Bayer Wins Roundup Trial, What It Means for Users, Impact On Cancer Claims and the $7.25 Billion Settlement

On October 29, 2026, a Missouri jury unanimously rejected claims by three women who said Roundup weedkiller caused their non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It was the first Roundup cancer trial to reach a verdict since the U.S. Supreme Court’s June 25, 2026 ruling in Monsanto Co. v. Durnell, and Bayer’s Monsanto unit won on every claim the jury decided.

One day earlier, on October 28, a federal appeals court reversed a judgment against Monsanto in a separate Florida case after applying that Supreme Court decision.

Here is what is easy to miss. Bayer has won important victories, but no court has ruled that Roundup is harmless, and no ruling has ended all Roundup lawsuits. Meanwhile, a separate $7.25 billion settlement awaiting final approval could affect the legal rights of people who used Roundup but have never been diagnosed with cancer.

This guide explains what actually happened, what each ruling does and does not decide, who may be affected, and what Roundup users should know now.

The Short Version

• The verdict: A St. Louis County jury found for Monsanto on design-defect, negligence and fraud claims. The plaintiffs received nothing from this verdict.
• The Supreme Court ruling: Federal pesticide law blocks state-law claims that would require a cancer warning the EPA has not required on Roundup’s label. The Court did not decide whether glyphosate causes cancer.
• The settlement: Up to $7.25 billion, preliminary approval granted, final approval still pending as of October 30, 2026. No claim registration is open.
• Still unresolved: About 65,000 claims remain pending, according to Reuters. Some theories, such as design defect, can still reach trial.
• For users: Using Roundup does not mean you will get cancer or that you are owed money. But the settlement may already affect your legal rights, and the opt-out deadline passed on June 4, 2026.

Quick Facts

Detail	Information
Latest verdict	October 29, 2026, unanimous verdict for Monsanto
Case	Theresa Aretino, et al. v. Monsanto Company, No. 20SL-CC03676
Court	21st Judicial Circuit of Missouri, St. Louis County
Trial judge	Brian May
Plaintiffs	Theresa Aretino, Cynthia Fernandez, Betty Larkin
Plaintiff who died before trial	Cynthia Fernandez (per Reuters)
Allegation	Regular Roundup use caused non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Claims the jury decided	Design defect, negligence, fraud
Damages	None awarded
Bayer’s lead litigation executive	Bill Dodero, U.S. General Counsel and Global Head of Litigation
Supreme Court case	Monsanto Co. v. Durnell, No. 24-1068
Supreme Court decision	June 25, 2026, 7–2 for Monsanto (Justice Kavanaugh writing)
Related appeals ruling	Salas v. Monsanto, No. 24-14030 (11th Cir., Oct. 28, 2026)
Pending claims	About 65,000 in U.S. courts (Reuters)
Proposed settlement	Up to $7.25 billion, King v. Monsanto, No. 2622-CC00325
Settlement court	22nd Judicial Circuit, City of St. Louis; Judge Timothy J. Boyer
Settlement status	Preliminary approval March 4, 2026; final hearing September 14, 2026; decision pending
Opt-out/objection deadline	June 4, 2026 (passed)
Claim registration	Not open yet
Payment for exposure alone	No

Timeline: How Roundup Litigation Reached This Point

Date	Event
2015	IARC classifies glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic to humans” (Group 2A)
2017	EPA human-health assessment finds no risks of concern from registered uses when label directions are followed
2018	Bayer acquires Monsanto for about $63 billion; Roundup lawsuits multiply
2018–2025	Tens of thousands of cases filed; early trials produce mixed results, including very large verdicts that were later reduced or resolved; Bayer has paid more than $10 billion in settlements and judgments
Feb. 17, 2026	$7.25 billion proposed class settlement announced
Mar. 4, 2026	Preliminary approval granted
June 4, 2026	Deadline to opt out of or object to the settlement
June 25, 2026	Supreme Court decides Monsanto v. Durnell
Sept. 14, 2026	Final fairness hearing on the settlement
Oct. 1, 2026	Idaho federal judge lets Merril Hoge’s design-defect and negligence claims proceed
Oct. 28, 2026	Eleventh Circuit reverses judgment against Monsanto in Salas
Oct. 29, 2026	Unanimous defense verdict in Aretino

For a fuller history of how the litigation developed, see our report on where the Roundup cancer lawsuits stand.

