Our lawyers handle Paraquat lawsuits in all 50 states. This page provides the latest news and updates on Paraquat lawsuits in both state and federal courts. We also give our perspective on where this litigation is heading and provide projected settlement payouts for a viable Paraquat lawsuit.
People who have developed Parkinson’s disease from Paraquat want to better understand the range of settlement amounts they can expect in their Paraquat lawsuit.
The expected Paraquat settlement amounts will fluctuate as the litigation progresses. Our lawyers will continue to update this page with revised payout projections.
If you have a potential claim, you want to have that claim prepared before any Paraquat settlement. Call our law firm today at 800-553-8082 or get a free online consultation.
Paraquat Lawsuit Updates 2025
Update Case Counts in MDL
May 1, 2025
The Paraquat MDL in the Southern District of Illinois, under Chief Judge Nancy J. Rosenstengel, has 6,036 active cases as of May 1, 2025. As we discussed in our previous update, this litigation is nearing a settlement in federal court. However, the battle continues in state courts, such as those in California, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. Our lawyers are still—-for now—taking new cases.
Heading Toward Settlement in the MDL
April 15, 2025
On April 14, 2025, the lawyers filed a joint motion requesting that the Seventh Circuit hold their appeal in abeyance. The parties informed the Court that they had entered into a signed settlement framework that could resolve this case and many others in the MDL.
Because this potential resolution could eliminate the need for appellate review, the parties believe a stay would promote judicial economy. Judge Rosenstengel has no objection to the request.
They propose filing a joint status report 60 days after the Court issues its stay order. Depending on the progress, they will later either dismiss the appeal or resume proceedings.
Plaintiff Wants Back in the Litigation
April 2, 2025: An objection was filed in the Paraquat multidistrict litigation (MDL) in response to a Special Master’s recommendation to dismiss certain cases for failure to submit a required Plaintiff Assessment Questionnaire (PAQ). One of the cases listed had not submitted the PAQ by the deadline, but the plaintiff’s attorneys argue they made multiple attempts to contact their client without success. After finally reestablishing contact, they promptly completed and filed the necessary PAQ. They now ask the court to allow the case to continue rather than dismiss it.
In this MDL, timely submission of a PAQ is essential to keep a claim active. The judge is not tolerating nonsense. But in this situation, the delay appears to stem more from a communication breakdown than from bad faith or neglect. Now that the filing has been completed, and in light of the attorney’s diligence and the fact that dismissal would only delay the inevitable refiling of the case, this is one of those instances where fairness supports letting the plaintiff off the mat. Keeping the case alive avoids unnecessary burden on the court and advances justice, resolving claims on their merits.
MDL Holds at 5,859 Cases Despite Upcoming Dismissals
April 1, 2025: The Paraquat MDL (MDL No. 3004) currently sits at 5,859 pending cases in the Southern District of Illinois. While 21 new filings were added in February, over 100 dismissals are expected due to noncompliance with Plaintiff Assessment Questionnaire (PAQ) deadlines. These case dismissals come after multiple warnings and reflect a continued push to eliminate weak or inactive claims. As we have been saying, this is a good development for plaintiffs with strong cases.
A June 2025 trial in Philadelphia looms, adding pressure on defendants Syngenta and Chevron to consider a settlement, which many expect we will see in 2025.
Paraquat Settlement Rumors
March 29, 2025: We are hearing rumors about a deal being close. We are also hearing from lawyers “who you would think would know” that do not have any information. So we are still trying to figure it out. If you have a potential claim, you want to call a lawyer yesterday. Stay tuned.
Why Weeding Out Weak Paraquat Lawsuits Benefits You
February 15, 2025: Lately, there’s been a lot of buzz—both in the legal media and within the litigation—about the sheer number of poorly vetted Paraquat lawsuits making their way into the MDL. Some see this as a knock on some of the lawyers filing these cases. Maybe. But it has nothing to do with the legitimacy of the Paraquat claims themselves. The reality? The system is working exactly as it should. The judge overseeing the MDL is actively filtering out cases that never should have been filed in the first place. And that’s actually good news if you have a strong Paraquat case. The last thing you want is for weaker claims to dilute the litigation. A more refined docket—one with fewer, high-quality cases—makes it easier to secure meaningful settlements and move the litigation forward to benefit legitimate plaintiffs.
More Paraquat Lawsuit Updates Back to the Beginning of the Litigation
New Lawsuit
March 24, 2025: In a new lawsuit filed last week in the MDL, an Ohio resident sued Syngenta, alleging that Syngenta’s herbicide Paraquat caused her to develop Parkinson’s disease after prolonged exposure. The case seeks damages for her permanent physical injuries, pain, and suffering, alleging negligence, strict liability, and failure to warn.
Over 100 Dismissals
March 15, 2025: This week, over 100 cases will be dismissed from the MDL due to plaintiffs repeatedly failing to submit completed Plaintiff Assessment Questionnaires (“PAQ”) as required by the MDL case management order. Despite being given multiple opportunities—second, third, and even fourth chances—to rectify this issue, their continued noncompliance justifies the dismissals.
MDL Back to Growth Mode
March 5, 2025: After shedding cases the previous two months, the Paraquat MDL was back to adding new cases in February. 21 new cases were added to the MDL, bringing the total count up to 5,859.
MDL Case Count
February 10, 2025: The Paraquat MDL has seen a decline in pending cases for the second month. Cases were added, and 13 cases were subtracted from the count, bringing the total down to 5,838. This reduction tracks with the MDL judge’s recent push to remove plaintiffs who failed to meet required deadlines and procedural obligations.
Paraquat MDL Update
January 31, 2025: On Wednesday, a status conference was held in the East St. Louis Courthouse before Chief Judge Rosenstengel. Lawyers for both sides attended in person, while others joined by video. They updated the court on state court cases, discussed the schedule for the first phase of trial preparation, and the judge reminded plaintiff attorneys to stay in touch with their clients. The next status conference is scheduled for April 11, 2025, at 11:00 AM.
