Researchers have found a clear link between Parkinson’s disease and paraquat dichloride. This is a significant driver behind many other countries banning the herbicide. The European Union has banned paraquat. Studies that outline these findings include:
- 2011: In 2011, the National Institute of Health conducted a paraquat study. The study found that paraquat users were 2.5 times more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease. The study also linked paraquat exposure with oxidative stress. Oxidative stress can result in the loss of dopaminergic neurons.
- 2014: A study investigated study participants sprayed with the chemical. Participants were twice as likely to develop Parkinson’s disease.
- 2017: A study finds another link between Parkinson’s disease and paraquat exposure. The link was in people who possessed certain genetic traits. The study showed that paraquat caused DNA damage and weak mitochondrial respiration.
A letter was recently sent to California’s Department of Pesticide Registration. The letter urged the department to ban paraquat. It noted that many scientific studies have linked paraquat with Parkinson’s disease.
50,000 pounds of paraquat got used in Monterey County in 2017.
California Pesticide Reform asked The Department of Pesticide Regulation to ban paraquat. They requested the ban due to toxic effects on human health and safety.
“We’re talking about an older group of people exposed to that from 1964 till 1968. They could have bought it in San Benito, in Monterey, in Salinas without a license. We have over 350 clients of people who meet this criterion. These people received Parkinson’s disease diagnoses.” – Jeffrey Nadrich commented – Kion 46 News Channel.
Filing a Case With a Paraquat Lawyer
Your health may suffer due to exposure to paraquat. There are many reasons you should file a paraquat lawsuit with our paraquat lawyers. You could recover compensation for your expenses and losses via a paraquat settlement. You could also hold companies responsible for your Parkinson’s disease.
Your paraquat Parkinson’s disease lawsuit shows others the dangers of this herbicide. It also contributes to stopping future exposure. Overwhelming wins in paraquat lawsuits may sway the EPA and Congress to ban paraquat, too.
The paraquat attorneys at Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers will help you file a paraquat lawsuit. We may hold the manufacturers accountable for their conduct through an individual claim. We may join a mass tort already in progress, or take other legal action on your behalf.
We are knowledgeable about legal cases based on paraquat exposure. We explain more about the options during our free case assessments.
Who Qualifies for a Paraquat Class Action?
You may qualify if you have medical records of your Parkinson’s diagnosis. Proof of paraquat exposure will help, too. So will records of your treatment and prognosis. Even without documentation of exposure, our attorneys can help collect related evidence. Some people who may qualify to file a paraquat lawsuit include:
- Landscapers
- Pickers
- Farmers
- Growers
- Agricultural workers
- Licensed applicators
- Those who bottle or handle paraquat during manufacturing
- Anyone who works around herbicides and commercial weed killers
Talk to our paraquat lawyers to find out if you have a case. Our free case evaluations allow you to learn more about the process. We will assess the strength of your case and explain your options.
Financial Compensation a Paraquat Lawyer May Assist With
You must undergo treatment for the rest of your life if you have Parkinson’s disease. Unfortunately, Parkinson’s disease can be very debilitating. Treatment is not a cure, but it will help you live with your condition longer.
Medication, therapy, and lifestyle changes delay symptoms. They also allow some people to live longer, more active lives. This could include continuing to work and enjoying some of your favorite activities.
Still, managing any life-long condition is expensive. Hire our paraquat lawyers to file a paraquat lawsuit. We will help you secure compensation to cover the cost of your long-term treatment. We will also get compensation via a paraquat settlement. It will cover your pain and suffering, and past and future medical bills. It will also cover mental distress, loss of quality of life, and other damages.
Many people overlook extra expenses necessary to live with Parkinson’s disease. These include the cost of home renovations for mobility needs. They also include buying adaptive equipment, and purchasing wheelchairs or walkers.
Wrongful Death Claimants Can Pursue Paraquat Settlements
If you lost a loved one to complications from paraquat exposure, you deserve justice. No amount of money can replace a family member. You should not have to experience financial hardship on top of such a tragedy, though.
