are summarized below.
| Term | What the official sources say |
|---|---|
| Case | King v. Monsanto Co., Circuit Court of the City of St. Louis, Missouri |
| Total amount | Up to $7.25 billion, funded in declining annual payments over up to 21 years |
| Who is in the class | Farmers, landscapers, groundskeepers, gardeners and others exposed to Roundup or other glyphosate-based weed killers in the U.S. before Feb. 17, 2026; family members and representatives of deceased, minor or incapacitated class members may also be included |
| Condition covered | Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), whether diagnosed now or in the future |
| Reported individual benefits | About $6,000 to $165,000 or more, depending mainly on home vs. work exposure, age at diagnosis and NHL type |
| Current diagnoses | Register within 180 days after final approval; file a claim within 180 days after any appeals are resolved |
| Future diagnoses | No registration needed now; file within 6 years of diagnosis or before the 16th Annual Payment Date |
| Opt-out / objection deadline | June 4, 2026 (passed) |
| Liability | Monsanto denies all wrongdoing; no finding on the merits |
Bayer’s quarterly statement describes the class as people exposed before the settlement date who have an NHL diagnosis or receive one within 16 years after the settlement takes effect. The company also disclosed a separate February 2026 agreement resolving certain other Roundup claims outside the class.
Gross awards are not take-home amounts. Court-approved attorneys’ fees, medical liens and other deductions would come out of individual payments. The New Lede reported that class counsel’s fee request totals $675 million, a figure objectors have challenged.
The Law Behind the Settlement
Class actions under Missouri Rule 52.08
The settlement was filed in Missouri state court, so it is governed by Missouri Supreme Court Rule 52.08, the state’s counterpart to Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 23. Rule 52.08(e) provides that a class action “shall not be dismissed or compromised without the approval of the court,” with notice to class members. Missouri’s 2025 legislation (Senate Bill 47, effective Aug. 28, 2025) brought the rule closer to Federal Rule 23(e), including a fairness hearing and an affirmative finding that a settlement is “fair, reasonable, and adequate,” according to a Thompson Coburn analysis. That is the question Judge Boyer is now deciding.
Objectors have argued that a Missouri state court lacks authority to bind people outside Missouri who never sued there, that future claimants could be bound without meaningfully understanding a short opt-out window, and that liens could absorb much of what claimants receive, according to The New Lede’s account of the hearing. Supporters, including plaintiffs’ lawyers who back the deal, argued that without it many claimants could wait years in a trial backlog with no guarantee of recovery.
FIFRA preemption and Monsanto Co. v. Durnell
The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) requires the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to approve pesticide labels. Its preemption clause, 7 U.S.C. § 136v(b), bars states from imposing labeling or packaging requirements “in addition to or different from” those required under federal law. Separately, 7 U.S.C. § 136(q) defines when a pesticide is “misbranded.”
On June 25, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court decided Monsanto Co. v. Durnell, No. 24-1068, reversing a Missouri Court of Appeals judgment. In a 7-2 opinion by Justice Brett Kavanaugh, the Court held that FIFRA preempts state failure-to-warn claims that would require a cancer warning on an EPA-approved label, at least where EPA has evaluated the relevant risk, according to the Supreme Court docket and a Crowell & Moring client alert. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented, joined by Justice Neil Gorsuch.
The ruling did not end all Roundup litigation. Law-firm analyses note that design-defect, manufacturing-defect, inadequate-testing and some advertising-based claims may survive, along with efficacy claims recognized in the Supreme Court’s 2005 decision in Bates v. Dow Agrosciences LLC. Bayer, which maintains that glyphosate does not cause cancer, said the decision should lead to dismissal of current warnings-based claims, which it says make up most of the litigation to date. Plaintiffs’ lawyers dispute how far the ruling reaches.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Feb. 17, 2026 | Motion for preliminary approval of the class settlement filed in King v. Monsanto Co. |
| March 4, 2026 | St. Louis court grants preliminary approval and authorizes notice |
| April 27, 2026 | U.S. Supreme Court hears argument in Monsanto Co. v. Durnell |
| June 4, 2026 | Deadline to opt out of or object to the settlement |
| June 25, 2026 | Supreme Court rules 7-2 that FIFRA preempts certain state failure-to-warn claims |
| July 1, 2026 | Bayer consolidates its U.S. glyphosate business into Ruveon LLC |
| July 9, 2026 | Original final approval hearing date; later continued |
| Sept. 14, 2026 | Fairness hearing held before Judge Timothy Boyer; decision reserved |
| Late Oct. 2026 | St. Louis jury returns verdict for Bayer in design-defect trial brought by three opt-out plaintiffs |
| Nov. 3, 2026 | Bayer Q3 statement says final approval is still pending; CEO predicts ruling before Christmas |
| To be determined | Final approval ruling; any appeals; registration and claims open after approval |
Who Is Affected
- People diagnosed with NHL after Roundup exposure. If they did not opt out by June 4, 2026, they are generally part of the class and would register and file claims under the settlement’s process once it becomes final.
- People exposed but not diagnosed. The class includes people who may be diagnosed in the future. The official website says the settlement affects people even if they have not been diagnosed with cancer.
- Families of class members. Family members and legal representatives of deceased, minor or incapacitated class members may be included.
- People who opted out. They keep their right to pursue individual lawsuits, but those cases now proceed under the narrower legal theories left after Durnell.
- Plaintiffs with pending suits. Bayer’s March announcement said Missouri suits brought by class members are stayed, except for opt-outs, until final judgment.
A separate federal multidistrict litigation, In re Roundup Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2741, remains pending before U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria in the Northern District of California. How the state class settlement and the federal cases interact will depend on the final approval ruling and any appeals.
What Happens Next
- Final approval ruling. Judge Boyer will decide whether the settlement is fair, reasonable and adequate. There is no announced date.