What Happened at the October 29 Trial?

The three plaintiffs sued in 2020, alleging that regular Roundup use caused their non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Trial began in late September before Judge Brian May. One plaintiff died before trial, and the case continued with three plaintiffs.

Because the Supreme Court had already limited failure-to-warn claims, the plaintiffs pursued other theories. The jury rejected all of them:

Claim	What the plaintiffs argued	Result
Design defect	Roundup was defectively designed and unreasonably dangerous	For Monsanto
Negligence	Monsanto acted negligently	For Monsanto
Fraud	Monsanto engaged in deceptive conduct	For Monsanto
Failure to warn	Monsanto should have warned of cancer risk	Blocked by Supreme Court ruling before trial

Bayer’s Bill Dodero said the verdict validated the company’s view that there is no evidence to prove design-defect, fraud or negligence claims, and that it signals significant challenges for plaintiffs after Durnell. That is Bayer’s interpretation. The jury decided only the evidence presented in this trial.

Why it matters: this was the first real-world test of the theories plaintiffs are left with after the Supreme Court limited warning claims.

What it is not: a scientific finding, a nationwide ruling, or binding on other courts or juries.

What Did the Supreme Court Decide in Monsanto v. Durnell?

John Durnell, a Missouri man, alleged about 20 years of Roundup use caused his non-Hodgkin lymphoma. A Missouri jury awarded him roughly $1.25 million on a failure-to-warn claim. Monsanto appealed, arguing federal law barred a state from requiring a cancer warning the EPA had not required on the approved label.

On June 25, 2026, the Supreme Court agreed, 7–2. Justice Kavanaugh wrote the majority opinion, joined by Chief Justice Roberts and Justices Thomas, Alito, Sotomayor, Kagan and Barrett. Justice Thomas filed a concurrence. Justice Jackson dissented, joined by Justice Gorsuch.

The ruling rests on the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), whose preemption provision (7 U.S.C. § 136v(b)) bars states from imposing pesticide labeling requirements “in addition to or different from” federal ones. The EPA had approved Roundup’s label without a cancer warning, so a state-law claim demanding one would create a different requirement.

What the Court did not decide: whether glyphosate can cause cancer, whether every formulation is safe, or whether every non-warning claim must fail.

Which Roundup Claims Survive After Durnell?

Type of claim	Outlook after Durnell
Failure to warn (cancer warning on label)	Faces direct preemption; largely blocked
Negligence or other claims that are really about the label	May be treated as failure to warn and preempted, because courts look at substance, not labels
Design defect	Not directly addressed by Durnell; can proceed but must be proven on the evidence (it lost in Aretino)
Fraud or conduct-based claims	Case-specific; depends on whether the claim requires a different label

Two other rulings show how mixed the results are:

• Salas (Oct. 28): The Eleventh Circuit reversed a judgment against Monsanto on a Florida failure-to-warn claim after both sides asked it to apply Durnell.
• Hoge (Oct. 1): As we reported in our coverage of the Merril Hoge Roundup lawsuit, a federal judge in Idaho dismissed his failure-to-warn claim but allowed negligence and design-defect claims to move toward a February 2027 trial. That was not a finding of liability, only that the claims could not be dismissed at summary judgment.

Three courts, three different outcomes. That is why no single headline captures where Roundup litigation stands.

The $7.25 Billion Roundup Settlement: What Users Need to Know

Bayer’s proposed nationwide settlement is pending before Judge Timothy Boyer in St. Louis. You can read our explainer on who qualifies and what you could get for the original deadline details.

Is it final?

No. The final fairness hearing was held September 14, 2026. Bayer said the judge would rule later, and Reuters reported the judge asked for additional filings. No approval was reported as of October 30, 2026.

How is it funded?

Component	Structure
Initial payments	$1 billion
Annual payments	$250 million to $550 million per year for 16 years
Security fund	$1 billion
Possible extension	Up to $250 million annually for up to four more years
Total potential	Up to $7.25 billion over roughly 17 to 21 years

These are funding terms, not guarantees of individual payments.