We can seek wrongful death damages on your behalf, such as:
- Your loved one’s medical bills
- Your lost wages if you had to miss work to care for them
- Your loved one’s pain and suffering
- Your loved one’s income they would have contributed
- Loss of consortium for a loved one’s companionship
- Funeral and burial costs
Grounds for a Paraquat Action
The central claims in a paraquat lawsuit are that:
- Those who made and sold paraquat knew or should have known that paraquat is toxic
- They knew or should have known the link between paraquat and Parkinson’s disease
- They failed to warn the public about the Parkinson’s disease risk or take other action to protect users
The courts consolidated paraquat Parkinson’s disease lawsuits in 2021. They formed a multidistrict litigation (MDL).
Based on the latest paraquat lawsuit update, over 2,300 paraquat lawsuits are pending. The lawsuits are against Syngenta and other paraquat manufacturers. These figures are as of January 2023.
Negligence in Paraquat Filings
Those who made and sold paraquat had a duty to be careful in ensuring that paraquat was safe. This duty included doing enough product testing. They should have stayed aware of scientific knowledge of their product’s dangers. They should have warned about any dangers linked with their products.
Companies failed to do these things. This lets us pursue a paraquat settlement on behalf of our client in a paraquat lawsuit. Our paraquat lawsuits against the manufacturers allege negligence occurred in several ways:
- Negligence is failing to exercise reasonable care in the name of preventing harm.
- Negligence is failing to do what a careful person would do in the same situation.
- Negligence is doing what a careful person wouldn’t do in the same situation.
A successful negligence claim requires us to prove the following:
- Negligence happened
- The victim suffered harm
- The negligence caused the harm
In these cases, our attorneys believe:
- It is negligent to not test how far paraquat can drift from where workers sprayed it.
- It is negligent to not test how easy it is for those nearby to absorb it.
- It is negligent to not test the negative health effects in people exposed to paraquat.
- It is negligent to not keep up with any scientific studies that find your product dangerous.
- It is negligent to ignore scientific studies saying your product is dangerous.
- It is negligent to not warn the public about such scientific studies.
We base our clients’ paraquat lawsuits on allegations of negligence. We also base them on findings that link paraquat and Parkinson’s disease. We plan to present strong evidence supporting our clients’ cases.
Strict Liability & Paraquat Litigation
Negligence may have led to people developing Parkinson’s disease from paraquat exposure. Strict liability claims don’t need us to prove negligence, though. Strict liability generally applies to product liability claims like this one.
Those who make and sell products are liable for injuries caused by their products. This may occur if their products contain a manufacturing defect. Design defects and poor instructions can make companies liable. Missed warnings and other serious defects can make companies liable.
Products with a manufacturing defect are defective. This is because something went wrong during the production process. Products with design defects are defective when made and used as intended. Their design itself is defective.
Paraquat appears to contain a design defect. It is unsafe when made and used as intended due to its link with Parkinson’s disease. Altering the manufacturing process will not make the chemical any safer. It will always be dangerous because it can cause Parkinson’s disease.
Some companies know or should know their products are dangerous. They don’t warn others about this danger, though. These companies are liable for injuries caused by their products. This liability exists in California and other states.
The Paraquat Papers
The Guardian published details about internal Syngenta documents. The documents suggest that paraquat manufacturers knew paraquat may be very dangerous. The article by The Guardian alleges the following:
- Syngenta focused on influencing regulators. They focused on refuting scientific research done by external sources. They focused on protecting sales of paraquat.
- Syngenta tried to keep a well-regarded scientist off an EPA advisory panel. They also tried to hide their connection to these efforts. The scientist did work linking paraquat with Parkinson’s disease.
- Scientists knew in the ’60s and ’70s that paraquat accumulated in the brain. These included scientists with Syngenta predecessor Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI). These also included scientists with Chevron Chemical.
- Internal research by Syngenta demonstrated that paraquat had adverse effects on brain tissue. Syngenta withheld this research from regulators.
- Syngenta scientists knew about evidence that paraquat impaired the central nervous system. This led to tremors and other Parkinson’s-like symptoms in animals. A 1975 Chevron communication mentioned “permanent CNS effects from paraquat.”
- An ICI researcher, in 1958, reported on a chemical compound related to paraquat. The compound seemed to have effects on the central nervous system.
- ICI scientists, in 1966, noted that animals exposed to paraquat developed tremors. The animals also developed a stiff gait. These are Parkinson’s symptoms.
