Christopher A. Seeger, proposed class counsel in the Roundup settlement, said in a statement that the objectors’ action comes at a critical time.
“The brazen attempt by a small group of objectors to force this case into federal court has no legal basis, and we have asked the court to immediately remand it to Missouri state court, where it belongs,” Seeger said.
“This reckless maneuver to derail a $7.25 billion settlement comes at the worst possible moment for Roundup cancer victims. A pending U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Durnell (Monsanto v. Durnell) could erase plaintiffs’ central failure-to-warn claims entirely and a Bayer bankruptcy could foreclose any hope of compensation.”
DTN also reached out to Bayer for comment.
In their court filing, the objectors said they first received copies of the class action petition and proposed settlement on or after May 12, 2026, but were never formally served. They filed objections in the state court and filed the notice of removal just last week.
The entire thrust of their objections is that the settlement would wipe out their individual claims against Bayer.
“The settlement imposes unconscionable hurdles to limit or extinguish class members’ opt-out rights,” the objectors told the federal court.
“Anyone who does not opt out by June 4, 2026, is bound by the settlement. Incredibly, that includes ‘class members’ who do not yet know that they have cancer and those who do not even have cancer yet.”
The objectors’ motion also describes what they say was a “secret” meeting between Bayer lawyers, class counsel and a judge from the Missouri state court, resulting in a proposed settlement 15 days later.
On Tuesday, plaintiffs in the state case filed a motion with the federal court to send the case back to the state court, arguing the objectors are unable to remove the case to federal court.
“Only defendants may remove a case to federal court,” the plaintiffs told the federal court.
“But objectors are not defendants. And because no class has been certified in the underlying Missouri class action, they are not parties to this action at all. The court therefore lacks subject matter jurisdiction and should immediately remand this action to the Circuit Court of the City of St. Louis, Missouri.”
The latest court filings come just days ahead of the June 4, 2026, deadline for opt-outs from the proposed settlement and for objections to be filed in the state court. In addition, there is a final fairness hearing scheduled for July 9, 2026, in the state court.
In April 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Monsanto v. Durnell in a case that could put an end to failure-to-warn claims filed in state courts.
Read more on DTN:
“Roundup Settlement Gets Early Approval,”https://www.dtnpf.com/…
“Bayer Settles Roundup Cases for $7.3B,” https://www.dtnpf.com/…
“SCOTUS Hears Bayer Roundup Label Fight,” https://www.dtnpf.com/…
Todd Neeley can be reached at todd.neeley@dtn.com
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