Paraquat Lawsuit For Parkinson’s Disease

For decades, the weed-killing Paraquat has been used by agricultural workers throughout the United States as one of the most widely used industrial herbicides. However, farmworkers with chronic exposure to Paraquat have an increased risk of Parkinson's disease.

As a result, many research studies have begun to document the connection between using Paraquat and Parkinson's disease. Furthermore, the correlation has led to federal Paraquat Parkinson's disease lawsuits brought on behalf of plaintiffs who have developed Parkinson's disease.

Did your loved one have chronic exposure to Paraquat and now presents progressive nervous system disorder or poisoning symptoms? If so, you might be able to recover financial compensation via a multi-district litigation lawsuit against the manufacturers of Paraquat.

The personal injury attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, LLC law firm, can help recover financial compensation for the damages you have suffered due to Paraquat exposure. Contact us at (888) 424-5757 for a free consultation with a product liability lawyer today.

People Have Been Exposed to Paraquat for Over Half a Century

Paraquat is the active ingredient of the herbicide Gramoxone. Paraquat was first approved in 1961 and has been used as a herbicide.

Paraquat's toxicity makes it effective when farmers use it to control weeds.

Various manufacturers have held the rights to the product, which has been sold numerous times. In 2000, when AstraZeneca and Novartis merged, one of the merger approval conditions was that the companies divest the agricultural division. Before that, Paraquat was sold by Zeneca. After the merger, Syngenta was formed.

Now, Syngenta is owned by ChemChina, which paid $43 billion for the company back in 2015. As a result, ChemChina would assume all the liabilities when it made the deal in place of the other Paraquat defendants, including the legal responsibility for Paraquat exposure.

While ChemChina does not release precise sales numbers, the global market for Paraquat was over $600 million in 2011.

Only Licensed Applicators Can Use Dangerous Paraquat: Is Paraquat Safe?

Extreme Paraquat toxicity is well-known, and science has linked Paraquat to developing Parkinson's disease among agricultural workers and others through a mechanism called oxidative stress, affecting movement (motor symptoms).

The herbicide is commonly used in suicides in developing countries, as ingesting even a small dose could be fatal. Using Paraquat might even damage internal organs through inhalation or skin exposure.

As a result, you cannot simply walk into a store and buy Paraquat. Instead, it can only be used by specifically licensed applicators trained to apply the substance according to EPA regulations.

Unfortunately, a study found that those with a specific genetic variation that used Paraquat on crops could develop Parkinson's disease.

How Paraquat Dichloride Works

As a weed killer, Paraquat prevents the electron transfer that all weeds need to live and grow. By stopping photosynthesis and destroying cell membranes, Paraquat kills plants.

The same properties that make Paraquat toxic to plants and animals cause Parkinson's disease in humans, according to studies cited in the bellwether trial cases.

Unfortunately, Paraquat kills cells in humans, too, which is thought to lead to a neurotransmitter dopamine deficit that increases the risk of developing Parkinson's, causing motor symptoms.

Parkinson's Disease in Those Exposed to Paraquat: Is Paraquat Banned?

While Paraquat herbicide is widely used on crops, it has always been known to be dangerous. As a result, the European Union banned the herbicide back in 2007, and it was before any agricultural health study showed the full extent of the chemical's dangers in Paraquat cases.

The most current health scare relates to Parkinson's disease studies and this widely used herbicide. The issue started with a survey by the National Institutes of Health and Environmental Health Sciences agency in 2011.

This agricultural health study showed that factors connected with chemical use could make it more likely that those with prolonged exposure could develop Parkinson's disease.

The health risks of using Paraquat on crops led the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to issue new chemical and pesticide use restrictions in the United States.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Refuses to Have Paraquat Banned in the United States

The agency does continue to categorize Paraquat as a restricted-use herbicide and can only be used by a licensed pesticide applicator.