- Notes from a 1974 meeting with Chevron mentioned paraquat. The notes mentioned applicators experiencing toxicological effects. One month later, a Chevron lawyer mentioned evidence. This evidence suggested paraquat could “cause industrial injury.” It suggested that Chevron could face lawsuits over it involving millions of dollars.
- A meeting took place between ICI and Chevron in 1975. Meeting notes mentioned an autopsy done on a victim of paraquat poisoning. The autopsy found motor neuron lesions.
- An ICI scientist wrote a December 1975 letter to a Chevron toxicologist. The letter warned about “possible chronic effects, which you see causing legal problems.”
- In 1976, ICI reviewed an autopsy of a farmworker. It demonstrated “degenerative changes” to “cells of the substantia nigra.” This is a Parkinson’s disease hallmark.
- An internal memo to Chevron officials in 1985 mentioned a Canadian study. It discovered a strong correlation between the use of paraquat and Parkinson’s disease. The memo warned about the potential for paraquat to become a large legal liability. The memo compared this potential to asbestos’ potential.
- Syngenta responded to mounting evidence that paraquat may cause Parkinson’s disease. It had its own scientists do similar studies. It made sure their scientists avoided measuring levels of paraquat in the brain. It did this because paraquat detection in the brain would look bad.
- Syngenta, in 2003, did a study involving giving mice paraquat. The study measured the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the brains of the mice. Syngenta used a manual counting technique in this study. It didn’t find a significant impact on the brains of the mice. Syngenta publicized this finding. A scientist for Syngenta repeated the studies utilizing a more accurate counting technique. The impact on the brains of the mice was now found to be significant. Syngenta did not publicize this finding.
- Syngenta mentioned on its website that paraquat doesn’t cross the blood-brain barrier. They also mentioned it doesn’t reach the part of the brain it needs to to cause the symptoms of Parkinson’s. Syngenta knew these statements were false when it made them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Paraquat Exposure
Below you will find some of the most common questions people with paraquat exposure have. This section is not comprehensive. It should answer many of your questions about paraquat lawsuits, though. It should answer questions about the effects of this dangerous herbicide. We will address these questions and others during your free case consultation.
What Is Paraquat, and Why Is It Dangerous?
The chemical herbicide paraquat, or paraquat dichloride, is a toxic herbicide. Common use dates back to the 1960s. Its use is to prevent weed and grass takeover of crops by farmers throughout the world.
More recently, more than 30 countries banned the herbicide. The United States restricted its use to licensed applicators. It remains on the market, though.
Researchers have linked paraquat to many adverse health effects. These include a progressive neurodegenerative disorder known as Parkinson’s disease.
The herbicide is toxic. A small amount of paraquat can be fatal. Even if this is not the immediate result, the health impacts on the victim can be tremendous.
According to the CDC, even light paraquat exposure can cause significant damage. Many adverse health effects can also occur. This includes developing Parkinson’s disease, kidney failure, and other conditions, such as:
- Heart failure
- Kidney disease
- Liver failure
- Lung scarring
- Coma
- Seizures
- Injury to the heart
- Pulmonary edema
- Respiratory failure
A July 2022 study linked paraquat exposure with thyroid cancer.
Is Paraquat Harmful, Even in Small Amounts?
NatLawReview.com mentions continual exposure to minimal amounts of paraquat. It says this can increase one’s risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.
Parkinson's disease is a progressive condition, and there is no cure. Those diagnosed with the disease often manage it with medication and other treatments. It often contributes to early death, though.
The toxic effects are also worrying. People die from ingesting the herbicide every year in the United States. Paraquat purchased in the United States has additive safeguards to prevent accidental consumption. Products purchased elsewhere might appear clear and odorless. This makes them almost impossible to recognize.
Anyone could mix it with food or water without detection because of this. Paraquat poisoning can also occur from skin exposure, especially from an open wound. Inhalation and absorption through the skin are other methods of paraquat exposure. These are the ones most likely when exposure leads to Parkinson’s disease symptoms.
How Dangerous is Paraquat?
The danger of the chemical herbicide paraquat is far-reaching. The EPA classifies paraquat as a “restricted use” product. This means that it can only those licensed to apply the chemical can use it.
Most restricted use products allow others to apply the products. They can do so when supervised by a licensed applicator. Environmental Protection Agency limits paraquat use to only those certified to apply it.
