Supreme Court Shields Bayer From Roundup Cancer Claims

WHO:

Fast Company - The German pharmaceutical company Bayer owns Monsanto, which makes Roundup.

Democracy Now! - The main plaintiff in the case is John Durnell, a Missouri resident.

WHAT:

Fast Company - The Supreme Court issued a 7-2 decision protecting Bayer from state-level lawsuits regarding Roundup.

Fast Company - The Supreme Court ruled that federal regulations preempt state-level lawsuits involving Roundup.

Fast Company - Durnell claimed that two decades of exposure to Roundup caused his non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Democracy Now! - A jury awarded Durnell $1.25 million in damages after finding Bayer failed to warn him of the risks associated with Roundup.

Fast Company - Bayer faces more than 180,000 claims over Roundup.

Democracy Now! - There are more than $12 billion in financial settlements and payouts related to illnesses caused by Roundup.

WHERE:

Fast Company - The case originated in Missouri.

WHEN:

Fast Company - The Supreme Court decision was issued on a Thursday.

Democracy Now! - Durnell filed his lawsuit against Monsanto in 2019.

WHY:

Fast Company - The Supreme Court's decision was based on the grounds that federal laws take precedence over state law.

Fast Company - The EPA does not require glyphosate products to carry a cancer warning, and Bayer complies with these guidelines.

HOW:

Fast Company - The Supreme Court's majority opinion stated that pesticide manufacturers must use EPA-approved labels unless the EPA requires a different label.

Democracy Now! - The ruling indicates that only the EPA can determine if a product is harmful and requires a warning label.

(UPDATED June 27, 2026 01:38 UTC)

In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court has issued a 7-2 decision protecting Bayer from state-level lawsuits related to Roundup, affirming that federal regulations preempt such claims. The case, which originated in Missouri, involved John Durnell, who alleged that his two decades of exposure to Roundup led to his non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, resulting in a jury awarding him $1.25 million in damages after finding Bayer failed to adequately warn him of the risks. Bayer is currently facing over 180,000 claims regarding Roundup, with more than $12 billion already allocated in settlements related to illnesses linked to the product.