This EPA regulatory filing granted re-approval for commercially licensed users despite all the health risks. The toxic non-selective herbicide for unwanted weeds and grass growth is banned in 32 countries.

Regardless, the EPA has stood alone against the rest of the world when a chemical or pesticide increases the risk to farmers and agricultural workers. Even China, a country with a questionable environmental record and the home of Paraquat's owner, has issued a Paraquat ban.

The Paraquat lawyers at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers represent victims harmed by the toxic chemical, including those diagnosed with Parkinson's.

Paraquat Usage Has Not Fallen in the US

Since EPA has refused to ban Paraquat, the chemical is still applied heavily on crops in the Eastern United States. However, as crop yields have become more resistant to pesticides and substances such as Roundup, farmers are turning to other ways to kill weeds.

Notwithstanding the increasing amount of research that shows the dangers, it puts more people at risk.

Where Paraquat Is Banned

Globally, many nations have banned the use of Paraquat. It is illegal to manufacture or sell Paraquat in 33 different countries.

Some countries that have banned Paraquat include:

• Canada
• Finland
• Norway
• Sweden
• Australia

However, there are still 64 countries where the use and sale of Paraquat are legal.

Paraquat Linked to Parkinson's: Lawsuits for Risks Associated with Paraquat

The number of new Paraquat lawsuits in the United States is growing, although plaintiffs have just started filing these Paraquat MDL cases.

Study data shows that numerous people will be sickened by a deadly chemical. Syngenta and Growmark are among the companies that are defendants in these Paraquat exposure lawsuit cases.

Were you or a loved one diagnosed with Parkinson's disease after exposure to Paraquat? If so, you must contact our lawyers to discuss your legal rights and options for joining some of the pending Paraquat litigation cases.

A Recent Paraquat Lawsuit Explains the Case Against the Herbicide's Manufacturers

In January 2021, an Illinois crop duster filed a Paraquat lawsuit claim against the following defendants that were involved in the manufacture and sale of the chemical that allegedly sickened him with kidney disease and Parkinson's:

• Syngenta AG and Syngenta Crop Protection
• Chevron
• Phillips Chemical
• Growmark

The Paraquat lawsuit claimed that the plaintiff worked in fields from 1969 to 1981. During that time, he suffered repeated exposure to Paraquat products (weed killer), ingested it, and inhaled it as it was sprayed on the farm fields.

In 2019, the plaintiff was subsequently diagnosed with Parkinson's and kidney failure. Here, one of the major issues is that the chemical drifts when it is sprayed, and it can lead to a higher risk of developing Parkinson's disease among people in neighboring fields.

Paraquat Lawsuit Numbers Are Growing Throughout the United States

One of the first cases involving Paraquat was filed in St. Clair County, Illinois. The Paraquat lawsuit claims that the manufacturers (Syngenta and Growmark) failed to warn them of the dangers of Paraquat dichloride as specified by the toxic pesticides act.

Since then, similar civil suits have been filed in various jurisdictions alleging Paraquat exposure caused Parkinson's disease.

Due to the similar fact patterns involving the same defendants and similar injuries, the lawsuits have been consolidated into a Multi-District Litigation program in Federal Court (Paraquat MDL).

Consolidating Multiple Cases into a Single Jurisdiction

On June 7, 2021, the United States Judicial Panel on Multi-District Litigation ordered all civil suits filed in Federal Court to be consolidated into the Southern District of Southern Illinois (PARAQUAT PRODUCT LIABILITY LITIGATION Case No. 3:21-MD-3004-NJR)

All Paraquat lawsuits filed have been consolidated in one jurisdiction under Paraquat MDL Judge Nancy J. Rosenstengel. She will oversee existing and future Paraquat litigation lawsuits as they will be centralized for discovery purposes, but cases will be tried individually.

MDL Judge Nancy Rosenstengel has selected six Paraquat cases for the forthcoming bellwether trials. The six Paraquat lawsuits were chosen from over 700 lawsuits filed into the MDL. Plaintiffs and defense lawyers each picked cases favorable to their respective sides.

