As of December 2020, Roundup® injury claims are multi-district litigation (MDL) cases and not class action lawsuits.
Differences Between a Class Action and MDL Lawsuit
Both class action claims and MDL cases involve plaintiffs who have been hurt by a similar product. However, they work very differently and can result in significantly different outcomes for plaintiffs.
In a class action case, the plaintiffs join together in a single lawsuit. The named plaintiffs, also known as the representative plaintiffs, make litigation decisions on behalf of all plaintiffs. These decisions and the recovery are binding on all plaintiffs unless a plaintiff specifically opts out of the class action case.
MDL cases work differently. Like class actions, MDL cases are consolidated. All cases that are part of the MDL are heard by one judge before trial. Pre-trial rulings on things such as discovery limits and evidence admissibility will apply to all cases in the MDL. A few individual cases, known as bellwether cases, may go to trial. Each of these cases will be tried separately, and each plaintiff has the opportunity for their own verdict and recovery. Bellwether cases provide valuable information to the rest of the MDL plaintiffs about whether they should proceed with their claims or settle their cases. If a settlement does not occur, each case will be tried separately.
Now Is the Time to Talk a Roundup Injury Lawyer
Bayer has a settlement offer on the table. If a settlement is reached, future Roundup claims may be class action cases rather than MDL lawsuits. A settlement or class action could limit your recovery.
Roundup injuries, such as non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, are serious and people who suffer these injuries deserve fair recoveries. Our Illinois Roundup injury lawyers are here to help people who have been hurt. Please contact us today for a free, no-obligation consultation about your rights. We will explain exactly how Roundup cases work and the steps that you need to take to protect your financial recovery.
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