Paraquat Lawsuit Updates & News (2025)

The Paraquat MDL added 17 new cases in November, a 0.3% increase, bringing the total to 5,835. While filings have slowed compared to last year, a potential settlement in early 2025 could prompt a surge in new claims currently on hold. Interest in new lawsuits continues, though at a reduced pace.

The hair relaxer MDL added 161 cases in November, an 85% drop from October’s surge of over 1,000 cases, bringing the total to 9,649. Increasingly, lawsuits—particularly fibroid and hysterectomy claims—are being filed in state courts rather than the MDL.

The California Department of Pesticide Regulation has initiated a review of paraquat dichloride products in accordance with Assembly Bill 1963. Scheduled for completion by January 1, 2029, the assessment aims to determine whether the pesticide poses unacceptable risks to human health and the environment, despite the extended timeline.

The nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) marks a significant development in Paraquat litigation. Known for his environmental advocacy and opposition to toxic chemicals, including Paraquat, Kennedy’s appointment signals the potential for heightened regulatory scrutiny and support for stricter chemical oversight.

While regulatory actions under a Democratic administration might have been anticipated, Kennedy’s nomination by a Republican administration represents an unusual alignment. His history of challenging chemical manufacturers could shift the narrative in favor of Paraquat victims, potentially amplifying public and courtroom pressure without traditional Republican opposition. This dynamic may create a more favorable environment for plaintiffs seeking accountability.

U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), along with six Senate colleagues, has urged the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ban paraquat, a herbicide linked to severe health risks, including Parkinson's disease and thyroid cancer. Their letter to EPA Administrator Michael Regan emphasizes the disproportionate impact on farmworkers and rural communities and notes that over 70 countries, such as China, Brazil, and EU members, have already prohibited paraquat. The senators also highlight EPA data indicating that most U.S. farmers do not depend on paraquat for their crops. The letter is co-signed by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Peter Welch (D-VT).

A new wrongful death case in the Paraquat MDL has been filed by the family of a Virginia agricultural worker, alleging that repeated exposure to Paraquat led to his development of Parkinson’s disease, eventually causing his death. The complaint details his frequent exposure over four years through mixing, spraying, and cleanup of the herbicide in the fields. The family claims Syngenta failed to provide adequate warnings or safety measures despite growing scientific evidence linking Paraquat to Parkinson’s and other neurological risks.

In the ongoing Paraquat MDL, Judge Rosenstengel recently selected two replacement cases for case-specific discovery after two plaintiffs voluntarily dismissed their complaints. These cases will proceed on the same timeline as the initial selection order for the first Paraquat trials.

• Anderson v. Syngenta Crop Protection, LLC: The plaintiff, a farm operator in Illinois, was exposed to Paraquat from 1980 to 2012 through various application methods and was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2010.
• Powrie v. Syngenta Crop Protection, LLC: A licensed Paraquat applicator from New York, the plaintiff handled and applied Paraquat products across several states and was diagnosed with Parkinson’s four years ago.

In October, the Paraquat MDL saw a decrease of 65 cases, reducing the total to 5,818. This marks the second consecutive month of decline as weak cases lacking evidence are dismissed. Additionally, more cases are shifting to state courts, contributing to the MDL's reduced size.

A global Paraquat settlement may be within six months, but nothing is guaranteed. Lawyers predict cases will settle before trial, yet mass tort settlements often drag out. If you have an injury or wrongful death claim, now is the time to act. Delays could lead to statute of limitations issues and make future settlements tougher.

A New York man has filed a lawsuit in the MDL against Syngenta and Chevron, claiming that exposure to Paraquat from 1980 to 1984 led to his Parkinson’s disease. The suit alleges the companies failed to warn about the risks of exposure, particularly its link to Parkinson’s. Claims include strict liability, negligence, and breach of warranties, with the plaintiff seeking compensatory and punitive damages for physical and mental harm, as well as medical expenses.

Forty-seven members of Congress have called on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ban Paraquat, a widely used herbicide. The push comes amid growing concerns over its links to serious health risks, including Parkinson's disease.

A Nevada couple has filed a new lawsuit against Syngenta and Chevron in the Paraquat MDL. The husband, diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2020, alleges that his illness was caused by decades of exposure to the herbicide while working on farms in Indiana

between 1965 and 1998. The couple claims he was regularly exposed to Paraquat through inhalation and skin contact during farm work. The wife has also filed a loss of consortium claim, citing the impact of her husband's condition on their relationship and well-being. They became aware of the link between Paraquat and Parkinson's in mid-2023.

The Paraquat class action MDL saw a reduction of eight cases in September, bringing the total number of pending cases down to 5,883.

A Delaware judge has ruled that Syngenta and another company must release certain documents related to Paraquat lawsuits. However, documents containing legal advice from their law firm remain protected. The case involves a dispute with insurers, including Hartford and Travelers, over coverage for legal defense costs. Initially, Syngenta withheld the requested documents, citing attorney-client privilege.

