Paraquat lawsuits claim the highly toxic weed and grass killer caused people to develop Parkinson’s disease. Lawsuits allege manufacturers knew about the risks but failed to warn the public. People who developed Parkinson’s disease after long-term paraquat exposure may be eligible for compensation.
As of December 2024, there were 5,835 pending paraquat lawsuits in multidistrict litigation before Chief Judge Nancy J. Rosenstengel of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois. MDL actions in the Paraquat Products Liability Litigation are ongoing.
Paraquat users from all over the country who were diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease began filing lawsuits against manufacturers in 2017, including Syngenta, Chevron Chemical Company and Growmark Inc. The first jury trial in the federal MDL will be scheduled as soon as the court issues its Daubert decision. A JCCP trial will likely be set in California around that time as well.
People are filing lawsuits because they have been exposed to paraquat and have developed Parkinson’s disease. They have filed paraquat lawsuits against Syngenta, Chevron and other defendants seeking compensation and holding corporations accountable for negligence.
Many of the people who filed lawsuits used paraquat for years without knowing they were at risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. Claims against manufacturers include: design defects, failure to warn, negligence and willful and wanton conduct.
Iowa farmer Doug Holiday, for example, sprayed his land with paraquat beginning in the 1990s. He is suing Syngenta AG and Chevron for what he claims are the companies’ disregard and reckless indifference to the safety of users. He is concerned about his repeated exposure to the herbicide and the increased risk of Parkinson’s disease. His case has been transferred to the paraquat MDL.
A recent study demonstrates that the neurotoxic effects of paraquat are directly linked to induced Parkinsonism. The study also emphasizes the importance of controlling exposure to neurotoxic environmental pollutants like paraquat to reduce levels of Parkinson’s disease in the general population.
Syngenta discussed pushing a “coherent strategy across all disciplines focusing on external influencing, that proactively diffuses the potential threats that we face” and attempting to “influence future work by external researchers where possible”
A Guardian investigation revealed manufacturers hid knowledge about toxic effects of paraquat from the scientific community and the public for decades. As manufacturers continue to maintain that paraquat doesn’t cause Parkinson’s disease, their actions have been called “attacks on science, attacks on scientists and attacks on the health of the public.”
People eligible to file a paraquat lawsuit against Syngenta and other manufacturers include agricultural and farm workers who were exposed to paraquat and diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. If you used paraquat, worked for a company that used the product or were trained and licensed to administer the herbicide you may also be eligible to file a lawsuit.
It’s important that you talk with a qualified paraquat lawsuit attorney about the details of your case. They can evaluate your eligibility, help you assemble the necessary documentation and help you file your claim.
Any settlements that may result will be based on each client’s individual injuries. Jury verdicts from the first bellwether test trials will help determine what paraquat settlement amount Syngenta could potentially offer.
Paraquat users from all over the country who were diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease began filing lawsuits against manufacturers that include Syngenta, Chevron Chemical Company and Growmark Inc. in 2017. Paraquat lawsuits were consolidated into an MDL in 2021 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois.
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