The EPA restricts paraquat use because of its extreme toxicity. It also restricts it because of its natural tasteless, odorless and clear characteristics. Drinking a thimble to a shot glass of the chemical can take a human life.
Many suicides and suicide attempts include the use of paraquat. At this point, there is no known antidote.
The United States requires paraquat additives. This ensures users can see, smell and taste the chemical. Special packaging is also required. Large warnings about putting the herbicide in other containers are also required.
These rules hope to prevent accidental ingestion of paraquat.
How Do I Determine How Dangerous My Exposure to Paraquat Was?
Several factors determine the level of danger to a person exposed to paraquat. including:
- Quantity of exposure
- Method of exposure (ingestion is most likely and most dangerous)
- Duration of exposure
Ingestion of paraquat causes significant damage in several ways. Paraquat may meet the lining of the mouth, stomach, or intestines. Direct damage will likely occur when this happens. Once inside, it reaches other parts of the body. This causes damage to the lungs, liver, and kidneys.
Paraquat is notorious for its link to various health conditions. These include Parkinson’s disease. This tie to Parkinson’s disease is the basis for the paraquat lawsuits.
Do Pesticides Cause Parkinson’s Disease?
Pesticides and herbicides may play a role in developing Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder. Among others, paraquat is one such herbicide researchers link to Parkinson's disease.
Research continues into how much exposure could trigger Parkinson’s disease symptoms. The research investigates how the exposure generally occurs. The research investigates how long it takes before the disorder develops.
Researchers may also uncover more links to other pesticides and herbicides. The strongest known links are the ones supporting the paraquat lawsuits.
What Are Additional Paraquat Pesticide Products?
Paraquat is a restricted-use herbicide. It is a fast-acting weed killer. It is one of the most popular herbicides used on farms. It is also used in other large-scale agricultural applications. Gramoxone SL 2.0 Herbicide contains paraquat. It is the most common herbicide in the United States.
Some of the other paraquat pesticide products are:
- Quick-Quat
- Parazone
- Helmquat 3SL
- Para-Shot 3.0
- Firestorm
- Cyclone SL 2.0
- Dexuron
- Crisquat
- Devour
- Para-col
- Blanco
- Bonedry
- Esgram
- Dexuron
- Tota-col
- Ortho Paraquat CL
- Garmixel
- PP148
- Bai Cao Ku
- AH 501
- Pillarxone
Makers of many of these herbicides are facing lawsuits. The lawsuits cover the connection between toxic paraquat products and Parkinson’s disease.
How Do I Know if I’ve Been Affected by Paraquat Exposure?
You may be experiencing Parkinson's disease symptoms. You may have suffered from paraquat exposure. If so, you must meet with your physician at once. Ingesting a small amount of paraquat can be fatal, and it only takes minutes or hours for death to occur.
Low-level exposure may be enough to cause significant adverse health conditions. Exposure and ingestion of this substance can lead to long-term health issues. It can put you at a greater risk of Parkinson’s disease.
What Are the Signs of Serious Paraquat Exposure?
Immediate signs of serious exposure include:
- Swelling and pain in the mouth or throat
- Confusion
- Dehydration
- Seizures
- Muscle fatigue or weakness
- Breathing difficulties or respiratory failure
These symptoms may occur while applying paraquat. They may occur while working in an area where paraquat was recently applied. If so, these symptoms warrant an emergency department visit.
What Are Signs of Low-Level Paraquat Exposure?
Symptoms of low-level exposure affecting your body could include:
- Tremors or shaking at rest
- Muscle stiffness
- Slow movement
- Sleep interruptions
- Constipation
- Issues with bladder control
- Smaller handwriting
- Lost sense of smell
- Depression and anxiety
- Fatigue
If You’ve Worked with Paraquat and Developed Symptoms, See a Doctor
You may develop Parkinson’s disease symptoms. You may have worked in an agricultural setting. You may have instead worked somewhere else where paraquat exposure is likely. If so, you should discuss your condition with a doctor. Let them know about your history of working with or near this dangerous chemical.
If you’re diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease as a result of paraquat exposure you need to speak to a paraquat lawsuit lawyer as soon as possible.
Non-Citizens Are Eligible To File Paraquat Actions
You may be wondering if you are eligible to file a paraquat lawsuit if you are not a citizen of the United States.
