A $45 million class-action settlement was just granted by the federal court presiding over tens of thousands of Roundup weedkiller personal injury lawsuits against Monsanto and its owner, Bayer AG.
The cases allege misleading advertising and failure to warn. The settlement, which settles a class-action case apart from the over 100,000 Roundup cancer multidistrict litigation (MDL) claims that have been settled and the roughly 30,000 MDL claims that are still pending, was approved by the U.S. District Judge late last month.
The world's most popular herbicide, Roundup, which contains the primary active component glyphosate, is said by the lead plaintiff to have the potential to cause health problems in users.
The court voiced hesitation about approving the settlement during a hearing on it in April due to its enormity and the potential for the confusion it would cause. Even the top end of the settlement offer, $45 million, according to him, could not be enough to cover all of the class members' claims for economic loss.
The court expressed worry that participants might not be aware they might still bring personal injury claims. Consumers still have the option to file a lawsuit against Monsanto if they later acquire non-lymphoma, Hodgkin's, which is thought to have been brought on by Roundup, as was not made explicit in an earlier version of the class notification.
Buyers would receive reimbursement for around 20% of the typical amount they paid for Roundup products under the false advertising settlement, which was filed in an Oregon U.S. District Court in 2019. The cost of each bottle of Roundup purchased was projected to be reimbursed at $10 at the April hearing.
The settlement applies to all glyphosate-containing herbicides made by Monsanto, including Ace Weed & Grass Killer Concentrate, HDX Weed & Grass Killer Ready-to-Use, and Roundup Ready-to-Use Weed & Grass Killer.
To participate in the class settlement, most receipts are not necessary. It will be necessary to submit receipts for more expensive glyphosate-based products in order to be reimbursed, and the application deadline is October 19, 2022. Early in the next year, there will be a final hearing on the settlement.
