Attorney Seeks Federal Court Move in Bayer Roundup Settlement Challenge

A proposed $7.25 billion settlement by Bayer to resolve thousands of lawsuits claiming its Roundup weedkiller causes cancer is facing a legal challenge that could delay its approval, as an attorney opposed to the deal filed paperwork Friday to move the case from Missouri state court to federal court.

The move, filed by attorney Ashley Keller, comes ahead of a June 4 deadline for plaintiffs to opt out of the settlement. Keller also filed formal objections on behalf of several clients who are part of the proposed class action, arguing the agreement unfairly restricts victims’ rights and was rushed into state court. “This is a huge settlement that is extinguishing the rights of tens of thousands of cancer victims,” Keller said. “It was rushed in to state court.”

The dispute over which court should preside could disrupt the settlement’s deadlines and delay a final decision on its approval. Judge Timothy Boyer granted preliminary approval in March, with a final fairness hearing scheduled for July 9 in St. Louis Circuit Court. The settlement was filed in February and aims to resolve nearly all pending claims alleging that glyphosate, Roundup’s key ingredient, causes non-Hodgkin...