Yes, non-citizens are eligible to file personal injury lawsuits in the United States. These lawsuits include paraquat lawsuits.
Paraquat Lawsuit Updates
April 18, 2024 Update
The judge overseeing the paraquat MDL has dismissed the four bellwether cases. The judge excluded testimony from Dr. Martin Wells, the plaintiffs' key expert regarding general causation.
The four bellwether cases were killed because the plaintiffs couldn't establish a causal link needed for their paraquat claims without the testimony. The court granted summary judgment for defendants in the cases, concluding the plaintiffs' claims weren't tenable without testimony from the expert.
This does not mean that the paraquat litigation is over. This simply means that lawyers for the plaintiffs have to get better experts. The court is going to quickly select a new group of bellwether cases for trial. The parties involved have been directed by the judge to choose 16 cases to undergo limited fact discovery. The plaintiffs will choose eight of these cases, whereas Syngenta and Chevron will each choose four.
While this development is depressing for the four plaintiffs in the bellwether cases, and all they can do now is appeal the decision, the paraquat litigation will continue and attorneys for the plaintiffs will likely develop superior experts in order to support what appears to be very strong science which links paraquat with Parkinson's disease.
April 16, 2024 Update
A new bill in California, AB-1963, seeks to prohibit the use, offering for sale, holding, delivery, sale and manufacturing of any products containing paraquat.
The bill, if passed, would go into effect in January 2026.
Assembly member Laura Friedman, who introduced the bill, noted that paraquat is already banned in over 60 countries such as Brazil, China, the United Kingdom, and European Union members.
Friedman noted that California is the top paraquat user in the nation - millions of pounds of it are sprayed in the state every year.
April 9, 2024 Update
47 cases were added to the paraquat MDL in March.
March 31, 2024 Update
A lawsuit was filed on March 18 alleging that a 53-year-old Colorado man developed Parkinson's disease, which he was diagnosed with around 2022, because he was exposed to paraquat from 1996 through 1999 while applying paraquat as part of his work.
The lawsuit alleges the plaintiffs directly contacted paraquat through numerous methods such as inhaling, absorbing, touching or involuntarily ingesting it while handling, spraying, loading, mixing or interacting with paraquat otherwise.
The lawsuit alleges that extended exposure to paraquat started a long-term process in his brain involving oxidative stress, which was amplified by redox cycling by paraquat, killing off his brain's dopaminergic neurons.
Also, there's been significant talk in the media and in litigation lately about the large number of badly vetted lawsuits which the MDL has seen filed. This story does not reflect well upon some paraquat attorneys, but it doesn't reflect badly on the merits of the MDL. The MDL process is working as intended. The judge is proactively taking steps to dismiss lawsuits which shouldn't have ever been filed in the first place.
This is a positive for plaintiffs who have viable claims. It's not in your best interest to be grouped with weaker cases if your case is strong. It's in your best interest to be in strong docket containing a lesser number of lawsuits over paraquat.
March 17, 2024 Update
Parties in the paraquat litigation are still waiting on Jose Rosenstengel's Daubert ruling. In the mean time, the first trials, which were originally scheduled for fall 2023, are on hold, and rescheduled dates have not been announced.
The judge has, on multiple occasions, expressed concerns about how many cases have liability theories which are seemingly unlikely. It seems as if the judge doesn't appear fond of "drifter" cases involving indirect exposure to paraquat.
In February, the judge ordered plaintiffs to issue subpoenas by March 11, subpoenas for gathering documents which serve as evidence of exposure to or use of paraquat.
It's difficult to imagine any scenario where Judge Rosenstengel would dismiss every paraquat case with her Daubert ruling. However, the court clearly wishes the docket to be filled with only viable claims.
March 4, 2024 Update
241 cases were added to the paraquat MDL in February, bring the amount of total cases to 5,318.
January 30, 2024 Update
The judge overseeing the paraquat MDL has ordered both parties to undergo depositions regarding 25 cases. Defendants identified the 25 cases as being cases utilizing implausible liability theories connecting Parkinson's disease with exposure to paraquat.