New Florida Paraquat Lawsuit
January 22, 2025: In a new Paraquat suit in the MDL, a Florida man alleges that exposure to the herbicide Paraquat caused them to develop Parkinson’s disease. According to the complaint, the plaintiff was regularly exposed to Paraquat from 2013 to 2019 while maintaining property in Hilliard, Florida. During this period, the plaintiff reportedly mixed, applied, and cleaned Paraquat, leading to significant contact with the chemical.
The plaintiff, a retired schoolteacher, undertook property maintenance activities using Paraquat, including spraying it on their land. The lawsuit outlines that the plaintiff was exposed to Paraquat through multiple routes, including inhalation, skin absorption, and ingestion of spray droplets. They were diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in August 2020 but were unaware of the connection between the diagnosis and Paraquat exposure until later. The plaintiff’s spouse has joined the lawsuit, asserting a loss of consortium claim due to the physical and emotional toll the disease has had on their marriage.
Together, they seek damages for medical costs, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of companionship. The complaint emphasizes the plaintiff’s lack of prior warning about the risks associated with Paraquat, arguing that the manufacturers failed to disclose the product’s severe health hazards.
Paraquat Settlement Prospects in 2025
December 27, 2024: The conventional wisdom in the Paraquat litigation is that a global settlement is likely to happen within the next six months. But is this guaranteed? Not at all. History shows that mass tort settlements often take longer than anticipated, and attorneys frequently underestimate the time required to resolve such complex cases. That said, nearly every Paraquat lawyer we’ve spoken to believes these cases will settle before any trials take place. If you have a potential injury or wrongful death claim related to Paraquat exposure and have been waiting to take action, now is the time to move forward. Beyond the risk of pressing statute of limitations deadlines, it’s important to recognize that settling your case may become more difficult after the first wave of settlements is reached. Delays could limit your options and potentially reduce the value of your claim. Do not wait and risk missing your opportunity for compensation if there is a settlement. Contact an experienced Paraquat attorney today, preferably us, to discuss your case and ensure you are in the best possible position as settlement negotiations progress.
Judge Urges Better Communication with Plaintiffs
December 20, 2024: At a recent status conference discussing the timeline leading up to the proposed first bellwether trial in fall 2025, the Paraquat MDL judge advised lawyers for the plaintiffs to start keeping their clients informed and up to date on the status of their case. Judge Rosenstengel told the plaintiffs’ lawyers present for the conference that her chambers have recently been flooded with calls from Paraquat plaintiffs wanting to know what is going on with their case.
Unfortunately, this lack of direct communication between plaintiffs and their attorneys tends to happen in mass tort litigation. With thousands of plaintiffs, it can sometimes be challenging to keep every plaintiff informed. That is one of the big reasons why we post regular updates about major events in the MDL on this page and other mass tort pages.
June Trial Looms as Settlement Pressure Builds
December 15, 2024: As we enter 2025, there is a palpable sense of anticipation surrounding the Paraquat litigation. After years of legal battles, expert testimonies, and mounting evidence linking this herbicide to Parkinson’s disease, we are now on the cusp of a defining moment. The very first Paraquat trial is scheduled for June in Philadelphia, and the stakes could not be higher.
Chevron and Syngenta, the corporate giants at the heart of this controversy, face an intense and growing wave of pressure. With a jury trial looming, the risks are monumental. Juries tend to favor individuals over corporations in cases like these, particularly when the evidence paints a disturbing picture of corporate negligence and public harm. The unpredictability of a courtroom battle—where a single verdict could set a precedent and spark a flood of additional claims—is a nightmare scenario for these companies.
The billion-dollar question now is whether Chevron and Syngenta will attempt to contain the damage by settling just this one case or will take a broader approach and negotiate a global settlement that resolves the bulk of these lawsuits in one fell swoop. Our firm expectation—and sincere hope—is the latter. These companies have every reason to want to put this litigation behind them, and quickly.
Adding even more urgency to the situation is the shifting political landscape. With Robert F. Kennedy Jr. set to take over HHA, the conversation around toxic chemicals and corporate accountability is set to reach new heights. RFK Jr. has built his career on environmental advocacy, and his presence in the White House ensures that Paraquat—and the broader issue of pesticide safety—will be under an even more powerful microscope (we think, anyway). If this case proceeds to trial and results in a massive verdict against Chevron and Syngenta, it could ignite a nationwide debate, potentially leading to sweeping regulatory changes. That is a fire these companies are desperate to avoid.
Given all these factors, a global settlement appears to be the most practical and likely outcome. It would allow Chevron and Syngenta to control the damage, avoid the unpredictable nature of jury trials, and bring this legal saga to a close on their terms. For the thousands of plaintiffs suffering from Parkinson’s disease after exposure to Paraquat, such a resolution could mean long-overdue justice and financial relief for victims.
RFK Jr.’s Potential Impact on Paraquat Litigation
December 3, 2024: If Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is confirmed as Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS)—and it looks likely with the bigger fights coming with other nominees— his long-standing advocacy against toxic chemical exposure, including Paraquat, will likely have a significant impact on lawsuits linking paraquat to Parkinson’s disease. More specifically, it might drive Paraquat settlements sooner and higher.
Let’s give credit where credit is due: he has been right on Paraquat from the beginning.
His leadership will almost certainly encourage federal agencies like the FDA, EPA, and CDC to more rigorously examine the health risks associated with Paraquat and potentially reconsider regulatory policies surrounding its use. Additionally, Kennedy’s stance could indirectly bolster plaintiffs in Paraquat lawsuits by amplifying public awareness and validating claims of negligence by manufacturers.
MDL Selects Replacement Bellwether Cases
November 7, 2024: This summer, Judge Rosenstengel issued a selection order in the ongoing Paraquat MDL, identifying ten member cases for case-specific discovery. These cases are being prepped for the first Paraquat trials in the MDL.
