The 8th US Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday cleared a major obstacle for Bayer’s $7.25 billion settlement of tens of thousands of Roundup cancer lawsuits, dismissing a challenge by objecting plaintiffs who had tried to move the case to federal court.

The ruling keeps the landmark settlement in Missouri state court, where a judge has scheduled a September 14 hearing to consider giving the deal final approval. If approved, the settlement would resolve most current and future Roundup claims in the United States.

What the Objecting Plaintiffs Argued

A group of Roundup plaintiffs opposed the settlement and tried to block it by arguing that a state court had no authority to fast-track a nationwide resolution of the lawsuits. They wanted the case transferred to a federal judge who is already overseeing consolidated federal Roundup litigation — and who has been openly critical of the settlement proposal.

A different federal judge ruled in June that the case should remain in Missouri state court. The 8th Circuit agreed Thursday, dismissing the challenge entirely.

Attorney Ashley Keller, who represents the objecting plaintiffs, said the fight is not over.

“We still oppose the deal,” Keller said. “We will argue our objections in state court next month and leave all options open for appeals of adverse rulings, if any.”

What the Settlement Covers

Bayer faces approximately 65,000 claims in US state and federal courts from plaintiffs who say they developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma and other cancers after using Roundup weed killer at home, on farms, or on the job.

The $7.25 billion class action settlement, announced in February 2026, is designed to resolve the vast majority of those claims. It covers both current claimants and future plaintiffs who may develop cancer linked to Roundup exposure.

Bayer’s subsidiary Monsanto said it was pleased with the 8th Circuit’s decision to reject what it called a “baseless” attempt to disrupt the state court proceedings, and expressed confidence the settlement is “fair to all parties.”

The Science Dispute at the Heart of the Case

Bayer maintains that decades of scientific studies have shown Roundup’s active ingredient — glyphosate — is safe and does not cause cancer. The US Environmental Protection Agency has consistently classified glyphosate as “not likely to be carcinogenic to humans.”

However, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, a branch of the World Health Organization, classified glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic” in 2015 — the finding that triggered the original wave of lawsuits. Plaintiffs’ attorneys have argued that internal Monsanto documents show the company knew about cancer risks and suppressed scientific research.

A Supreme Court Win for Bayer

The settlement negotiations have been complicated by a recent legal victory for Bayer. While the class action was pending, Bayer won a Supreme Court appeal over the adequacy of Roundup’s warning label — undercutting one of the central legal theories that plaintiffs had relied on in thousands of individual cases.

The Supreme Court ruling made it significantly harder for future plaintiffs to argue that Roundup’s label was defective, which reduced Bayer’s legal exposure and may have contributed to the company’s willingness to settle at $7.25 billion rather than the higher figures plaintiffs had originally sought.

What Happens September 14

The Missouri state court hearing on September 14 is the next critical date for tens of thousands of Roundup claimants. The judge must decide whether to grant final approval to the settlement — a decision that would trigger the distribution process for claimants.

If the judge approves the deal, objecting plaintiffs like those represented by Keller can still appeal that ruling through the state court system.

If the judge rejects the settlement, Bayer and plaintiffs’ attorneys would need to renegotiate terms or return to individual trials — a process that could take years.

Could You Be Eligible?

If you or a family member used Roundup regularly — as a homeowner, farmer, landscaper, or groundskeeper — and have been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma or another form of cancer, you may be eligible to participate in the settlement.

Key eligibility factors typically include:

  • Regular use of Roundup for at least one year
  • Diagnosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma or related cancer
  • Diagnosis occurring after a period of Roundup exposure

Claimants who have already filed lawsuits are likely already included in the settlement class. Those who have not yet filed should consult a personal injury attorney immediately, as deadlines to participate in the settlement class may apply.

InjuryWatch News will continue tracking the September 14 hearing and the final disposition of the $7.25 billion Roundup settlement.