Key Takeaways
- Monsanto, now a subsidiary of Bayer AG, is facing new lawsuits over alleged cancer risks linked to its Roundup herbicide.
- The Nachawati Law Group has filed additional cases in Texas and Missouri and represents over 5,000 claimants.
- Attorneys criticized Monsanto’s reported consideration of bankruptcy protection to limit liability, citing previous failed attempts by other corporations.
- Glyphosate, Roundup’s active ingredient, was classified as “probably carcinogenic” by the IARC in 2015.
- Recent state-level legislation in North Dakota and Georgia aims to align pesticide liability with federal EPA standards.
New Legal Action Targets Monsanto Over Glyphosate Exposure
Monsanto is again facing legal challenges as trial lawyers representing thousands of individuals have filed new lawsuits related to the company’s glyphosate-based herbicide, Roundup. The filings come amid growing concern over corporate strategies aimed at minimizing financial exposure to ongoing litigation.
The Nachawati Law Group filed lawsuits in Dallas County, Texas (Michael and Kelly Hall v. Monsanto Company et al., No. DC-25-06844) and Platte County, Missouri (Donald Sikes Jr. and Rena Sikes v. Monsanto Company et al., No. 25AE-CC00176), on behalf of individuals diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
“We will keep filing lawsuits and pushing for an aggressive trial schedule so all victims and their families have a chance for justice,” said Majed Nachawati, founder of the firm.
Bankruptcy Strategy Criticized by Legal Team
Attorneys for the plaintiffs have criticized reports that Monsanto may pursue bankruptcy as a legal tool to manage mounting litigation. They argue this would mirror previous attempts by Johnson & Johnson to shield itself from lawsuits related to talcum powder products—a strategy that courts ultimately rejected.
“The only way you’re going to get a company like Monsanto to accept responsibility is to put them at risk in as many venues as possible,” said Gibbs Henderson, partner at the Nachawati Law Group.
Monsanto’s Roundup Litigation Continues Amid Ongoing Settlements
Monsanto has already paid approximately $10 billion in settlements related to Roundup claims but continues to face tens of thousands of unresolved lawsuits. The litigation centers on allegations that long-term exposure to glyphosate increases the risk of developing certain cancers, particularly non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
In 2015, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the World Health Organization, classified glyphosate as “probably carcinogenic to humans.” Regulatory agencies in other jurisdictions have issued differing assessments.
States Move Toward Regulatory Consistency with EPA Standards
As litigation involving glyphosate continues, several U.S. states have enacted legislation to clarify liability and align pesticide regulations with federal guidelines set by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):
- North Dakota HB 1318, signed into law at the end of April 2025, establishes that federally approved pesticide labels meet state requirements. This measure is intended to reduce legal uncertainty for manufacturers and users and received bipartisan support.
- Georgia SB 144, signed in mid-May 2025, prevents pesticide manufacturers from being held liable for not providing warnings beyond those approved by the EPA. The law takes effect on January 1, 2026, and applies to all EPA-registered pesticides.