Shortly afterward, two plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed their complaints within two weeks of their selection. To maintain the planned timeline, the Court has now selected two replacement cases:
- Anderson v. Syngenta Crop Protection, LLC, et al. (Case No. 3:23-pq-01712-NJR): The plaintiff operated multiple farms in Vergennes, Illinois and was regularly exposed to Paraquat from around 1980 to 2012 through inhalation, ingestion, or skin absorption. During this time, the pesticide was widely sold to farmers and businesses in Illinois and applied nearby using ground-based and aerial spraying methods. In 2010, the plaintiff was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
- Powrie v. Syngenta Crop Protection, LLC, et al. (Case No. 3:21-pq-00710-NJR): The plaintiff, a resident of Port Jervis, New York, worked as a licensed Paraquat applicator in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. During this time, he frequently mixed, loaded, applied, and cleaned paraquat products manufactured and sold by the defendants. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s four years ago.
These replacement cases are subject to the same discovery timelines and due dates as outlined in the original selection order, so we should not lose any time.
New York Worker Files Parkinson’s Lawsuit
October 19, 2024: In a new Parkinson’s disease lawsuit filed yesterday in the MDL against Syngenta and Chevron, a New York man claims that prolonged exposure to Paraquat while working in New York from 1980 to 1984 led to the development of Parkinson’s disease.
The lawsuit asserts that the defendants, as manufacturers, distributors, and sellers of Paraquat, failed to provide adequate warnings about the risks of exposure, specifically its link to Parkinson’s disease. The complaint includes claims of strict liability for design defects, failure to warn, negligence, and breach of express and implied warranties. The plaintiff seeks compensatory and punitive damages for physical injuries, mental anguish, disability, and medical expenses.
Philadelphia Bellwethers Drive Settlement Urgency
August 22, 2024: Pennsylvania’s first bellwether trials are slated for early 2025 in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, which has over 800 Paraquat lawsuits alone.
Believe me, the defendants do not want bellwether precedents for compensation levels from Philadelphia. That is why we think settlement could happen before these trials.
Plaintiffs’ Committee Provides Litigation Update
August 12, 2024: The Paraquat Plaintiffs’ Committee sent a status update letter to all Paraquat plaintiffs this week. Here are the main points from that letter:
- In the MDL, the Court has selected 10 new plaintiffs for bellwether trials following the dismissal of the previous cases, with case-specific discovery starting immediately.
- In the Pennsylvania state court MDL, the first pool of 10 bellwether cases has a discovery deadline of September 4, 2024, with the first trial tentatively set for April 2025. Work is ongoing for both the first and second pools of bellwether cases.
- Finally, in Delaware state court, the Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss was partially granted, and we’re amending the pleadings to comply with the Court’s Order before beginning written discovery.
MDL Resets with New Bellwether Selections
August 7, 2024: In April, the Judge in the Paraquat MDL dismissed all of the cases initially selected and prepared for the first round of bellwether test trials. This was a major setback because the parties had spent more than a year preparing these cases for potential trials.
Yesterday, the MDL Judge got things back on track by selecting 10 new Paraquat cases to serve as bellwether test cases. The parties will spend the next few months conducting case-specific fact discovery in these 10 cases in preparation for possible jury trials. We strongly suspect there will be a global settlement in Paraquat long before we get to any bellwether trials, but this at least helps pressure the defendants to make that happen.
Washington Man Files Parkinson’s Lawsuit
August 6, 2024: In a newly filed lawsuit, a Washington man sued Syngenta and Chevron for his prolonged exposure to Paraquat, which he says caused him to develop Parkinson’s disease.
The plaintiff’s complaint alleges he was exposed to Paraquat from approximately 1966 through 1975 while working at a fish hatchery in Washington. His suit says that Paraquat was used near his workplace and applied through ground-based or aerial sprayers.
Diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2013, he only recently became aware that his condition could be linked to Paraquat exposure. He asserts that Paraquat is highly toxic and causes oxidative stress, leading to cell damage and death, particularly in dopamine-producing neurons, which are critical for motor function. He cites this as a significant factor in the development of his Parkinson’s disease.
Pennsylvania Farmer Files New Paraquat Claim
July 25, 2024: Our last update discussed the Paraquat lawsuits being dismissed. But there are also new claims being filed. Three new lawsuits were filed in the MDL yesterday.
One of those cases, Richardson v. Syngenta AG et al., a Pennsylvania farmer alleges that his exposure to the herbicide Paraquat caused him to develop Parkinson’s disease.
This man was exposed to Paraquat for twenty years – from 1976 to 1996. The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages for Richardson’s injuries, including his medical expenses, pain, and suffering.
Philadelphia Caseload Surges 50%
June 13, 2024: The number of cases in Philadelphia’s mass tort litigation concerning the herbicide paraquat has surged by nearly 50% in the past six months. Judge Joshua Roberts, overseeing the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas’ complex litigation center, noted a steady increase in lawsuits, with the caseload rising from around 500 at the beginning of 2024 to 728.
There are two reasons for this. First, in the Elmiron eye injury lawsuits, the wisdom that came out of those cases was that those filed in Philadelphia did better than those filed in the MDL.
The second reason for the shift to state court in Philadelphia is that Paraquat lawyers are a bit spooked by Judge Rosenstengel’s ruling that dismissed a key plaintiffs’ expert and four bellwether cases, causing a pause in trial scheduling. Many of the same lawyers were present in these cases at the Zantac MDL. The lesson from that Zantac MDL debacle is that if you are concerned about the judge dismissing the lawsuits before you ever get to trial, you might be better off in state court.
I think lawyers would have never guessed there would be problems with experts in the Paraquat MDL as recently as a year ago. But Judge Rosenstengel did not see it the same way. But the reality is her opinion is the only opinion that matters in the MDL.
Texas Man Files Paraquat Claim
May 16, 2024: A Texas man filed a new Paraquat Parkinson’s Disease lawsuit yesterday, claiming that his Parkinson’s was caused by exposure to Paraquat. The plaintiff alleges that he was exposed to Paraquat between approximately 1983 and 1990 while in California.
This exposure occurred during the mixing, loading, applying, and cleaning the herbicide through spray drift and contact with sprayed plants. The plaintiff claims that Paraquat entered his body through various means, including skin absorption, inhalation, and ingestion, leading to his nervous system being attacked and resulting in Parkinson’s disease. He was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in May 2022.
Bellwether Cases Dismissed After Expert Exclusion
April 17, 2024: There is really bad news today. The MDL judge dismissed the four bellwether lawsuits after excluding the testimony of the plaintiff’s key expert on general causation, Dr. Martin Wells.
