The Beasley Allen Roundup settlement refers to the firm’s roughly 30,000 clients now facing a decision under the $7.25 billion class settlement that received preliminary approval from a Missouri court on March 4, 2026. The deal would resolve current and future non-Hodgkin lymphoma claims against Bayer, and the window to opt out or object closes June 4, 2026, with a fairness hearing set for July 9, 2026. If you have a pending Roundup claim through Beasley Allen or any other firm, the next few months decide whether you take the class settlement’s tiered payout or step out and pursue an individual case.
What the $7.25 Billion Settlement Covers
The Circuit Court of the City of St. Louis granted preliminary approval on March 4, 2026, to a class action designed to resolve both currently pending Roundup lawsuits and potential future claims alleging non-Hodgkin lymphoma caused by the herbicide. This is a separate structure from the earlier rounds of individual settlements Bayer began in 2020, which totaled roughly $8.8 to $9.6 billion and resolved claims for an estimated 95,000 plaintiffs. The new class sweeps in people who already filed suit alongside people who may be diagnosed years from now.1Bayer. Missouri Court Grants Preliminary Approval of Roundup Class Settlement to Resolve Current and Future Claims
Potential class members have 90 days from preliminary approval to opt out or object, a window that closes June 4, 2026. The fairness hearing follows on July 9, 2026, when the court decides whether to grant final approval. Even after final approval, appeals can delay payouts. Missouri lawsuits filed by class settlement members are stayed until the court reaches a final judgment, unless a claimant opts out.1Bayer. Missouri Court Grants Preliminary Approval of Roundup Class Settlement to Resolve Current and Future Claims
Where Beasley Allen Stands
Beasley Allen represents approximately 30,000 Roundup clients with pending lawsuits in state and federal courts. The firm’s Roundup litigation team, led by Rhon Jones and firm founder Jere Beasley, declined to join the earlier rounds of individual settlements, taking the position that the amounts on offer did not fairly compensate their clients. That stance was backed by results at trial: Bayer lost its first three Roundup cases, with juries returning combined verdicts totaling $2.3 billion before reductions on appeal.
With the new class settlement now in play, Beasley Allen clients face the same practical choice as every other class member. The firm has historically signaled willingness to go to trial when settlement terms fall short, and that matters because the class settlement’s tiered payouts are substantially smaller than what juries have awarded. Whether staying in or opting out makes sense for you comes down to your diagnosis, your exposure record, and your tolerance for litigation risk, and that is a conversation to have with your attorney before June 4.
Who Qualifies
Eligibility rests on two requirements: a qualifying cancer diagnosis and documented Roundup exposure before roughly February 17, 2026. The qualifying conditions include forms of non-Hodgkin lymphoma and any leukemia whose name contains the words “lymphoma,” “lymphocytic,” or “prolymphocytic.” That captures the most common NHL subtypes and related cancers such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
The diagnosis has to be supported by pathology reports and oncologist notes confirming the cancer type and diagnosis date. Someone exposed to Roundup before February 17, 2026, who is diagnosed later can still file a claim, provided the diagnosis comes within 16 years of the settlement’s final approval. That 16-year window replaces the patchwork of state statutes of limitations for anyone who stays in the class.
Exposure is the other pillar. Successful claims generally involve substantial, repeated contact over multiple years. Occupational users like farmers, landscapers, and groundskeepers tend to have the strongest exposure profiles because employment records, chemical purchase invoices, and application logs create a clear paper trail. Residential users can qualify, but proving consistent long-term use without workplace records is harder.
The Opt-Out Decision by June 4
June 4, 2026, is the deadline to opt out of the class settlement, and getting this decision wrong is irreversible. Stay in and, if the court grants final approval, you accept the tiered compensation framework and give up the right to sue Bayer individually. Opt out and you keep the right to pursue your own case but take on the risk and timeline of individual litigation.
Two things complicate the choice. Bayer has been pursuing a federal preemption argument that could, if successful, shield the company from future failure-to-warn claims under state law. Claimants who opt out could find their individual cases significantly weakened if that argument prevails. On the other side, the class settlement’s tiered payments are modest next to the jury verdicts in cases that have gone to trial. The right answer depends on the strength of your diagnosis, the strength of your exposure documentation, and how much uncertainty you can absorb.
How Payout Amounts Are Calculated
Individual payouts under the class settlement are set by a tiered matrix that weighs several objective factors. Each claim gets a tier classification, and the tier determines the compensation amount. Based on available information, the framework produces individual payments ranging from roughly $10,000 to $165,000, driven by:
- Cancer severity, with more aggressive NHL forms ranking higher than indolent subtypes.
