U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria recently approved a $45 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit against Monsanto. This settlement resolves a false advertising case that differs from the thousands of Roundup cancer lawsuits currently pending under MDL-2741.
False Advertising Roundup Lawsuit Secures $45 Million Settlement
Scott Gilmore, et al. v. Monsanto Co., filed in an Oregon court in 2019, accused Monsanto of falsely advertising and promoting its Roundup products. The lead plaintiff alleged that Monsanto neglected to warn consumers of the potential adverse health effects associated with Roundup’s active ingredient, glyphosate. Roundup is one of the most widely used herbicides in the world, but studies suggest that glyphosate may cause cancer. While the International Agency for Research on Cancer deemed glyphosate as a probable human carcinogen in 2015, Monsanto continues to assert that glyphosate poses no risk to human health.
Although Monsanto denied the false-advertising allegations, the company agreed to pay between $23 and $45 million to resolve the false advertising class-action lawsuit. Initially, Judge Chabria, the judge overseeing the Roundup cancer lawsuits, expressed hesitancy about signing the settlement as he worried about the amount and that it may produce confusion regarding future personal injury claims. However, in June 2022, Judge Chhabria approved the maximum amount of $45 million.
Eligible Claimants in the Roundup Class-Action Settlement
The settlement agreement applies to 19 Monsanto herbicide products containing glyphosate. Roundup Ready-to-Use Weed & Grass Killer, HDX Weed & Grass Killer Ready-to-Use, and Ace Weed & Grass Killer Concentrate are among the affected products sold in major retailers nationwide. Consumers who purchased any size or variety of the 19 included products may opt-in for the false advertising settlement. October 19, 2022, is the deadline for individuals to submit a claim form. The settlement agreement does not require a receipt or proof of purchase in most cases. Depending on the purchased product, claimants can expect to receive anywhere between 0.55 to $33 per unit.
Individuals Can Still File Personal Injury Claims
This settlement does not pertain to personal injury cases. Plaintiffs in Scott Gilmore, et al. v. Monsanto Co. do not allege to have developed any illnesses following exposure to Roundup products. Rather, this settlement solely focuses on claims that Monsanto did not disclose that glyphosate exposure could potentially result in cancer and other ailments.
Judge Chabria adamantly assured the public that participation in this false advertising settlement does not exclude claimants from filing future personal injury lawsuits against Monsanto if they currently have or later develop cancer due to Monsanto products.