This decision kills those four cases because, without this testimony, plaintiffs could not establish the causal link necessary for their claims. The court also granted a summary judgment for the defendants, concluding that the plaintiffs’ claims were untenable without the expert’s testimony.
So now what? This litigation is not over. But plaintiffs’ lawyers need to develop more experts. The court plans to quickly proceed by selecting a new group of cases for trial. The judge has directed the parties to choose 16 new cases for limited fact discovery by a specified deadline.
Each party has a specific allocation for case selection: plaintiffs will choose eight cases, while Chevron and Syngenta will select four each. The selected cases must meet specific eligibility criteria, including being filed on or before the date of the judge’s order and not having a materially deficient Plaintiff Assessment Questionnaire.
After the selections are submitted, the court will issue a Case Management Order outlining a discovery schedule and setting trial dates.
This is a depressing development for those four plaintiffs. Their only option is to appeal the judge’s decision. But the litigation will go on and plaintiffs’ attorneys will develop better experts to support what we still believe is incredibly strong science linking Paraquat and Parkinson’s disease.
2017 Illinois Settlements Revealed
March 22, 2024: In 2017, Syngenta faced lawsuits in state court from victims diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. The litigation was very under the radar. Syngeneta was trying to avoid precisely what happened and quietly settled these lawsuits confidentially. We now know those settlements totaled $187.5 million.
New Study Strengthens Paraquat-Parkinson’s Link
March 7, 2024: A new Paraquat study supports the premise of this litigation: Paraquat exposure can cause Parkinson’s disease. The study found that those with Parkinson’s disease lived and worked closer to areas where Paraquat was used compared to those without Parkinson’s. Working near Paraquat every year significantly increased the risk of developing PD.
So-called “drifter” cases of people living near areas with heavy Paraquat use are the red-headed stepchild of this litigation. But the study show that similar results were found for those living near Paraquat.
Expert Witness Controversy Emerges
November 1, 2023: Dr. Douglas Weed has filed a motion to quash a subpoena from the plaintiffs’ lawyers related to his article about paraquat and its potential link to Parkinson’s disease. His article, titled “Does Paraquat Cause Parkinson’s Disease? A Review of Reviews,” was published in the scientific journal NeuroToxicology in September 2021. Dr. Weed’s article concludes that “A consensus exists in the scientific community that the available evidence does not warrant a claim that paraquat causes Parkinson’s disease.” So plaintiffs have an interest in how he got to that conclusion. His funding disclosure in his article – he says there is no “specific” grant for the article – raises questions.Dr. Weed asserts he has no direct connection to the case and argues that the extensive document requests are burdensome, pertain to ongoing research, and surpass geographical limits set by Rule 45. The motion emphasizes protections for non-parties and seeks to have the subpoena quashed due to its undue demands and violations of Rule 45. Plaintiff’s Paraquat lawyers have until the end of this week to respond.
New Case Filings Drop Dramatically
October 17, 2023: Over the last 2 years, the Paraquat class action MDL has been one of the fastest-growing mass torts. This MDL has averaged 300 new cases per month consistently and over 1,000 new cases were added in July and August alone. Over the last month, however, just 30 new Paraquat cases were added to the MDL. That is by far the lowest monthly volume this MDL has ever posted, and it could be a signal of things to come.
Daubert Briefing Concludes Awaiting Ruling
September 27, 2023: The final supplement Daubert briefs have now been filed, and we are simply awaiting a ruling. Last month, Judge Rosenstengel postponed the first bellwether trial to allow additional time for briefing and consideration on the Daubert motions. She did this after a full week of hearings. The fact that Judge Rosenstengel is taking so much time on this is somewhat concerning for the plaintiffs. It suggests that she is seriously considering a ruling that would exclude the plaintiffs’ experts and basically end the Paraquat class action MDL.
Syngenta Attacks Plaintiff Expert Credibility
September 2, 2023: Syngenta has accused Dr. Earl Ray Dorsey, a New York neurologist, of collaborating with plaintiffs’ lawyers and journalists to produce a scientific article linking Syngenta’s paraquat weed killer to Parkinson’s disease. Syngenta alleges that lawyers improperly influenced Dorsey’s research in new legal pleadings. They argue that tainted scientific evidence should be presented in court. Dr. Amit Ray, co-author of the article, provided documents under a subpoena, but Dorsey refused. Dorsey’s lawyers counter that the document request was late and irrelevant. They claim Syngenta aims to discredit Dorsey’s work and emphasize his lack of involvement with the litigation. The article, “Paraquat, Parkinson’s Disease, and Agnotology,” used information from a plaintiffs’ lawyer via The Guardian. Syngenta questions the article’s conclusions against established science. Syngenta’s motion sought drafts and Dorsey’s communications with writers, editors, and plaintiff attorneys. Dorsey shared the article with a journalist but, importantly, denies sharing it with plaintiffs’ attorneys. It is hard to understand why asking people in the media for opinions on an article could be a bad thing.
Illinois Worker Files New Paraquat Claim
August 18, 2023: A new Paraquat lawsuit – Thomas v. Syngenta Crop Protection, LLC – was filed yesterday by an Illinois man who claims that he was exposed to Paraquat for a sustained period and suffered permanent physical injury and pain (presumably Parkinson’s disease) as a result.
Jurisdictional Battles Continue in Pennsylvania
August 4, 2023: About 350 Paraquat lawsuits are pending in state court in Pennsylvania. The defendants maintain that out-of-state plaintiffs cannot sue them in Pennsylvania, despite the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling upholding the state’s consent by registration statute. Switzerland-based agricultural company Syngenta, one of the two key defendants in this litigation, contends that the high court’s decision may bolster its argument that the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas does not have general personal jurisdiction over it. Their argument rests on the uncertainty left by the ruling regarding Pennsylvania law, which stipulates that companies subject themselves to state jurisdiction when registering to do business there. Some believe that the statute may violate the dormant Commerce Clause, a concern the state Supreme Court is expected to address. The court will have the parties brief and argue the issue. The bet here is that Additional briefings over jurisdictional issues have been requested, and in the case of jurisdiction being found lacking, discovery is already underway to establish specific personal jurisdiction for out-of-state plaintiffs.