In turn, the MDL judge selected cases that would give both sides the best gauge of the science and alleged health risks.

While these cases remain in the early phases of litigation, our Paraquat attorneys will monitor the cases' progress and update this web page as Judge Rosenstengel makes substantive rulings.

Paraquat Lawsuit Updates and Bellwether Trials

As Paraquat lawsuits continue to grow, we will report on settlements and jury verdicts.

Paraquat dichloride is a highly toxic weed-killing herbicide for commercial use only. Since farmers come in close contact with this herbicide, they're the most vulnerable. Besides, people living near industrial farms also suffer from Paraquat exposure to toxic herbicides.

The rate at which this MDL has grown led Judge Rosenstengel to allow for master pleading forms. It enables Paraquat plaintiffs to file Parkinson's disease lawsuits directly into the Paraquat MDL.

Judge Rosenstengel has also pushed back the trial date of the first Paraquat lawsuit bellwether trial, which was initially slated for mid-November. Since then, many new Paraquat lawsuits have been filed in federal and state courts. Some of these cases could be added to the Paraquat class action lawsuit in the near future.

Bellwether Trials

Paraquat MDL Judge Rosenstengel has selected July 2023 for the first Paraquat lawsuit trial. It is a setback for those anticipating forthcoming settlement compensation shortly. Until we have set dates for the bellwether trials, the defendants will face little pressure to make Paraquat settlement overtures.

Many representative defendants are chosen to proceed with the case in a bellwether trial. A trial allows attorneys on both the plaintiff's and the defense's sides to test their arguments and establish guidelines for later trials within the MDL.

The vast amount of lawsuits filed into the Paraquat MDL and the need for additional plaintiff depositions have forced the judge's decision.

Many settlements filed against the manufacturer have focused on injured Paraquat plaintiffs with an elevated risk of Parkinson's disease after Paraquat exposure. In the United States, Paraquat products are the most widely used herbicides.

We will report on Paraquat lawsuit settlements and Paraquat trial jury verdicts as cases grow.

Paraquat Exposure

The US agricultural sector has used Paraquat for nearly 50 years. Gramoxone is a famous brand name for Paraquat, marketed by Syngenta. Despite its apparent dangers, the herbicide is still in use in the country.

In 2011, researchers performing a health study found Paraquat was associated with Parkinson's disease. People who came into contact with Paraquat were twice as likely to get the disease as someone without exposure to Paraquat.

Other research has shown that occupational Paraquat exposure results in Parkinson's disease. The Unified Parkinson's Advocacy Council presented multiple studies and urged the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to prohibit Paraquat use in the country in 2017.

They claimed that people who experienced Paraquat exposure in their young lives have a 200% to 600% higher risk of developing Parkinson's disease.

How Can You Be Exposed to Paraquat?

You can encounter Paraquat hazards in one of the following ways:

• Inhalation: Paraquat exposure is dangerous. Inhaling hazardous herbicides can damage the lungs. Inhalation occurs when you breathe in the aerosolized chemical or smoke a plant tainted with Paraquat. Traces of Paraquat have been found in marijuana in the US.
• Eating or Drinking: The toxic herbicide easily mixes into drinks and foods, making consumption through ingestion or drinking deadly. Strong odor, dye, and vomiting agents are added to Paraquat in the US to minimize the risk of exposure through accidental ingestion.
• Skin Contact: If Paraquat comes into direct contact with the skin, it can cause harm, especially if the Paraquat exposure has been ongoing for a long time. Moreover, the effect of exposure to Paraquat is higher if there's a rash or open wound upon contact.