Who is in the class?

According to the official settlement site, a person may be included if they were a U.S. citizen or a non-citizen living in the U.S. on March 4, 2026 and had qualifying Roundup exposure in the U.S. before February 17, 2026 (handling, applying, purchasing, paying for application, directing application, or having reason to know they were exposed), unless a specific exclusion applies. Qualifying spouses, parents, dependent children and representatives of deceased or incapacitated people can also be covered. Coverage extends to U.S. states, D.C. and territories.

The part most people overlook: healthy people may be included

Group	Who	What it means
Subclass 1	Qualifying NHL diagnosis as of March 4, 2026	May seek compensation through the program
Subclass 2	Qualifying exposure but no diagnosis as of March 4, 2026	No payment now; may claim if later diagnosed during the claims period

If you remain in the class and are later diagnosed with a covered condition, you generally must use the settlement program rather than file your own lawsuit over the released claims. If you remain in the class and are never diagnosed by the 16th Annual Payment Date, you get those legal rights back. A settlement that pays healthy people nothing can still shape their legal options for years.

What if I already filed a lawsuit?

People with a claim pending in the federal Roundup MDL (No. 2741, Northern District of California) on February 17, 2026 are generally excluded unless they affirmatively ask to join and dismiss the MDL claim. Cases transferred or remanded out of the MDL before that date, or transferred in afterward, are treated differently. Speak with your attorney before changing anything.

Can I still opt out?

The official deadline to opt out or object was June 4, 2026. There is no new general window. Someone who already opted out may ask to revoke, but that works only with Monsanto’s written consent or a court order.

What products are covered?

Products listed in Exhibit A to the settlement agreement and glyphosate products with “Roundup” in the name, plus some other listed brands. The official site has a product search tool that checks by name, alternate brand, EPA registration number or manufacturer. Product name alone does not always tell you what formulation you used.

What diseases are covered?

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma and specified subtypes, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, hairy cell leukemia, aggressive NK-cell leukemia and CLL/SLL, plus certain other leukemias that fit the settlement’s definition. Hodgkin’s lymphoma, multiple myeloma and leukemias outside the definition are excluded. Compare your exact pathology diagnosis with the official list.

How Much Could a Qualifying Claimant Receive?

Tier	Exposure	Age at diagnosis	NHL type	Average award
1	Occupational	Under 60	Aggressive	$165,000
2	Occupational	60–77	Aggressive	$105,000
3	Occupational	Under 60	Indolent	$85,000
4	Occupational	60–77	Indolent	$60,000
5	Residential	Under 60	Aggressive	$40,000
6	Residential	60–77	Aggressive	$30,000
7	Residential	Under 60	Indolent	$25,000
8	Residential	60–77	Indolent	$20,000
9	Any	78 or older	Any	$10,000

These are program averages, not guaranteed payments. Actual awards may range from 80% to 120% of a tier’s average based on the claimant’s score and evidence.

• Occupational claimant: more than 80 hours of exposure in an agricultural, industrial, turf or ornamental job, plus more than 50% of total income or more than $15,000 from that work in at least one year. Examples include farmers, applicators, landscapers and groundskeepers. Payroll, tax and business records can help prove this.
• Residential claimant: generally home use (gardens, lawns, driveways, patios, shrubs) that does not meet the occupational test.
• Quick-Pay: fixed awards for Tiers 5–9 only ($14,500, $11,000, $10,500, $7,700 and $6,000 by tier), generally for people who filed a lawsuit or signed a qualifying tolling agreement before February 13, 2026. First in, first out. Accepting it means giving up any other settlement award.
• Limited Proof Award: $150 for someone who can prove exposure but not the minimum of 16 hours or 10 lifetime days. It is not a payment for simply using the product.
• Additional funds: an Extraordinary Circumstances Fund (for example death before 78, organ transplants or certain intensive treatment), an Extraordinary Residential Exposure Fund (large properties over six acres with more than 80 hours of exposure) and Exigency Awards (imminent housing loss or terminal illness). Each has its own conditions.

When can people register?

Not yet. Registration and claims open after final approval. For people diagnosed as of March 4, 2026, the proposed process requires registering within 180 days after final approval and submitting a claim package within 180 days after the settlement becomes final. For later diagnoses, claims generally must be filed within six years of diagnosis and before the 16th Annual Payment Date. Exact calendar dates have not been triggered.