Court Denies Motion to Strike Expert Report
May 1, 2023: As we reported on March 27, Syngenta and Chevron filed a motion to strike Martin Wells’ rebuttal expert report. The court has ruled, finding that the report sufficiently addresses the opinions and criticisms of the Defendants’ expert. So the motion to strike is denied. The order said that any further objections from the Defendants should be raised through a Daubert motion. Judge Rosenstengel has also ordered all parties to propose a Case Management Order by April 19, 2023, outlining agreed-upon deadlines for submitting summary judgment and Daubert motions and any guidelines or limitations for these motions.
Defense Challenges Key Plaintiff Expert
March 27, 2023: As the date for the first bellwether test trial approaches, Syngenta’s defense team continues to take aim at the team of expert witnesses assembled by the plaintiffs. No surprise. This is what defense lawyers do. Most recently, Syngenta filed a motion to exclude the testimony of Martin Wells, an expert statistician for the plaintiffs. Wells would testify that the results of his meta-analysis (examining prior epidemiological studies) support the conclusion that there is a link between Paraquat exposure and Parkinson’s disease. Syngenta’s motion to exclude argues that Wells deliberately cherry-picked studies with favorable results to include in his analysis and, therefore, his results are unreliable. This is a tough road for Syngenta because the science in this litigation is so strong for plaintiffs.
Study Reveals Paraquat’s Kidney Damage Risks
January 5, 2023: Does anyone believe that Paraquat, a poison, only causes Parkinson’s disease? With Paraquat now in focus on this litigation, interest in the harm this pesticide can cause is on the rise. A new study published in December 2022 tells us that victims who experience Paraquat poisoning can develop organ damage that includes acute kidney injury (AKI). The study also finds that chronic Paraquat exposure affects renal function and can lead to chronic renal disease.
Paraquat Parkinson’s Disease Lawsuit FAQs
As we dig deeper into 2025, there is a palpable sense of anticipation in the air surrounding the Paraquat litigation. After years of legal battles, expert testimonies, and mounting evidence linking this herbicide to Parkinson’s disease, we are now on the cusp of a defining moment. The very first Paraquat trial is scheduled for June in Philadelphia, and the stakes could not be higher.
Chevron and Syngenta, the corporate giants at the heart of this controversy, face an intense and growing wave of pressure. With a jury trial looming, the risks are monumental. Juries tend to favor individuals over corporations in cases like these, particularly when the evidence paints a disturbing picture of corporate negligence and public harm. The unpredictability of a courtroom battle—where a single verdict could set a precedent and spark a flood of additional claims—is a nightmare scenario for these companies.
The billion-dollar question now is whether Chevron and Syngenta will attempt to contain the damage by settling just this one case or will take a broader approach and negotiate a global settlement that resolves the bulk of these lawsuits in one fell swoop. Our firm expectation—and sincere hope—is the latter. These companies have every reason to want to put this litigation behind them, and quickly.
Adding even more urgency to the situation is the shifting political landscape. With Robert F. Kennedy Jr. set to take over HHA, the conversation around toxic chemicals and corporate accountability is set to reach new heights. RFK Jr. has built his career on environmental advocacy, and his presence in the White House ensures that Paraquat—and the broader issue of pesticide safety—will be under an even more powerful microscope (we think, anyway). If this case proceeds to trial and results in a massive verdict against Chevron and Syngenta, it could ignite real change in how pesticides are regulated in this country.
Below are frequently asked questions about the Paraquat litigation:
When will the Paraquat lawsuit be settled?
How long does a Paraquat settlement take?
What is the status of the Paraquat lawsuit?
What are the potential Paraquat lawsuit settlement amounts?
Do I qualify for a Paraquat Parkinson’s lawsuit?
- You were exposed to Paraquat through farming, landscaping, or living near agricultural areas.
- You have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease or a related neurological disorder.
- You can provide evidence of exposure, such as employment records or medical history.
What’s the latest Paraquat lawsuit update in 2025?
Paraquat Lawsuit
Hundreds of farmworkers and people who worked near oil tanks and railroads have filed lawsuits alleging that occupational exposure to the industrial herbicide paraquat (grameoxone) caused or contributed to the plaintiff’s development of Parkinson’s disease.
There are now nearly 6,000 Paraquat lawsuits in the MDL, and many more are being filed in state court (see the June 13, 2024 update above). A Parkinson’s disease class action MDL has already been established to accommodate them. In this post, we will look at how much a Paraquat lawsuit might end up being worth by comparing it to settlements in prior mass product cases involving similar claims and in prior tort lawsuits in which the plaintiff developed Parkinson’s.
About the Paraquat Lawsuits
Paraquat is an industrial-strength herbicide that has been around since the 1960s. It is used to control weeds and grasses in agricultural areas. It is also used as a defoliant, removing leaves from trees and plants. Some farmers will use Paraquat as a desiccant, too, to keep the crops dry and stable. Chevron started selling Paraquat in the U.S. in 1964.
This chemical is highly toxic. A teaspoon will kill you. This has led most European countries to ban it outright. In the United States, however, Paraquat is not banned and is widely utilized by large commercial farmers.
Evidence has emerged that prolonged Paraquat exposure can lead to early-onset Parkinson’s disease. Studies have found that agricultural workers who are exposed to Paraquat over long periods have a significantly higher rate of developing Parkinson’s disease. People who live near farms where Paraquat is applied also showed increased rates of Parkinson’s disease.
Paraquat is manufactured by Syngenta, a Swiss agrochemical company. There is evidence indicating that Syngenta was aware of the causal link between paraquat and Parkinson’s for years but deliberately concealed it. Now farm workers exposed to Paraquat and subsequently diagnosed with Parkinson’s are filing product liability lawsuits against Syngenta and its U.S. distributors.
