A Missouri judge heard arguments Monday for and against Bayer’s proposed $7.25 billion settlement of Roundup cancer lawsuits, as the German chemical giant made its most direct appeal yet for a final resolution to litigation that has cost it billions and weighed on its stock price for years.

Judge Timothy Boyer presided over the hearing in St. Louis, listening to supporters and opponents of the deal without tipping his hand on how he will rule. He invited both sides to submit additional filings by the end of the week before he decides whether to grant final approval.

“This proceeding in the courtroom is about the tens of thousands of people whose lives have been affected by this case,” Boyer said. “It’s not about one judge in one courtroom pontificating or asking questions or making quips, so I wanted the focus today to be on those people and the attorneys that are here to represent them.”

Monsanto’s Position — Take It or Leave It

Monsanto attorney James Bennett made clear at the hearing that the company has no interest in negotiating a better deal if this one is rejected.

“This is the settlement,” Bennett told the judge. “There is not another settlement.”

Bayer’s Monsanto unit maintains that Roundup does not cause cancer and says decades of studies support the safety of glyphosate, the weedkiller’s active ingredient. Despite that position, the company has been willing to settle rather than continue fighting approximately 65,000 individual claims in state and federal courts — litigation that has cost Bayer billions since its 2018 acquisition of Monsanto.

What the Settlement Offers Claimants

Under the proposed settlement, people who were exposed to Roundup and developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma would receive payments ranging from $10,000 to $165,000, depending on several factors:

  • Severity of the cancer diagnosis
  • Age at the time of diagnosis
  • Whether exposure occurred at home or at work

The settlement aims to resolve most existing claims and establish a framework for future claims from people who develop cancer after using Roundup.

Why Many Plaintiffs Are Supporting the Deal Now

A key reason more plaintiffs have come around to supporting the settlement is a June 2026 US Supreme Court ruling that sided with Monsanto on a critical legal issue — finding that federal law preempts state law claims that Roundup’s label should have warned consumers about cancer risks.

Attorney Hunter Shkolnik, whose firm represents 3,000 Roundup plaintiffs, told the judge that 800 to 900 of his clients initially wanted to opt out of the deal but reconsidered after the Supreme Court ruling.

“The Supreme Court’s ruling dealt a major blow to many of the cases,” Shkolnik said, explaining why the settlement’s guaranteed payments now look more attractive than the uncertain prospect of trial.

Objectors Say It’s Not Enough

Not everyone is on board. Several attorneys argued Monday that the settlement significantly undervalues the claims.

Attorney T. Roe Frazer argued that the proposed payouts are inadequate and that few claimants will qualify for the maximum $165,000 award. He also raised a broader concern about the scope of future claims.

“Even though $7.25 billion looks like a lot of money, it’s just not enough,” Frazer said. “It can’t be.”

Frazer pointed out that Roundup remains on store shelves and in widespread use, and that studies suggest 80% of Americans have detectable levels of glyphosate in their bodies. The settlement, he argued, fails to account for the full potential scope of future cancer diagnoses linked to ongoing exposure.

Other objectors raised concerns about:

  • The settlement’s treatment of future claimants who have been exposed but not yet developed cancer
  • Attempts to bind residents of states other than Missouri
  • The $675 million in attorneys’ fees sought by the lawyers who negotiated the deal

Bayer’s Long Road to Resolution

The $7.25 billion settlement is Bayer’s second major attempt to put Roundup litigation behind it. In 2020, the company paid approximately $10 billion to resolve most then-existing claims. However, a parallel $1.25 billion settlement designed to resolve future claims never received court approval.

Since acquiring Monsanto in 2018, Roundup litigation has been a constant drag on Bayer’s finances and stock price. The company is hoping Judge Boyer’s approval will finally draw a line under the liability.

What Happens Next

Judge Boyer did not indicate a timeline for his ruling after Monday’s hearing. Both sides have until the end of this week to submit additional written arguments.

If Boyer approves the settlement, the distribution process for the thousands of existing claimants can begin. If he rejects it — as Monsanto warned there is no alternative deal on the table — the company faces the prospect of tens of thousands of individual trials stretching years into the future.

Are You a Roundup Claimant?

If you or a family member used Roundup regularly and have been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma or another form of cancer, you may be eligible to participate in this settlement. Key factors:

  • Regular use of Roundup for at least one year
  • Diagnosis of non-Hodgkin lymphoma or related cancer
  • Exposure occurring before the settlement cutoff date

Consult a personal injury attorney immediately if you believe you have a claim — deadlines to participate in the settlement class may apply.

InjuryWatch News will continue tracking Judge Boyer’s ruling and the final disposition of the $7.25 billion Roundup settlement.