Supreme Court Dismisses Thousands of Roundup Lawsuits on Jurisdictional Grounds

Why it matters locally: While the immediate impact is on federal court dockets, Alabama residents who are plaintiffs in Roundup lawsuits will now need to pursue their claims through state court systems.

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The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed thousands of lawsuits against Monsanto, the manufacturer of Roundup herbicide, ruling that federal courts lack jurisdiction to hear the claims. The justices determined that plaintiffs in the cases failed to establish sufficient connection to the federal court system to proceed. The decision removes the cases from the federal docket, though it does not address the underlying allegations about the product itself. Monsanto, now owned by Bayer, faced multiple lawsuits from consumers who alleged the herbicide caused health injuries. The company argued the cases did not belong in federal court, contending that state courts were the appropriate venue. The ruling affects a substantial number of pending claims consolidated across federal jurisdictions. Legal analysts said the decision will require plaintiffs to pursue their cases through state court systems or in other forums, depending on where they reside and where the relevant events occurred. The Trump administration had submitted legal arguments supporting Monsanto's position in the case. Officials stated that federal courts should not hear the disputes. International agricultural regulators and some allied governments have pursued restrictions on glyphosate, the active ingredient in Roundup, citing health and environmental concerns. The Supreme Court's decision does not affect regulatory action by those bodies or restrict the use of the product. Monsanto has faced ongoing litigation over Roundup for years. The company settled a separate class-action lawsuit in 2020 for $10.9 billion over claims the herbicide causes cancer, though the company maintained the product is safe when used as directed. The jurisdictional ruling does not resolve whether Roundup poses health risks. Instead, it addresses only where such disputes can be litigated within the U.S. court system.