Effects of Paraquat Exposure

When exposed to Paraquat, an individual experiences the following immediate side effects:

• Stomach pain
• Pain in the mouth and throat
• Swelling in the mouth and throat
• Diarrhea
• Dehydration
• Low blood pressure
• Vomiting and nausea

Licensed applicators, farmers, and neighbors exposed to Paraquat long-term may develop side effects that can present themselves in a few hours or days after ingestion or inhalation as follows:

• Fluid in lungs
• Liver failure
• Seizures
• Heart failure
• Kidney damage
• General weakness
• Coma
• Confusion and emotional distress
• Accelerated heart rate
• Lung scarring

Individuals facing Paraquat exposure for months or years are prone to the following health concerns:

• Weak immune system
• Kidney damage
• Liver failure
• Impaired movement
• Heart failure
• Damaged brain cells
• Difficulty swallowing
• Lung scarring
• Difficulty breathing
• Risk of congenital disabilities
• Inflammation of the skin

Developing Parkinson's Disease and Paraquat Use

Most importantly, Paraquat allegedly results in Parkinson's disease, a severe progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting bodily movement. Motor symptoms start appearing gradually, such as a tremor in the hands.

Paraquat is one of many pesticides used in agriculture and residential properties for weed control. Paraquat has been shown to cause lung cancer in humans through studies with rats. It also causes nerve damage and brain cell death through exposure and heart problems when ingested or inhaled into the human body.

Paraquat Can Kill Instantly

One study linked Parkinson's disease in 3 of 544 Paraquat cases due to inhaling Paraquat. All three sufferers had a history of contact with the herbicide before their diagnosis.

Unlike other herbicides, this weed and grass killer can kill a subject instantly when swallowed or cause Parkinson's disease through long-term exposure.

Over time, slowed mobility and stiffness develop in the patient. Parkinson's disease gradually progresses since it has five stages. The earlier stages are less noticeable, but the victim's quality of life and mobility suffer as they go to the later stages.

Here are some motor and non-motor symptoms Parkinson's disease patients experience:

• Change in speech patterns and general speech
• Hunching forward
• Impaired balance and posture
• Stiff joints and muscles
• Frequent shaking and tremors in hands (dopaminergic neurons degeneration)
• Notably slow mobility

A 2018 study found that farmworkers using hazardous Paraquat were 2.5 times more likely to suffer serious health problems and develop Parkinson's disease.

By 2019, the Unified Parkinson's Advocacy Council informed the EPA of the link between Paraquat dichloride and people subsequently diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

Risk of Paraquat Poisoning

This report revealed scientific studies that "Paraquat increases the likelihood of developing Parkinson's disease." In addition, the study found a correlation between the toxic substance and the increased risk of Paraquat poisoning and oxidative stress.

In other research by the same team, farmworkers had an increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease if exposed to Paraquat herbicides for five or more years. This toxic herbicide is widely used and often causes harmful side effects on those exposed. Those with Parkinson's disease should avoid exposure at all costs.

A study conducted in New York as part of the Agricultural Health Study (AHS) examined whether or not exposure to pesticides, including Paraquat, was connected to Parkinson's disease.

The study concluded that although there was an association between using the chemical and contracting Parkinson's disease, other factors might contribute to this link.

However, that evidence was insufficient to implicate the dangerous chemical as the cause of Parkinson's disease in humans.

What is the Paraquat Settlement?

Were you or a close relative exposed to this highly toxic substance? If so, you can file a Paraquat lawsuit against the company to get compensation for lost wages and medical bills. The process is called a Paraquat lawsuit settlement.

For instance, Syngenta is a company that makes hazardous chemicals and is being held liable in many Paraquat Parkinson's lawsuit claims.

The Paraquat lawyers hold the company accountable because:

• Should have known – due to extensive testing before product release – or knew about the toxic effects of Paraquat exposure and its link with Parkinson's
• Failed to warn the chemical users about the health consequences of the herbicide use
• Marketed and designed the product negligently
• Failed to protect users from Paraquat exposure by taking responsible steps

The estimated Paraquat lawsuit settlement values 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 Paraquat 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 Paraquat lawsuit settlement claims.

