Round Up

Roundup is a widely-used herbicide that has been linked to the development of serious medical issues including non-Hodgkin lymphoma and related cancers.¹ Roundup was manufactured by Monstanto, which was acquired by Bayer in 2018.²

Bayer is now facing thousands of lawsuits by Roundup³ users seeking compensation for the damage to their health they experienced as a result of using the herbicide. Those lawsuits have been consolidated in a federal multi-district litigation.⁴ 

This guide will explain the Roundup risks, the pending litigation, and what your options are if you suspect that you or a loved one was harmed by Roundup use.

What is Roundup?

Roundup is a glyphosate-based herbicide.⁵ Monsanto had the exclusive rights to glyphosate until 2000 when its patent expired and other companies began manufacturing herbicides containing the same active ingredient.⁶ 

Between 1974 and 2016, glyphosate became the world’s most widely used herbicide.⁶  However, in 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer announced that glyphosate was classified as a potential carcinogen.⁷

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Potential Health Risks of Roundup

Numerous studies have shown significant health risks associated with Roundup use. In addition to the International Agency for Research on Cancer classifying glyphosates as a potential carcinogen, other studies have demonstrated a causal link between the herbicide use and the development of multiple types of cancer including:

• 2019 research published by ScienceDirect demonstrating a 41% increase in the risk of developing non-Hodgkins lymphoma after glyphosate exposure.⁸ 
• 2022 research published by The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism linking glyphosate exposure to thyroid cancer.⁹
• 2023 research published by the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, which linked glyphosate exposure to oxidative stress, which is a key characteristic of carcinogens.¹⁰ 

Bayer maintains that Roundup is safe, but stopped selling versions of the product with glyphosate to the residential market in 2023 in an effort to prevent additional lawsuits.

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Why Are Roundup Lawsuits Being Filed? 

With mounting evidence linking Roundup to cancer, those who developed non-Hodgkins Lymphoma or related cancers began filing lawsuits against Bayer with the hope of holding the manufacturer accountable for their damages.

Companies have an obligation not to release dangerous products onto the marketplace, as well as to warn consumers of the risk of their products including alerting Roundup users to the potential risk of developing cancer due to Roundup exposure. 

Consumers allege Bayer failed in its obligations, putting them at risk of harm by selling Roundup to consumers despite its carcinogenic effects. Those affected are pursuing a lawsuit to recover compensation for resulting medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and emotional distress.¹²

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History of Roundup Lawsuits and Recent Case Updates

Plaintiffs began filing Roundup lawsuits shortly after the IARC announced Roundup’s carcinogenic effects. In 2016, cases were consolidated in a Federal Multi-District Litigation in the Northern District of California.⁴  

Multi-district litigation, or MDL, brings many separate cases before one judge to decide on common issues. While plaintiffs maintain their individual claims, the judge can decide on key issues relevant to all cases. Bellwether or test trials can also move forward, providing insight into how the case will be received in court and guiding settlement talks.

In 2018, the first Roundup case went to trial and resulted in a $289 million verdict for the plaintiff. This included $250 million in punitive damages.¹³  A second case followed in 2019, resulting in a $2 billion damage award for the plaintiff.¹⁴ 

Following these unfavorable verdicts, Bayer negotiated a settlement and agreed to pay $10.9 billion to resolve the majority of Roundup claims pending at the time.⁶ 

Some cases remained pending, however, and Bayer continues to face a mounting number of claims brought by plaintiffs who allege Roundup caused their cancer to occur. Thousands of claims remain pending in the MDL as of April 2025, and Bayer has lost numerous large state court claims including:

• An October of 2023 case in which a Philadelphia jury ordered Bayer to pay $175 million in damages to a retired restaurant owner who claimed Roundup exposure caused the development of his cancer.¹⁵
• An October of 2024 case in which a Philadelphia State Court awarded $78 million to a plaintiff whose Roundup use was linked to the development of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.¹⁶ 
• A March 2025 case in which a Georgia jury ordered Bayer to pay $2.1 billion to a plaintiff alleging Roundup caused his non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The verdict included $2 billion in punitive damages and $65 million in compensatory damages.¹⁷

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Can You Still File a Roundup Lawsuit? 

You can still file a Roundup lawsuit. Most lawsuits are being filed by plaintiffs who had long-term exposure to Roundup and who developed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma or other qualifying cancers.

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How To File a Lawsuit Based On Complications of Roundup

If you or someone you love was harmed by Roundup, you have multiple options to pursue justice. An experienced attorney can help you determine if you should file a state or federal claim, as well as whether becoming part of the multi-district litigation is the right course of action.

It’s best to act quickly if you believe you have a legal case against Bayer, so contact us today and let us match you with an attorney that is right for you to discuss your potential case and understand your rights. 

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¹ City of Hope. “Does glyphosate cause cancer?” (July 2021)

² The Guardian. “The Roundup row: is the world’s most popular weedkiller carcinogenic?” (March 2019)

³ Chemical and Engineering News. “Bayer moves to block lawsuits that claim glyphosate causes cancer.” (April 2025)

⁴ United States District Court for the Northern District of California. “In re: Roundup Products Liability Litigation (MDL No. 2741).” 

⁵ University of Florida. “Not All Roundup® is Glyphosate.”

⁶ Bayer.com “Glyphosate Timeline.” 

⁷ International Agency for Research on Cancer. “IARC Monograph on Glyphosate” (July 2018).

⁸ Science Direct. “Exposure to glyphosate-based herbicides and risk for non-Hodgkin lymphoma: A meta-analysis and supporting evidence.” (July 2019)

⁹ The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism. “Thyroid Cancer and Pesticide Use in a Central California Agricultural Area: A Case Control Study”

¹⁰ Journal of the National Cancer Institute. “Glyphosate exposure and urinary oxidative stress biomarkers in the Agricultural Health Study.” (April 2023)

¹² Nebraska Public Media. “Bayer seeks protection from lawsuits over Roundup in the latest version of the farm bill.” (July 2024).

¹³ CNN. “Jurors give $289 million to a man they say got cancer from Monsanto’s Roundup weedkiller.” (August 2018). 

¹⁴ CNN. “Jurors punish Monsanto with a record $2 billion verdict over Roundup weedkiller. But the story’s not over.” (May 2019)

¹⁵ Reuters. “Bayer ordered to pay $175 million in latest Roundup cancer trial.” (October 2023)

¹⁶ US News & World Report. “Bayer Must Pay $78 Million in Latest Roundup Cancer Trial, Jury Finds.” 

¹⁷ ABC. “Georgia jury orders Monsanto parent, Bayer, to pay $2.1B in Roundup weedkiller lawsuit” March 2025.