Roundup Lawsuit (2026): Claims, Status & Who May Qualify

Roundup is a glyphosate-based weed killer made by Monsanto, now owned by Bayer, and thousands of people allege that long-term exposure caused non-Hodgkin lymphoma. These claims are centralized in a federal multidistrict litigation, and as of June 2026 the litigation remains active. This page explains the claims, the science, and the current status neutrally.
This page is part of our Mass Tort & Product Liability overview.
What Roundup is and the alleged harm
Roundup is a glyphosate-based herbicide originally developed by Monsanto, which Bayer acquired in 2018. Glyphosate is the most widely used herbicide active ingredient in the United States, applied in agriculture, on lawns, and in commercial landscaping. The lawsuits allege that prolonged or heavy exposure to Roundup caused users to develop non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic system, and that Monsanto knew or should have known of a potential cancer risk yet failed to place an adequate warning on the product. Some plaintiffs also allege other blood cancers. The central legal claims are typically framed as failure to warn and design defect under state product liability law. This is a description of the allegations, not a finding that Roundup caused any individual person's cancer.
Note: These are allegations being tested in court. A lawsuit reflects what a plaintiff claims, not a final determination of liability, and outcomes have differed from case to case.
What the science and regulators say
The evidence on glyphosate and cancer is genuinely contested among scientific and regulatory bodies. In March 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the World Health Organization, classified glyphosate as Group 2A, meaning probably carcinogenic to humans, citing limited evidence in humans and sufficient evidence in laboratory animals. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reached a different conclusion, stating that glyphosate is not likely to be carcinogenic to humans and that there are no risks of concern to human health when the product is used according to its label. In June 2022, however, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit vacated the human-health portion of EPA's interim glyphosate decision and ordered the agency to revisit its cancer analysis, and EPA later withdrew that interim decision while its registration review continues. Large studies, including the federally funded Agricultural Health Study, have not found a statistically significant link between glyphosate and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, while some meta-analyses have reported an increased risk among the most heavily exposed users.

Note: Nothing here establishes that glyphosate causes cancer or that any product caused any individual's illness. Scientists and regulators continue to disagree, and the science may evolve.
The status of the Roundup litigation (as of June 2026)
Most federal Roundup cases are consolidated in In re: Roundup Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2741, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California before Judge Vince Chhabria. According to Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation statistics, the number of pending federal actions has been declining as cases resolve; the panel reported 4,511 actions pending in early January 2026 and roughly 3,900 by May 2026. Many additional cases have been filed in state courts. Over the course of the litigation, juries have returned verdicts for plaintiffs in some trials and for Monsanto and Bayer in others, and Bayer has previously announced multibillion-dollar settlement programs to resolve large numbers of claims without admitting liability. Bayer has also pursued appeals and asked the U.S. Supreme Court to consider whether federal pesticide law preempts state failure-to-warn claims; the Court granted review in Monsanto Co. v. Durnell (No. 24-1068) in January 2026 and heard oral argument in April 2026, with a decision still pending as of mid-2026. There is no single universal settlement that automatically covers every person who used Roundup.
Who may be involved
The people generally involved in this litigation are individuals who had meaningful exposure to Roundup and were later diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma. That can include agricultural workers, farmers, landscapers, groundskeepers, nursery and garden-center workers, and home gardeners who applied the product over time. Whether any particular person may have a claim depends on the specific facts, including the extent and duration of exposure, the diagnosis and its timing, and the law of the relevant state. Exposure and a diagnosis alone do not establish a claim, and many people who used Roundup never develop lymphoma. Nothing here suggests that every user has a claim or that any outcome is assured.

Deadlines and why they matter
Claims like these are subject to statutes of limitations, which are legal deadlines to file suit. These deadlines vary by state and by the type of claim, and many states measure the deadline from when a person knew or reasonably should have known that an injury may be linked to the product, a concept sometimes called the discovery rule. Because the deadline depends on your state and your facts, there is no single national filing deadline, and this page does not state any individual's deadline. Missing a deadline can permanently bar a claim, so people who believe they may be affected often act promptly rather than waiting. A licensed attorney in the relevant state can evaluate which deadline applies to a specific situation.
How to evaluate your options
If you are trying to understand your legal options, the appropriate step is to speak with a licensed attorney who handles this type of case. An attorney can assess the facts, explain the applicable law in your state, and advise whether you may have a claim; this page cannot do that. It can help to gather any records you have, such as proof of which products you used and when, employment or purchase history showing exposure, and your medical records confirming a diagnosis and its date. Most mass tort and personal injury attorneys offer a free, confidential consultation, and many work on a contingency basis, meaning a fee is generally owed only if there is a recovery. A consultation creates no obligation to file.