Thousands of Paraquat Parkinson’s lawsuits have been filed, and a Paraquat MDL (Paraquat Prod. Liab. Lit., MDL 3004) was created in the Southern District of Illinois for consolidated handling of the Paraquat claims. New calls to ban Paraquat in the UK over Parkinson’s disease risk
Paraquat Litigation Should Result in a “Global Settlement”
At this early phase of the Paraquat Parkinson’s disease litigation, it is impossible to know how much Paraquat lawsuit settlements might be worth. Because an MDL has already been created for the Paraquat claims, our Paraquat lawyers expect this litigation to follow a familiar course in other class action lawsuits we have seen.
The Parkinson’s Disease Paraquat exposure MDL oversees a consolidated fact discovery process. This will focus on the scientific evidence for both sides. During this phase, newly filed paraquat cases will be added to the MDL.
At the end of the consolidated civil discovery phase, the MDL judge will work with lawyers for both sides to select a handful of representative cases for jury trials.
These are known as “bellwether trials” and the results of these trials are generally used to facilitate global settlement negotiations with the defendants.
If the bellwether trials result in major victories for the plaintiffs, Syngenta may be forced to agree to pay large settlement amounts for the remaining Paraquat claims. In consolidated mass torts, this is called a “global settlement.”
Key Variables for a Paraquat Lawsuit Settlement
The battlefield in the Paraquat Parkinson’s disease lawsuits is over how much the settlement compensation payouts should be. Syngenta, Chevron, and other co-defendants are fighting to pay the smallest settlement amounts possible.
The individual Paraquat settlement amounts will depend on several things, including:
- how many Paraquat claims get filed and consolidated into the MDL,
- how strong the scientific causation evidence is for the plaintiffs between Paraquat exposure and Parkinson’s disease, and
- the results of the initial bellwether trials.
Estimated Paraquat Lawsuit Settlement Payout Amount
Despite all these variables that will impact the eventual payout value on Paraquat cases, our lawyers can estimate – or at least try to estimate – reasonable individual Parkinson’s disease settlement payouts. Our lawyers do this by looking at settlement payouts in prior mass torts and an assessment of the likelihood a jury would find the Paraquat defendants responsible. Our attorneys also look at the settlement compensation for Parkinson’s disease in tort cases generally.
Based on these points of comparison, our Paraquat lawyers think that the likely settlement payout on Paraquat claims will be as follows:
Settlement Tier | Estimated Settlement |
---|---|
Tier I | $400,000 – $1,000,000+ |
Tier II | $150,000 – $300,000 |
Tier III | $20,000 – $150,000 |
Remember, we are talking about expected Paraquat settlement amounts, not trial value. The average successful verdict in an individual Paraquat lawsuit would likely be more than $10 million, with the possibility of much more in punitive damages. Does that sound too high?
Remember, the average successful verdict in the Roundup lawsuits was well over $500 million. In the 3M earplug lawsuit, where the claim is a hearing-related injury, the average individual jury payout is well over $10 million. Parkinson’s disease is a far more serious injury. So, an average jury compensation payout estimated at $10 million might be on the low side.
What do we expect the average Paraquat settlement will be? We think the average settlement will be in the $600,000 to $900,000 range. Where our attorneys think it will fall within that range depends in large measure on what the floor cutoff is in terms of viability. The defendants might want a settlement that covers all plaintiffs, or they might just want to settle the strongest cases. Our best guess is that it will be the latter, which will decrease the average payout.
Looking back at this in 2025…we think victims will see more significant Paraquat settlements than we predict here. There should be many cases that break the million-dollar settlement barrier.
Settlement Amounts in Mass Torts Similar to Paraquat
Our first point of comparison for the estimated settlement values above is the settlement payouts in prior consolidated mass torts that have similarities to the Paraquat litigation. Our most recent example to draw from is the Roundup settlement.
In the Roundup litigation, Bayer is paying around $10 billion to settle about 100,000 cases and setting aside another $6 billion for future Roundup claims. Individual Roundup plaintiffs are getting payouts of around $100,000 to $150,000. But lawsuits in the highest tier are getting much larger settlement amounts than the average.
The Roundup litigation is similar to Paraquat because both involve herbicide products. The alleged injuries are different because Roundup involves cancer claims, whereas Paraquat plaintiffs are alleging Parkinson’s.
Between the two, cancer is a higher-value injury. Despite this difference, Roundup is probably the best comp for the Paraquat litigation, although our lawyers predict higher settlement amounts for Paraquat because we believe the case’s merits are even stronger in the Paraquat class action. (And, frankly, the smaller number of plaintiffs and multiple defendants grease the wheels of a larger settlement.
Settlement Amounts in Lawsuits Involving Parkinson’s Disease
Our other comparative point for valuing the paraquat cases is the settlement value of other tort cases in which Parkinson’s disease was the plaintiff’s primary injury.
Parkinson’s is difficult to value because it is not a common injury in personal injury claims. Camp Lejeune Parkinson’s disease lawsuits are now also being filed But there are only two settlement amounts (average settlement: $$325,000) so far in that litigation.
So, the next question is, is there a stand-in injury for Parkinson’s disease, because it is an uncommon injury in tort cases that we can use as a settlement marker? Tardive dyskinesia is similar enough that settlement amounts in those lawsuits might give us a lens to Parkinson’s disease settlement amounts. Our lawyers have had some experience in those cases. So let’s look at settlement amounts and jury payouts for tardive dyskinesia because it is a similar injury to Parkinson’s disease.
- Watters v Qin (Arizona 2024) $335,669 Verdict: The defendant allegedly was stalking the plaintiff (a justice of the peace). The defendant slashed the plaintiff’s tires, drove by her house and shouted threats 2 or 3 times per day, trespassed on her property, and engaged in other types of harassment. The plaintiff alleged that the stress of this harassment exacerbated her pre-existing Parkinson’s disease. This gives us an idea of how a jury values “Parkinson’s symptoms aggravation.”
- Axe v Spring Meadows (Pennsylvania 2018) $215,000 Settlement: The plaintiff was 73 years old and alleged that he developed tardive dyskinesia from medications given to him by a nursing home. Why was the settlement payout so low? I don’t know.
- Plaintiff v Defendant (New York 2017) $1,400,000 Settlement: Plaintiff (mid-30s) develops tardive dyskinesia from antipsychotic medication used to treat her bipolar disorder and sues the doctor who prescribed it.