- Appeals. If the settlement is approved, objectors may appeal. Bayer has said the settlement cannot become final until all appeals are exhausted, which could take several years.
- Registration window. People with a current NHL diagnosis would have 180 days after final approval to register, according to the settlement website.
- Claims and payments. Claims for current diagnoses would be due within 180 days after appeals are resolved. Payments are funded annually over up to 21 years.
- Continued individual trials. Opt-out cases continue in state and federal courts, now largely on design-defect and related theories.
If the court rejects the settlement, the parties could renegotiate, and the stayed Missouri cases would be expected to resume. Neither outcome has been signaled by the court.
What Readers Should Know
This section is general information, not legal advice. Anyone with questions about their own situation should speak with a licensed attorney.
- Use the official sources. Status updates and sign-ups are posted at WeedKillerClass.com, the settlement website named in the court-authorized notice, which lists 1-888-403-8201. Be cautious of anyone charging a fee to “reserve” a place in the settlement. Our guide on how to verify a settlement notice explains how to check whether a notice or website is legitimate.
- Keep records now. Exposure history (home or work use, years, products), medical records and the date of any diagnosis are the main factors the settlement uses to set awards.
- If you have a lawyer, ask about your status. People with pending lawsuits should confirm with their counsel whether they are in the class or opted out.
- Expect deductions and a long timeline. Reported award ranges are gross figures. Fees, liens and appeals can affect both the amount and timing of any payment.
- Deadlines that passed cannot be assumed to reopen. The June 4, 2026 opt-out and objection deadline has passed. Questions about late requests should go to the settlement administrator or an attorney.
Legal News Report will update this article when the court rules. Readers with documents or information about the case can reach our newsroom through the Submit a Tip page. More coverage is available in our Settlements and Consumer Rights sections and on the Latest News page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has the Roundup class settlement been approved?
Not yet. The Circuit Court of the City of St. Louis granted preliminary approval on March 4, 2026, and held a fairness hearing on Sept. 14, 2026. As of Bayer’s Nov. 3, 2026 quarterly statement and the official settlement website, final approval is still pending. Even after approval, the settlement cannot become final until any appeals are resolved.
Who is included in the Roundup class settlement?
The class generally includes farmers, landscapers, groundskeepers, gardeners and others exposed to Roundup or other glyphosate-based weed killers in the United States before Feb. 17, 2026. It covers people diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma now or in the future, and family members or representatives of deceased, minor or incapacitated class members may also be included. People who validly opted out by June 4, 2026 are not in the class.
How much money could a class member receive?
According to the court-authorized notice, eligible people diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma may receive about $6,000 to $165,000 or more. Amounts depend mainly on whether exposure was at home or at work, age at diagnosis and the type of NHL. Attorneys’ fees, medical liens and other deductions may reduce the amount actually paid.
Can I still opt out of the Roundup settlement?
The deadline to opt out or object was June 4, 2026, and it has passed. Anyone unsure whether they are in the class or excluded should contact the settlement administrator through WeedKillerClass.com or speak with a licensed attorney.
What if I used Roundup but have not been diagnosed with cancer?
The class includes people who have been exposed but not diagnosed. According to the settlement website, people diagnosed in the future do not need to register now and would file a claim within 6 years of diagnosis or before the 16th Annual Payment Date.
How does the Supreme Court’s Durnell decision affect Roundup claims?
In Monsanto Co. v. Durnell, decided June 25, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act preempts state failure-to-warn claims that would require a cancer warning on Roundup’s EPA-approved label. The decision does not by itself bar other theories, such as design-defect claims, and it does not change the terms of the proposed class settlement.
Sources
- WeedKillerClass.com — Official Settlement Website (King v. Monsanto Co.)
- Class Settlement Agreement, King v. Monsanto Co. (PDF)
- Court Authorizes Notice of Proposed Class Action Settlement for Farmers, Landscapers and Others Exposed to Weed Killers (PR Newswire, March 9, 2026)
- Bayer AG Quarterly Statement, Third Quarter 2026 (Nov. 3, 2026)
- Bayer: Missouri Court Preliminarily Approves Roundup Class Settlement for Current and Future Claims (March 4, 2026)
- Bayer: Monsanto Wins Landmark Roundup Case at U.S. Supreme Court (June 25, 2026)
- Supreme Court of the United States, Docket No. 24-1068, Monsanto Co. v. Durnell
- Crowell & Moring: Supreme Court Holds FIFRA Preempts State Failure-to-Warn Claims Challenging EPA-Approved Pesticide Labels
- 7 U.S.C. § 136v — Authority of States (FIFRA), Cornell Legal Information Institute
- 7 U.S.C. § 136 — Definitions, including “misbranded” (FIFRA), Cornell Legal Information Institute
- Missouri Supreme Court Rule 52.08 — Class Actions
- Thompson Coburn: Missouri Aligns Class Action Rule With Federal Standards
- Roundup Settlement Expected Before Christmas, Bayer CEO Says (Insurance Journal / Bloomberg, Nov. 3, 2026)
- Bayer Wins Roundup Trial as Settlement Decision Looms (Claims Journal / Bloomberg, Oct. 30, 2026)
- Judge Weighs “Fairness” of $7.25 Billion Roundup Settlement for Cancer Victims (The New Lede, Sept. 2026)
- Missouri Judge Grants Continuance in Contested $7.25B Nationwide Roundup Settlement (Mealey’s, Aug. 13, 2026)
This article is for general informational and news purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal News Report is a news publication, not a law firm or a lawyer referral service, and reading this article does not create an attorney-client relationship. Settlement terms and court schedules can change; check official court and settlement sources for current information. See our Legal Disclaimer, Editorial Standards and Corrections Policy.
