Bayer expects review of Roundup settlement in May

(Reuters) — Bayer now expects a U.S. judge to hold a hearing on May 12 on a $2 billion deal to resolve future legal claims that its widely used weedkiller Roundup causes cancer, a spokesman said Wednesday.

The German crop chemicals and seeds group had earlier said the matter was due to be heard by March 31. It now expects a court decision on the deal toward the end of the second quarter.

Bayer on Feb. 3 came to terms with plaintiffs’ lawyers in a $2 billion pledge to resolve future claims, as the products in question will remain on the market. That would add $750 million to the total bill of an outline settlement agreed to in June 2020, tallied at up to $11 billion at the time.

Some plaintiffs’ lawyers, who have so far opted out of the overall settlement, had lodged objections against the deal on future cases.