By Ryan Hanrahan
The Associated Press’ David A. Lieb reported that “agrochemical maker Bayer and attorneys for cancer patients announced a proposed $7.25 billion settlement Tuesday to resolve thousands of U.S. lawsuits alleging the company failed to warn people that its popular weedkiller Roundup could cause cancer.”
“The proposed settlement comes as the U.S. Supreme Court is preparing to hear arguments in April on Bayer’s assertion that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s approval of Roundup without a cancer warning should invalidate claims filed in state courts,” Lieb reported. “That case would not be affected by the proposed settlement.”
“But the settlement would eliminate some of the risk from an eventual Supreme Court ruling. Patients would be assured of receiving settlement money even if the Supreme Court rules in Bayer’s favor,” Lieb reported. “And Bayer would be protected from potentially larger costs if the high court rules against it.”
“The newly proposed nationwide settlement is designed to address most of the remaining lawsuits (against Bayer), as well as any additional cases brought in the coming years by people who were exposed to Roundup before Tuesday,” Lieb reported. “If too many plaintiffs opt out of the proposed settlement, Bayer said it reserves the right to cancel it. But Bayer did not specify how many opt-outs would have to occur.”
“The deal calls for Bayer to make annual payments into a special fund for up to 21 years, totaling as much as $7.25 billion,” Lieb reported. “The amount of money paid out to individuals would vary depending on how they used Roundup, how old they were when diagnosed and the severity of their non-Hodgkin lymphoma.”
Source : illinois.edu