Why File a Paraquat Lawsuit?

Were you or a close relative diagnosed with Parkinson's disease due to Paraquat? Are you suspecting the deadly herbicide may have caused your illness?

Unfortunately, many crop workers and farmers were unaware of the severe health risks of using, handling or breathing the restricted-use herbicide. As a result, many individuals seek justice and financial compensation through Paraquat claims.

Here are some reasons to file a Paraquat settlement lawsuit:

Receive Compensation

If you have developed Parkinson's disease due to prolonged occupational exposure to Paraquat, you'll be paying hefty medical bills. Plus, a patient with Parkinson's has to undergo treatment regularly.

According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), the disease is debilitating. In addition, Parkinson's disease patients might lose wages due to taking time off from work or being unable to work.

Therefore, a Paraquat Parkinson's lawsuit allows plaintiffs to receive financial compensation for pain and suffering, loss of good quality of life, medical costs, and lost wages.

An experienced Paraquat lawyer can ensure you receive maximum compensation through Paraquat settlements, multidistrict litigation (MDL), or the Paraquat class-action lawsuit.

Many federal Paraquat MDL lawsuits have identified individual claims' value and shortened the legal process.

Hold Paraquat Manufacturers Accountable

The bad thing about Paraquat exposure is that companies knew about its link with Parkinson's. Still, they continued to make and sell the herbicide. Therefore, a Paraquat Parkinson's lawsuit can hold these companies accountable for negligence.

By taking legal action against these companies, Paraquat attorneys working on your behalf can hold them accountable for their negligent behavior. In addition, they can seek compensation for your damages due to prolonged exposure to this deadly restricted-use herbicide.

Paraquat Lawsuits

It is essential to file a Paraquat exposure lawsuit as soon as possible. You need to know what legal path to do so effectively.

Having a lawyer by your side is essential during Paraquat litigation. In some cases, the defendants work hard to decrease the compensation for damages due to the toxin.

File a Paraquat Parkinson's Disease Lawsuit

You can file a Paraquat Parkinson's disease lawsuit if previously exposed to the substance that resulted in Parkinson's. Here are some people who are eligible to file Paraquat lawsuits:

• Those working around commercial pesticides
• Residents in areas near farmlands where Paraquat is in use on crops
• Agricultural workers, such as growers, farmers, landscapers, and pickers
• Any individual diagnosed with Parkinson's disease while working or visiting farmland that is sprayed with the herbicide

Paraquat Lawsuit FAQs

Our personal injury law firm understands that many victims who have experienced Paraquat poisoning and had toxic chemical reactions have unanswered questions about who to hold financially accountable. Some family members have lost a loved one exposed to Paraquat and have lost their weekly earning necessary to pay bills and funeral expenses.

Our Paraquat lawyers have answered the most commonly asked questions below. Contact us at (888) 424-5757 for additional information or to schedule a free consultation to discuss compensation.

Hiring a Paraquat Lawsuit Lawyer to Resolve a Paraquat Herbicide-Caused Parkinson's Disease Case

At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers, our Paraquat attorneys have a proven track record of representing injured victims harmed by the popular herbicide. Our personal injury lawyers will review your Paraquat case and advise you of your legal options.

Contact our Paraquat lawyers today at (888) 424-5757 or use the contact form to schedule a free consultation.

All confidential or sensitive information you share with your Paraquat lawyer remains private through an attorney-client relationship.

Our law firm accepts all personal injury cases and wrongful death lawsuits on a contingency fee basis. This agreement ensures you do not pay the legal fee until your Paraquat attorney successfully resolves your legal issue through a negotiated Paraquat settlement or jury award.

Contact our law firm today to file a Parkinson's disease Paraquat lawsuit.

Resources:

• About Paraquat | CDC
• Paraquat Side Effects | Medline Plus