Bayer and lawyers representing cancer patients announced this week that they have agreed to a proposed $7.25 billion settlement aimed at resolving thousands of lawsuits over Roundup, the company’s widely used weed killer. The suits claim Bayer failed to warn consumers that the product could cause cancer.
According to the Associated Press, the proposed agreement comes as the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to hear arguments in April on Bayer’s claim that the Environmental Protection Agency’s approval of Roundup without a cancer warning should override lawsuits filed in state courts.
Under the proposed settlement, patients would be guaranteed at least some compensation, even if the Supreme Court ultimately sides with Bayer. At the same time, the company would limit its exposure to potentially far greater financial damages if the Court rules against it.
The agreement calls for Bayer to make annual payments into a settlement fund for up to 21 years. Over time, the total value of those payments could reach $7.25 billion.
Source: NAFB News Service