- Age at diagnosis, with younger claimants scoring higher because they face more years of lost earnings and quality of life.
- Exposure duration and intensity, with decades of occupational use scoring higher than occasional residential spraying.
- Treatment burden, with chemotherapy, radiation, or stem cell transplants ranking above less intensive therapies.
- Overall damages, meaning both financial losses (medical bills, lost income) and non-financial harm.
These amounts sit well below what juries have awarded. The first three Roundup verdicts totaled $2.3 billion before judicial reductions, which is why some plaintiffs’ attorneys still advise clients with strong cases to consider opting out. The tradeoff is certainty against potential: the matrix guarantees a defined amount on a defined timeline, while individual litigation could produce a larger award, or nothing.
What Comes Off Your Payout
The check you actually receive will be smaller than the gross settlement figure, sometimes substantially so. Attorney fees in Roundup cases are structured as contingency arrangements, commonly falling between 33% and 40% depending on your fee agreement and whether the case required trial preparation. Litigation costs like expert witnesses, filing fees, and medical record retrieval are deducted separately from the contingency percentage.
Medical liens are the second major deduction. If Medicare, Medicaid, or a private insurer paid for your cancer treatment, they have a legal right to be reimbursed from your settlement. Medicare liens are mandatory and enforceable. Your attorney typically negotiates the lien down before distributing funds, and the difference between the original demand and the negotiated figure can be significant. If the deduction worksheet from your attorney shows a lien amount that doesn’t match what your insurer reports, ask for an itemized breakdown.
CMS issued specific guidance on Medicare recovery in Roundup settlements, with both a global resolution pathway that lien resolution companies negotiate across large groups and a standard individual recovery process through the Benefits Coordination and Recovery Center. Medicare can compromise or waive its recovery claim on a case-by-case basis, so there is room to negotiate.2Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Update – Medicare Secondary Payer (MSP) and Settlements Related to Alleged Exposure to Roundup
Most Roundup settlement proceeds are not taxable as federal income. Under the Internal Revenue Code, damages received on account of personal physical injuries or physical sickness are excluded from gross income, with one exception: punitive damages are always taxable.3Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 26 US Code 104 – Compensation for Injuries or Sickness Because Roundup claims rest on a physical illness, the compensatory portion covering medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and similar losses qualifies for the exclusion.4Internal Revenue Service. Tax Implications of Settlements and Judgments Emotional distress damages are only tax-free when they arise from the physical injury itself, so review your settlement allocation letter and check any ambiguous line items with a tax professional.
One boundary worth flagging for readers on means-tested benefits. A settlement that lands in your bank account counts as a resource for Supplemental Security Income. The SSI resource limit is $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple in 2026, and even a modest Roundup payout will blow past that.5Social Security Administration. 2026 Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Fact Sheet If you receive SSI or Medicaid, talk with your attorney about a special needs trust before the funds are distributed, because reversing a benefit termination after the fact takes months.6Social Security Administration. Understanding Supplemental Security Income SSI Resources
If a Claimant Dies Before the Case Resolves
Roundup litigation has outlasted many of the people who filed. The claim does not die with the claimant. Under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 25, a deceased plaintiff’s legal representative or heir can file a motion to substitute as the party in interest, and that motion has to be filed within 90 days of the death being noted on the court record. In practice, the estate needs to be opened in probate court and a personal representative appointed before substitution can happen. Family members may also have standing to bring a separate wrongful death claim if the death was caused or accelerated by the NHL diagnosis, though who qualifies to file varies by state.
Timeline From Here
The critical dates and stages, in order:
- June 4, 2026: opt-out and objection deadline for class members.
- July 9, 2026: fairness hearing where the court decides whether to grant final approval.
- Post-approval: any objectors can appeal, which can add months or longer before payouts begin.
- Fund distribution: after appeals conclude, funds move from the Qualified Settlement Fund through the law firm’s escrow account to individual claimants, minus attorney fees, litigation costs, and medical liens.1Bayer. Missouri Court Grants Preliminary Approval of Roundup Class Settlement to Resolve Current and Future Claims
No firm date has been published for when checks will arrive. Processing tens of thousands of claims, resolving Medicare liens, and auditing tier assignments takes time even after final court approval. Claimants who settled through the earlier individual rounds are further along the pipeline, and many are still waiting on lien resolution before receiving their net payout. If your claim is in the new class settlement, plan around the fairness hearing, a possible appeal window, and several months of administrative processing after that. Stay in contact with your attorney so your file doesn’t stall on a missing document or an unresolved lien.