Motley Rice co-founder Joe Rice, along with other proposed class counsel and Monsanto (owned by Bayer AG) have announced a $7.25 billion tiered national class settlement agreement that could resolve tens of thousands of pending civil claims filed by individuals diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL) after exposure to the glyphosate-based herbicide Roundup®. The proposed settlement was filed in the 22nd Judicial Circuit Court, City of St. Louis, Missouri on Feb. 17, 2026.

“With so many Roundup® personal injury non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma claims already in court or under tolling agreements, new filings arriving daily, a pending Supreme Court petition that could restrict plaintiffs’ recovery rights, and crowded dockets offering limited trial dates, Motley Rice began negotiating with other proposed class counsel to reach a settlement with Monsanto. I believe this $7.25 billion proposed national class settlement reached in Missouri state court is the best path forward to finally bring the Roundup® litigation to a closing chapter. Based on the hard work of class counsel and Monsanto’s counsel, both occupational and residential exposures will be covered, the rights of future claimants have been uniquely protected, and payments should begin in 2026,” stated Motley Rice co-founder Joseph F. Rice, who serves as proposed class counsel and helped negotiate the settlement.

If approved by the Court, the Proposed Class Settlement will:

  • Require defendants to pay up to $7.25 billion over 17-21 years
  • Address two distinct classes comprised of “current” claimants (individuals with a NHL diagnosis) and “future” claimants (individuals exposed to Roundup but not diagnosed at the time of the settlement)
  • Recognize both residential and occupational exposures to the product
  • Tier class members based on whether they were exposed at home or at work, how aggressive their cancer is, and their age at the time of diagnosis
  • Allow both current and future claimants to exercise their right to opt out of the settlement and pursue their case individually in the court system
  • Include safeguards to help preserve the fund even in the event of bankruptcy or other financial issues encountered by Bayer

In addition to Motley Rice, other proposed class counsel firms are Holland Law Firm, Ketchmark & McCreight, P.C.; Seeger Weiss LLP; Waters Kraus Paul & Siegel; and Williams Hart & Boundas, LLP.

Since 2015, claims have been filed involving hundreds of thousands of plaintiffs. Two dozen cases have been tried to verdict in multiple jurisdictions resulting in eleven plaintiff verdicts. Motley Rice represents thousands of people diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, a group of blood cancers that develop in the white blood cells of the immune system.

“Litigation can bring an uncertainty that weighs heavily on people already carrying more than enough. A settlement cannot erase the hardships endured, but it can offer comfort, stability and time. That time can give sick claimants and their loved ones the space to focus on meaningful moments that exist beyond the pressures of litigation. I look forward to sharing the details of this proposed class settlement with our clients,” stated Motley Rice attorney Fidelma Fitzpatrick, who represents many people exposed to glyphosate-based Roundup and other toxins.