Lawyers, Fees, Taxes and Liens: Questions to Ask Before You Act

Roundup claimants often ask practical questions that news coverage skips. These are general points, not advice for your situation:

• Attorney fees: Personal-injury lawyers commonly work on contingency, meaning they are paid from a recovery. Ask for the fee percentage, how case costs are handled and how fees work if the case becomes part of the settlement program, and get it in writing. Courts review fee requests in class settlements.
• Taxes: Under Section 104(a)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code, damages received on account of personal physical injury or physical sickness are generally excluded from gross income, but details (for example interest or punitive damages) can differ. Ask a tax professional.
• Medical liens and Medicare: If Medicare, Medicaid or a health insurer paid for your treatment, they may have repayment rights from any recovery. Ask your attorney how these will be handled.
• Existing representation: If you already have a lawyer, do not sign settlement or registration documents without talking to them.

Does Roundup Cause Cancer? Why Courts and Scientists Seem to Disagree

Courts have been answering legal questions. The science is still contested among agencies:

• EPA: its 2017 assessment did not identify risks of concern from registered uses when the label is followed. The agency says it is updating its human-health assessment as part of registration review, with the update expected in late 2026, and released an updated literature search in August 2026.
• IARC: in March 2015 classified glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic to humans” (Group 2A), citing limited human evidence (including NHL), sufficient animal evidence and strong evidence of genotoxicity.

These do not necessarily conflict. IARC identifies whether something can cause cancer under some circumstances (hazard). A risk assessment estimates how likely harm is at particular exposure levels and uses. Neither proves that Roundup caused a specific person’s cancer. That requires evidence about the product used, exposure history, timing, diagnosis and medical science.

Bayer and Monsanto deny that Roundup causes non-Hodgkin lymphoma and point to decades of regulatory reviews. Neither the settlement nor the verdict is an admission of liability.

What Should You Do If You Used Roundup?

Past use does not mean you will get sick or that you have a claim. If you have meaningful exposure history, consider:

1. Keeping records: photos of the bottle and EPA registration number, receipts, rough dates and frequency, how you applied it, and employment records if it was part of your job.
2. Preserving medical records: including pathology reports, if you have a diagnosis.
3. Checking the official settlement site for the product list, dates and documents rather than relying on social media or advertisements.
4. Speaking with a licensed attorney if you have a qualifying diagnosis, an existing case, or are unsure whether you were included in or excluded from the class.
5. Beware of scams: registration is not open, no payment is owed for exposure alone, and nobody should be asking you for fees to “reserve” a settlement payment.

Testing: The CDC’s ATSDR says blood and urine tests can detect glyphosate but generally show only recent exposure and cannot measure lifetime exposure or predict illness. Discuss health concerns with a doctor.

Still using glyphosate products? Follow the label, wear protective clothing and eyewear, avoid spray drift, wash hands afterward and keep children and pets away from treated areas for the stated period. Formulations differ, so the label for your exact product matters.

What Happens Next in the Roundup Litigation?

1. Final approval decision on the $7.25 billion settlement by Judge Boyer. This is the biggest pending event.
2. EPA’s updated glyphosate human-health assessment, expected in late 2026.
3. Remaining trials and rulings testing which claims survive Durnell, including the Hoge case, set for February 2027.
4. Possible appeals of verdicts and rulings.
5. Bayer’s strategy: it has said it will keep defending cases if the settlement is not approved, and it argues the Aretino result raises the bar for other plaintiffs. Plaintiffs’ lawyers may disagree, and more plaintiffs may weigh settlement against trial risk.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Bayer win the Roundup lawsuit in October 2026?

Yes, in one trial. On October 29, 2026, a St. Louis County jury unanimously rejected the design-defect, negligence and fraud claims in Aretino v. Monsanto. It does not end the broader litigation.

Was this a class action?

No. Aretino was an individual personal-injury trial with three plaintiffs. The $7.25 billion settlement is a separate class case, King v. Monsanto.

Does the verdict prove Roundup is safe?

No. The jury decided the specific claims and evidence presented. It made no general scientific finding.