- Soref v Agresti (Florida 2017) $569,000 Verdict: A female in her mid-20s with a history of drug abuse claims bipolar drugs cause her to develop tardive dyskinesia.
- Tamaraz v Lincoln Electric (Ohio 2007) $20,500,000 Verdict: This is a rare jury payout involving a Parkinson’s disease case. The plaintiff filed a welding rod product liability lawsuit alleging he developed Parkinson’s disease from exposure to manganese in welding rods. A jury awarded $17.5 million to him and another $3 million to his wife. This verdict underscores the high potential compensation payouts a jury might give in a Parkinson’s disease case.
These cases (particularly the welding rod case) are suggestive of the type of verdict we might expect to see in Paraquat bellwether trials. These compensation awards support the settlement payout valuation estimates above.
Paraquat Lawsuits Can be Filed Decades After the Plaintiff’s Exposure
If you were recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease that may be related to Paraquat, you can still file a paraquat lawsuit today, even if your exposure to Paraquat occurred years or even decades ago. All states have a statute of limitations that imposes a deadline for filing a civil tort action for things such as product liability. The applicable statute of limitations period for a tort claim ranges from 1 to 7 years, depending on the state.
The applicable SOL period does not begin to run, however, until the plaintiff either knew or had reason to know that they had a claim. For a paraquat lawsuit, this means that the SOL period would not begin to run until the plaintiff knew or “should have known” that they had Parkinson’s disease and that it might have been caused by exposure to paraquat.
The connection between paraquat exposure and Parkinson’s disease is something that a reasonable person would not be expected to know. This is particularly true because the companies that made and sold paraquat deliberately failed to warn about the link between paraquat and Parkinson’s. Most of the plaintiffs in the Paraquat and Parkinson’s disease litigation are bringing their claims based on exposure that occurred a very long time ago.
Link Between Paraquat and Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder of the brain that affects primarily the motor system, the part of the central nervous system that controls movement.
The characteristic symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are its “primary” motor symptoms: resting tremor; bradykinesia (slowness in voluntary movement and reflexes); rigidity; and postural instability. There is currently no cure for Parkinson’s disease. Existing treatments do not slow or stop their progression; such treatments are capable only of temporarily and partially relieving the motor symptoms. These treatments also have unwelcome side effects the longer they are used.
Paraquat is a toxic chemical that is a highly effective plant killer. Unfortunately, the same properties that make paraquat toxic to plant cells also make it highly damaging to human nerve cells and create a substantial risk to anyone who uses it.
Oxidative stress is a major factor in—if not the precipitating cause of—the degeneration and death of dopaminergic neurons, which is the primary pathophysiological cause of Parkinson’s disease. Paraquat is designed to injure and kill plants by creating oxidative stress, which causes or contributes to the degeneration and death of plant cells. Similarly, Paraquat injures and kills animals by creating oxidative stress, which causes the degeneration and death of animal cells.
The causal link between Paraquat and Parkinson’s disease is well established. Hundreds of animal studies involving various routes of exposure have found that paraquat creates oxidative stress that results in pathophysiology consistent with that seen in human Parkinson’s disease.
Many epidemiological studies have also found an association between Paraquat exposure and Parkinson’s disease, including multiple studies finding a two-to-five-fold or greater increase in the risk of Parkinson’s disease in populations with occupational exposure to paraquat compared to populations without such exposure.
You do not have to work on a farm to have a viable Paraquat lawsuit. Researchers in an article in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that exposure to Paraquat or Maneb within 1600 feet of your home causes a 75% increase in the risk of getting Parkinson’s disease.
Here are the key articles on Paraquat exposure and Parkinson’s disease with a summary of the findings:
- Berry, C., La Vecchia, C., & Nicotera, P. (2010). Paraquat and Parkinson’s disease. Cell Death & Differentiation, 17(7), 1115-1125. This study looked at the’ role of pesticides in causing Parkinson’s disease. The researchers report that acute chemical exposure was “sufficient” to cause Parkinson’s.
- Costello, S., et al. (2009). Parkinson’s disease and residential exposure to maneb and paraquat from agricultural applications in the central valley of California. American journal of epidemiology, 169(8), 919-926. This study examined whether living near pesticide-using farms was associated with Parkinson’s. The researchers found that living within 500 feet of farms that used paraquat and maneb increased one’s Parkinson’s risk by 75 percent. They also found that people younger than 60 were at significantly higher risk. The researchers concluded that their findings show that exposure to paraquat and maneb, whether alone or combined, significantly increased the Parkinson’s.
- Di Monte, D.A. (2003). The environment and Parkinson’s disease: is the nigrostriatal system preferentially targeted by neurotoxins? The Lancet Neurology, 2(9), 531-538. This report concluded that a multidisciplinary approach to Parkinson’s etiology would help determine whether environmental exposure may cause the disease.
- Firestone, J. A., et al. (2005). Pesticides and Risk of Parkinson’s Disease: a population-based case-control study. Archives of Neurology, 62(1), 91-95. This study looked at whether pesticides were associated with Parkinson’s. The researchers interviewed 250 Parkinson’s patients and 388 non-Parkinson’s patients. They assessed their self-reported pesticide exposures. The researchers also categorized the patients by occupation. They found that pesticide workers were more likely to develop Parkinson’s compared to crop, animal, and dairy farmers. The researchers concluded their findings were consistent with other studies that found an association between pesticides and Parkinson’s.
- Mandel, J. S., Adami, H. O., & Cole, P. (2012). Paraquat and Parkinson’s disease: an overview of the epidemiology and a review of two recent studies. Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, 62(2), 385-392. The report evaluated two studies that evaluated the association of pesticide exposure with Parkinson’s. The researchers found that the studies created inadequate designs that examined very few exposed patients. They also reported that their results were inconsistent. The researchers concluded that these two studies fail to prove an association between pesticides and Parkinson’s. They also concluded that more rigorous studies were needed for confirmation.
