Every Major Roundup Trial Verdict: A Complete Timeline Through 2026
The Roundup litigation has produced some of the largest and most consequential verdicts in American product liability history. Since 2018, juries have repeatedly found that Monsanto — now Bayer AG — failed to warn consumers of the cancer risk posed by its glyphosate herbicide. This timeline covers the landmark verdicts that have shaped the litigation and what they signal for thousands of pending claims.
In This Article
2018: The Johnson Verdict Starts It All
In August 2018, a California jury awarded $289 million to Dewayne 'Lee' Johnson, a school groundskeeper who developed terminal non-Hodgkin lymphoma after years of applying Roundup. The verdict — later reduced to $78 million on appeal — was the first Roundup trial to reach a jury and set the template for thousands of subsequent cases. The jury found that Monsanto had acted with malice by failing to warn consumers of the cancer risk while knowing of the danger, justifying substantial punitive damages.
2019: Back-to-Back Plaintiff Wins
Two more major verdicts in 2019 confirmed the Johnson result was not an anomaly. Edwin Hardeman won a $80 million verdict in federal court after Bayer lost a pivotal ruling allowing scientific evidence of glyphosate's carcinogenicity. Shortly after, a California jury awarded $2 billion to Alberta and Alva Pilliod — a couple who both developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma after decades of Roundup use. Though the $2 billion punitive award was later reduced on appeal, the back-to-back losses accelerated Bayer's decision to pursue a global settlement.
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Check Eligibility arrow_forward2020-2022: The $10.9 Billion Settlement and Continued Trials
In June 2020, Bayer announced a $10.9 billion settlement covering approximately 125,000 pending claims. Despite the settlement, new cases continued to be filed, and trials continued for claims not included in the settlement. A 2022 Missouri Supreme Court decision affirmed a verdict for three plaintiffs. Courts also rejected Bayer's proposed future claimants settlement, leaving ongoing exposure for new plaintiffs filing after 2020.
2023-2026: Verdicts Keep Coming
High-profile verdicts have continued through 2026. A Philadelphia jury awarded $175 million in 2023 to a plaintiff who developed NHL after years of Roundup use on his property. Additional verdicts in state and federal courts have ranged from tens of millions to over $100 million. Each new verdict reinforces the litigation's momentum and signals to Bayer that unresolved claims retain significant value, keeping pressure on the company to settle remaining cases favorably.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Roundup cases have been decided at trial?expand_more
Fewer than 100 of the hundreds of thousands of Roundup claims have gone to trial, with the vast majority settling. Of the trials completed, plaintiffs have prevailed in the majority. Settlement values are influenced by trial outcomes, so each plaintiff verdict strengthens the position of claimants who have not yet resolved their claims.
Does a jury verdict in one state affect my case in another state?expand_more
Verdicts in other states are not legally binding on courts where your case is pending, but they create persuasive precedent and influence settlement negotiations. A series of large plaintiff verdicts signals the litigation risk to Bayer and typically leads to more favorable settlement discussions.
If Bayer has already settled many cases, why should I file now?expand_more
Bayer continues to face new claims for diagnoses that post-date the 2020 settlement. Filing now means you preserve your legal rights while the litigation is still active and settlement funds remain available. Waiting risks missing your state's statute of limitations and losing your claim entirely.
SuperLawsuits Editorial Team
Reviewed by licensed attorneys in our network