Does the verdict set a precedent for other courts?

No. A jury verdict in one trial does not bind other courts. The Supreme Court’s Durnell decision, by contrast, is binding on preemption of failure-to-warn claims.

What did the Supreme Court decide?

In Monsanto v. Durnell (June 25, 2026, 7–2), it held FIFRA preempts state-law claims that would require a cancer warning the EPA has not required on Roundup’s approved label.

Does the Supreme Court ruling mean Roundup cannot cause cancer?

No. It resolved a legal question about federal labeling authority, not the science.

Can people still sue Bayer over Roundup?

Some claims may proceed if they do not require a label change barred by FIFRA, but each depends on state law and evidence. Failure-to-warn claims face a major barrier.

Is the $7.25 billion settlement approved?

Not finally. Preliminary approval was granted March 4, 2026. The final hearing was September 14, 2026, and no final decision was reported as of October 30, 2026.

Can I get paid just for using Roundup?

No. Awards are generally tied to a qualifying NHL diagnosis and the settlement’s other requirements.

I’m healthy. Could the settlement still affect me?

Yes. Some exposed people without a diagnosis as of March 4, 2026 are in the class. Staying in the class can affect your ability to sue later if you are diagnosed.

Can I still opt out?

The general deadline was June 4, 2026. Revoking a prior opt-out requires Monsanto’s written consent or a court order.

What if I already filed a lawsuit?

People with claims in the federal Roundup MDL on February 17, 2026 are generally excluded unless they affirmatively join and dismiss their MDL claim. Talk to your attorney first.

Which cancers are covered?

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma and specified related subtypes. Hodgkin’s lymphoma and multiple myeloma are excluded.

How much could a claimant receive?

Proposed averages run from $10,000 to $165,000 by tier, adjustable roughly 80% to 120% by claim score. They are not guaranteed.

When can I file a claim?

After final approval. As of October 30, 2026, no general registration is open.

Did Bayer admit Roundup causes cancer?

No. Bayer and Monsanto deny it, and the settlement is not an admission of liability.

Should I get tested for glyphosate?

The CDC/ATSDR says tests may show recent exposure but cannot measure lifetime exposure or predict illness. Discuss concerns with a doctor.

How can I tell if my product is covered?

Use the official product search tool on the settlement website and check the EPA registration number on your label.

Related Roundup Coverage on AllAboutLawyer

• Bayer Is Fighting to End Roundup Cancer Lawsuits: Where Things Stand
• Roundup Cancer Settlement: Who Qualifies, How Much You Could Get, and the June 4 Deadline
• Merril Hoge Roundup Lawsuit: Two Claims Allowed to Proceed

Primary Sources

1. Bayer: Monsanto Unanimously Wins First Roundup Trial Since U.S. Supreme Court Decision
2. Reuters, October 30, 2026: Bayer wins U.S. trial over claims Roundup caused cancer
3. Courtroom View Network: Aretino v. Monsanto trial record
4. U.S. Supreme Court: Monsanto Co. v. Durnell, No. 24-1068
5. Eleventh Circuit: Salas v. Monsanto, No. 24-14030 (Oct. 28, 2026)
6. Official settlement website, eligibility page and FAQs
7. Bayer: Statement on Class Final Approval Hearing
8. EPA: Glyphosate
9. IARC: Glyphosate assessment
10. CDC/ATSDR: Glyphosate ToxFAQs

Verification note: The October 29 verdict is confirmed by Bayer’s announcement and Reuters, with court, case number and judge identified by Courtroom View Network. The Supreme Court ruling decided a federal preemption question only. Settlement figures are proposed averages and remain subject to final court approval, which was pending as of October 30, 2026. Allegations in the underlying lawsuits are disputed. The Bayer–Monsanto acquisition figure and cumulative payout figure reflect Bayer’s publicly reported history and should be rechecked against Bayer’s latest filings before updating.

Researched and written by Israr Ahmad, Legal Content Researcher. AllAboutLawyer.com is an independent U.S. legal information website, not a law firm. This article is for informational purposes only and is not legal, tax or medical advice. Consult a licensed attorney about your own claim, a tax professional about taxes and a qualified healthcare professional about any health concern.