- McCormack, A. L., et al. (2002). Environmental risk factors and Parkinson’s disease: selective degeneration of nigral dopaminergic neurons caused by the herbicide paraquat. Neurobiology of Disease, 10(2), 119-127. This study looked at whether Paraquat exposure caused Parkinson’s disease symptoms in mice. The researchers injected mice with the herbicide. They found that this caused dopaminergic neuron death, a Parkinson’s disease symptom. The researchers concluded that the findings show that Paraquat neurotoxicity caused a prominent physiological response to Parkinson’s.
- Stephenson, J. (2000). Exposure to home pesticides linked to Parkinson’s disease. JAMA, 283(23), 3055-3056. This article reported on the association between home or garden exposures to pesticides and Parkinson’s.
- Stykel, M.G., et al. (2018). Nitration of microtubules blocks axonal mitochondrial transport in a human pluripotent stem cell model of Parkinson’s disease. The FASEB Journal, 32(10), 5350-5364. This study looked at mechanisms showing that pesticide exposure disrupted cells in a manner that mimicked Parkinson ’s-associated mutations. The researchers concluded that their results were the first to demonstrate a gene that triggered mitochondrial transport deficits during pesticide exposure. Here is the money quote from one of the authors: “People exposed to these chemicals are at about a 250-percent higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease than the rest of the population.” So most people who have Parkinson’s disease from Paraquat would not have had Parkinson’s disease without Paraquat exposure.
- Tanner, C. M., et al. (2011). Rotenone, Paraquat, and Parkinson’s disease. Environmental health perspectives, 119(6), 866-872. This study examined whether pesticides that caused oxidative stress or mitochondrial dysfunction were associated with Parkinson’s in humans. The researchers found that paraquat and rotenone were associated with Parkinson’s.
- Uversky, V.N., et al. (2002). Synergistic effects of pesticides and metals on the fibrillation of α-synuclein: implications for Parkinson’s disease. Neurotoxicology, 23(4-5), 527-536. This study looked at a novel model that determined environmental factors and genetic susceptibility that formed the underlying molecular basis of idiopathic Parkinson’s. The researchers found that some pesticides and metals caused conformational alpha-synuclein changes and accelerated the alpha-synuclein fibrils rate.
- Vaccari, C., et al. (2019). Paraquat and Parkinson’s disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies. Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part B, 22(5-6), 172-202. This systematic review looked at literature and meta-analysis involving paraquat’s exposure to Parkinson’s. The researchers found that the current data suggest a positive association between Paraquat exposure and Parkinson’s. However, they concluded that the evidence was insufficient to indicate a causal association. The researchers reported that better-designed studies were needed.
Paraquat Defense Lawyers Lost an Arrow in Their Quiver
Paraquat exposure to Parkinson’s disease lawsuits is considered by mass tort lawyers to be strong cases. Victims’ attorneys believe proving the defendant’s responsibility will be as easy as any major class action lawsuit in 2025. That is why Paraquat lawyers are spending a fortune online trying to market for Paraquat lawsuits.
The last time a Paraquat lawsuit was set for trial, the defendants quickly settled those lawsuits. The speculation is that the settlement compensation payouts in those claims were very high. That fueled many Paraquat lawyers to jump into the Parkinson’s disease pesticide exposure cases. So I expect that the defendants will settle any solid Paraquat lawsuit heading towards trial.
The defendants’ only hope, in my mind, of getting out of this litigation without paying huge jury payouts or settlement compensation, is that these lawsuits never see a jury. The path to that outcome was for Bayer to win its appeal in the Roundup litigation.
Bayer argued Roundup lawsuits should be preempted by the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. Bayer lost. This verdict makes the Paraquat class action lawsuit that much stronger.
More FAQs: Paraquat Lawsuit Payouts
What are the expected settlement amounts for Paraquat lawsuits?
Paraquat lawsuits in the highest settlement tier could have a settlement payout value between $400,000 and $1,000,000. Cases with lower settlement tiers will have lower values, but we also expect settlements in excess of $1 million, too. Our lawyers have high expectations for the settlement value of Parkinson’s Paraquat lawsuits. These are really strong claims.
Keep in mind speculation about settlement compensation payouts or when these Paraquat lawsuits might settle is purely speculative. You might also be disheartened by how fluid our settlement projections are. Our projections fluctuate day to day. But there is one thread that runs through all our Paraquat lawsuit settlement amount projections: our lawyers think these are great cases and will ultimately resolve for good settlements.
When will the Paraquat lawsuits settle?
A global settlement in the Paraquat litigation is not expected until 2025 at the earliest. But our lawyers predict the pressure of a trial date in state court in April 2025 will lead to a settlement before that date. Update: this has happened in the MDL. See April 15, 2025 update above.
What is the deadline for filing a Paraquat lawsuit?
Most Paraquat lawsuits are filed years or decades after the plaintiff was actually exposed to Paraquat.
So how do Paraquat plaintiffs get around the statute of limitations? Here is how it works.
Every Paraquat lawsuit alleges that this weed killer was manufactured and distributed by the defendants and did not provide a warning label, so people using it knew of the risk of latent neurological damage, most notably, Parkinson’s disease.
When the plaintiffs were diagnosed with Parkinson’s, they could not connect the dots between Paraquat and Parkinson’s disease. Courts often apply the discovery rule in these cases. So, the clock on the deadline to sue cannot start until the plaintiff knows or has reason to know of the connection between their exposure to Paraquat and their neurological disease.
So what is your deadline to file a Paraquat lawsuit? Your statute of limitations for filing a Paraquat claim in 2025 may be closing (or is closed). Do yourself a favor and ask a lawyer today if you are unsure. Calculating the exact deadline for filing your claim can be complicated, and you should consult a lawyer.
Defendants in the Paraquat Class Action Lawsuit
The main defendants in any Paraquat lawsuit are:
- Syngenta AG: This Swiss company owns Syngenta Corp. and Syngenta Crop Protection LLC.
- Chevron Phillips Chemical Co: Chevron Phillips makes and sells Gramoxone in the U.S.
Getting a Paraquat Lawyer
If you have a potential Paraquat Parkinson’s disease lawsuit, let’s talk about your claim and your options. Call our toxic exposure lawyers at 800-553-8082 or get a free online consultation.