Four exposure claim categories had been previously identified by the court as presenting "far-fetched" liability theories:
- Claims involving plaintiffs with no information about their paraquat exposure
- Claims involving no evidence supporting a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease
- Claims involving claims of the use of paraquat in forms which never existed
- Claims involving other issues which previously led to lawsuits being voluntarily dismissed
The purpose of the depositions is to help the court figure out if these claims are substantiated and plausible, or if the claims should be thrown out due to lacking merit.
January 15, 2024 Update
Both sides in the paraquat MDL are still eagerly awaiting Daubert rulings, upon which the future of the MDL will hinge.
The number of cases in the MDL decreased by 21 in the past month - there are now 5,051 pending cases in the MDL. This is likely the result of inactive cases being dismissed with the number of new cases being added over the holidays being low.
Lawyers continue to signal a belief the cases will bear fruit for plaintiffs as they continue to file paraquat lawsuits. A case filed last week involves a Texas woman who was exposed to paraquat from about 1965 to 1975 while applying, loading or mixing the herbicide, due to particles of paraquat drifting in the wind, and by contacting plants which had been sprayed with paraquat. The woman obtained a Parkinson's disease diagnosis in 2018.
December 29, 2023 Update
The Los Angeles Times recently ran a lengthy piece on paraquat and its links with Parkinson's disease. The piece notes that while Syngenta denies claims that paraquat causes Parkinson's disease, the company has placed at least $187.5 million into a settlement fund in response to thousands of lawsuits alleging that the herbicide causes the incurable disease. The piece notes that a 2011 study found that those exposed to paraquat were 2.5 times more likely to develop Parkinson's disease.
December 18, 2023 Update
86 new cases have been added to the paraquat MDL in the past 30 days, bringing the total number of cases to 5,072.
October 17, 2023 Update
A lawsuit was filed on October 11, 2023 in Illinois, claiming that paraquat caused a Georgia man to develop Parkinson’s disease after he regularly mixed, sprayed and handled the weedkiller on his family farm for a period of 25 years. The lawsuit accuses Syngenta and Chevron of not providing adequate warnings regarding the risk of Parkinson’s disease associated with paraquat. The lawsuit claims that the companies failed to warn about this risk despite knowing of the risk.
October 2, 2023 Update
The final Daubert briefs were filed in September 2023, leading to Judge Rosenstengel postponing the first bellwether paraquat trial to allow for more time for consideration and briefing on Daubert motions. The fate of paraquat lawsuits now hinges upon a decision from the multidistrict litigation on Daubert challenges. A decision on the challenges may not come until the new year, as Daubert rulings tend to be very complicated and long. The Daubert hearings were focused upon the link between Parkinson’s disease and paraquat. While plaintiffs argue that paraquat causes tissue damage and cell death which is characteristic of the disease, defendants argued that the disease is mostly the result of genetic factors.
August 21, 2023 Update
On August 20, 2023, an important Daubert hearing began in paraquat’s MDL. The credibility of Dr. Martin Wells, the plaintiff’s expert epidemiologist, is being contestec by Syngenta and Chevron. Dr. Wells has come to the conclusion that paraquat probably has a significant role regarding the causation of Parkinson’s disease. Syngenta and Chevron are criticizing Dr. Wells as well as experts Peter Spencer and Anthony Lang, highlighting previous courts have excluded Dr. Wells from some cases. Syngenta and Chevron are claiming Parkinson’s is mostly caused by genetic factors.
August 15, 2023 Update
On August 21, 2023, hearings will be held in the paraquat MDL which will consider how admissible the proposed expert witnesses are for each side and will end up with rulings on summary judgment motions. The reliability and strength of experts opinions will be evaluated to make sure that each expert’s methodology is scientifically sound enough for testimony to be allowed at trial.
June 25, 2023 Update
353 new paraquat cases were added to the paraquat multidistrict litigation in May 2023, and 223 new paraquat cases were added to the paraquat MDL in June 2023.
June 12, 2023 Update
In June 2023, Chevron and Syngenta urged a judge in Illinois to grant summary judgment motions in the paraquat MDL. The companies argued that the plaintiffs’ claims that their Parkinson’s disease was caused by paraquat aren’t backed by peer-reviewed science.