Harmed by a product or exposure? Speak with an attorney about your options
If you or a loved one may have been harmed, you can speak with an attorney about your legal options at no cost. Whether you have a claim depends on the specific facts. This is attorney advertising, not a guarantee that you qualify or of any particular outcome.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Roundup lawsuit about?
It involves claims that the glyphosate-based weed killer Roundup caused non-Hodgkin lymphoma and that the manufacturer, Monsanto (now Bayer), failed to warn users of a potential cancer risk. The claims are typically brought as failure-to-warn and design-defect product liability cases under state law.
Is there a Roundup MDL, and what is the case number?
Yes. Most federal Roundup cases are consolidated in In re: Roundup Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2741, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California before Judge Vince Chhabria. Many other cases are filed in state courts.
Does Roundup cause cancer?
This is disputed. The World Health Organization's cancer agency (IARC) classified glyphosate as probably carcinogenic to humans in 2015, while EPA has said it is not likely carcinogenic, a conclusion a federal appeals court ordered EPA to revisit in 2022. Some studies report a link in heavily exposed users and others do not; the science is not settled, and a lawsuit is not proof of causation in any individual case.
Is there a settlement?
Bayer has previously announced large settlement programs to resolve many Roundup claims without admitting liability, and some plaintiffs have settled while others continue to litigate. As of June 2026 there is no single universal settlement that automatically covers everyone, and litigation status can change, so confirm the current posture before relying on any figure.
Who qualifies to file a claim?
There is no automatic qualification. Whether a person may have a claim depends on the specific facts, including the extent and timing of Roundup exposure, the diagnosis, and the law of the relevant state. A licensed attorney can evaluate eligibility.
How much are Roundup cases worth?
There is no guaranteed amount. Outcomes have varied widely, with some juries awarding plaintiffs, some ruling for the company, and many cases resolving by settlement on individual terms. Past verdicts do not set a value for any other case, and no outcome is promised.
Is there a deadline to file?
Yes, but it varies. Statutes of limitations differ by state and by the type of claim, and many states measure the deadline from when a person reasonably should have connected an injury to the product. There is no single national deadline, so the applicable one should be confirmed with an attorney in the relevant state.
Do I have to pay upfront?
Most mass tort and personal injury attorneys offer a free, confidential consultation and work on a contingency basis, meaning a fee is generally owed only if there is a recovery. Confirm the specific terms with any attorney you consult.
Sources and References
- Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation, MDL Statistics Report listing In re: Roundup Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2741 (N.D. Cal., Judge Vince Chhabria), pending actions (May 1, 2026)(uscourts.gov).gov
- U.S. District Court, N.D. Cal., In re: Roundup Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2741, Judge Vince Chhabria, case information page(uscourts.gov).gov
- U.S. EPA, Glyphosate, stating glyphosate is not likely to be carcinogenic to humans and posing no risks of concern when used per label(epa.gov).gov
- U.S. EPA, EPA Withdraws Glyphosate Interim Decision (2022), following the Ninth Circuit order to revisit the human-health cancer analysis(epa.gov).gov
- IARC (World Health Organization), Monographs Volume 112, classifying glyphosate as Group 2A, probably carcinogenic to humans (2015)(iarc.who.int)
- Andreotti et al., Glyphosate Use and Cancer Incidence in the Agricultural Health Study, JNCI: Journal of the National Cancer Institute (2018), finding no statistically significant association with non-Hodgkin lymphoma(academic.oup.com)
- Natural Resources Defense Council v. U.S. EPA, No. 20-70787 (9th Cir. June 17, 2022), vacating the human-health portion of EPA's glyphosate interim decision(uscourts.gov).gov