May 31, 2023 Update
MDL proceedings continue, and Judge Nancy Rosenstengel has selected plaintiffs regarding trials which might shape a paraquat settlement. It was announced that hearings will take place in August 2023 where expert testimony’s admissibility will be challenged. The expert testimony is related to establishing that paraquat exposure caused the plaintiffs’ Parkinson’s disease.
April 10, 2023 Update
In April of 2023, a Philadelphia judge approved a short-form complaint which will help with filings by plaintiffs. The order allows additional plaintiffs to file claims about paraquat allegedly causing Parkinson’s disease. Short-form complaints are often approved in large cases involving large numbers of plaintiffs who are expected to file similar claims. These complaints let future plaintiffs join lawsuits as long as their circumstances and claims are similar. The paraquat short-form complaint will claim plaintiffs developed a neurological injury such as Parkinson’s disease after being exposed to paraquat. Plaintiffs claim that Chevron and Syngenta did not adequately warn farm workers and farmers that using paraquat could lead to neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s disease. The risk of developing Parkinson’s disease still exists even when following the instructions on the labeling of products containing paraquat, according to plaintiffs. In addition, internal documents which the discovery process revealed showed that Syngenta knew that paraquat was dangerous as far back as the 1950s. These documents also contained evidence and notes indicating that Syngenta knew about the link between Parkinson’s disease and paraquat since at least 2001. The claims related to the short-form complaint mirror pending claims in the multidistrict litigation taking place in the Southern District of Illinois. If this MDL is dismissed or stopped, numerous claims will return to their original states, leading to thousands of plaintiffs who might have to use a short-form complaint to refile a case in a state court.
April 10, 2023 Update
Around 2,000 cases are part of the paraquat MDL.
January 26, 2023 Update
On January 26th, 2023, non-party Exponent, Inc. filed a response to Paraquat plaintiffs’ discovery request in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, claiming that several documents requested by plaintiffs’ counsel are protected by the work-product doctrine. Exponent, Inc. also noted that the Plaintiffs’ request created “an undue burden” on Exponent because the “vast majority of the documents requested could have been produced by defendant Syngenta.”
December 16, 2022 Update
The date for the first federal paraquat jury trial has been set for October 16, 2023.
November 4, 2022 Update
California regulators were recently urged to ban paraquat in a letter sent by The Center for Biological Diversity and Californians for Pesticide Reform. The letter notes that paraquat has been linked with Parkinson’s disease by numerous scientific studies.
September 30, 2022 Update
The EPA, in a September 2022 filing with the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, said they wish to re-examine paraquat’s risks before they renew the long-term approval of its use and sale in the United States. The EPA requested that the court allow paraquat to be used while the EPA reconsiders its approval, noting that those against re-approval had no objections to letting it be used for now.
August 25, 2022
The date of the first paraquat trial in the MDL was pushed back until July 2023.
May 16, 2022 Update
In May of 2022, the number of paraquat Parkinson’s disease lawsuits increased by 35 to 1,150 plaintiffs.
May 11, 2022 Update
On May 11, Bayer filed an appeal citing the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) continuing to allow paraquat and similar products. This appeal is expected to be rejected and allow pending lawsuits to move forward.
May 2, 2022 Update
In May of 2022, six paraquat cases were selected to participate in bellwether trials.
April 19, 2022 Update
In April of 2022, 982 cases were part of the multi-district litigation (MDL) class action lawsuit. This number represents several cases that were transferred into the MDL action.
August 26, 2021 Update
In July 2021, Syngenta paid $187.5 million into a paraquat settlement fund.
Connect With a Paraquat Lawyer Today at Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers
You may have developed Parkinson’s disease due to exposure to the herbicide paraquat. You may qualify for financial compensation for damages via a paraquat lawsuit settlement.
We represent agricultural workers. We represent those exposed to paraquat while living near high-use areas. We are a contingency fee personal injury law firm. We handle mass tort, class action, and multidistrict litigation.
We won’t charge you a fee unless we recover money for you. We never ask our clients to pay a retainer or any upfront fees or expenses. We use our firm’s financial resources to investigate, develop and file every case.
Contact a paraquat lawyer at Nadrich Accident Injury Lawyers today or text or email. Contact us to learn how our law firm will hold the manufacturers of paraquat responsible. We can recover compensation for your past and future medical expenses. We can recover compensation for your pain and suffering. We can recover other damages related to your exposure to this deadly weed killer.