Syngenta's bid to dismiss most Paraquat lawsuits in Philadelphia has been denied. The company argued that 600 of the 650 cases had no ties to Pennsylvania and should not be filed there, challenging the state's "consent by registration" law. However, the Pennsylvania Superior Court rejected this, citing a recent Supreme Court decision supporting the law. This ruling allows plaintiffs' attorneys to continue preparing for the first Paraquat trial scheduled for April.

The Paraquat class action MDL saw over 50 new cases added in the past month, bringing the total number of active cases to 5,891.

The Special Master recommended the dismissal of 137 cases for non-compliance with Case Management Order No. 10, sparking challenges from plaintiffs in ten cases. After four challenges were withdrawn, six cases remained in dispute. Notably, defendants did not oppose these challenges.

The MDL judge acknowledged that the plaintiffs missed the deadline for submitting Plaintiff Assessment Questionnaires (PAQs) under CMO 10. However, many plaintiffs eventually submitted their PAQs, citing unforeseen issues like reductions in their legal teams. One case was wrongly included in the dismissal recommendation despite timely submission. Taking these factors into account, the court ruled that dismissing the six cases would be unjustified.

The Third Circuit's recent decision in Schaffner v. Monsanto strengthens the argument that federal law, like EPA guidelines, can override state law claims. This could impact the ongoing Paraquat litigation, as defendants might argue that federal herbicide labeling regulations preempt state claims about insufficient safety warnings.

While this wouldn't end the litigation, it could weaken plaintiffs' failure-to-warn claims. Other claims, like defective design or inadequate testing, are less likely to be preempted. Though this ruling may be an outlier, it could influence settlement talks, giving defendants leverage to push for lower offers.

The British Columbia Supreme Court has certified a Paraquat class action lawsuit in Canada. This approval allows the lawsuit to represent all Canadians diagnosed with conditions related to handling Gramoxone products since July 1, 1963.

A new Paraquat lawsuit was filed on Friday by an Arkansas plaintiff who claims to have developed Parkinson’s Disease after working as a groundskeeper from 1987 to 2016. He alleges that despite following instructions, he was not adequately warned about the risks of using Paraquat, leading to severe health issues and significant emotional and financial damages. The lawsuit argues that the defendants' failure to properly inform the public and medical community about Paraquat's dangers directly contributed to his condition, and it seeks compensation for the resulting damages.

The Paraquat Plaintiffs’ Committee issued a status update this week, outlining key developments:

• In the federal MDL, the Court has selected 10 new plaintiffs for bellwether trials following the dismissal of previous cases. Case-specific discovery is now underway.
• In the Pennsylvania state MDL, the first group of 10 bellwether cases faces a discovery deadline of September 4, 2024, with the first trial tentatively set for April 2025. Efforts continue on both the first and second pools of cases.
• In Delaware state court, the Defendants’ Motion to Dismiss was partially granted. The pleadings are being amended to comply with the Court’s order, with written discovery to follow.

After a setback in April, the Paraquat MDL has selected 10 new bellwether cases. Parties will prepare these cases for potential trials over the next few months. While a global settlement is anticipated, this move pressures defendants.

A Washington man has filed a lawsuit against Syngenta and Chevron, alleging that prolonged exposure to Paraquat, a herbicide used near his workplace from 1966 to 1975, led to his diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. He was diagnosed in 2013 but only recently connected his condition to Paraquat exposure, citing the chemical’s toxicity and its impact on dopamine-producing neurons as key factors in the development of his illness.

A federal judge in Texas has granted the Texas Attorney General's motion to quash subpoenas served by plaintiffs in the Paraquat litigation on various state agencies, including the Texas Department of Agriculture. The judge ruled that these state agencies are protected under sovereign immunity, which prevents third-party fact discovery from state agencies and officials.

Attorneys in the Tepezza MDL are meeting to negotiate the scope and number of corporate and expert witness depositions. Defendants seek to limit corporate depositions, while plaintiffs push for more. The parties will report back to the MDL judge later this week.

Last week, 74 Paragard lawsuits were dismissed in the MDL. This development suggests that a global settlement may be approaching. Eliminating non-viable claims is seen as a step towards facilitating the settlement process.

The MDL grew by 90 lawsuits last month. Although more than 90 new suits were filed, some were dismissed due to insufficient evidence supporting the plaintiff’s claims.

The Paraquat MDL in Illinois saw a slight increase in active cases, rising from 5,680 to 5,770 this month. The reasons for the slowdown in the MDL's growth are detailed in the June 13 update below.

The Special Master recommended dismissing eight complaints due to overdue Plaintiff Assessment Questionnaires (PAQs). Four plaintiffs—Farman, Ferguson, Miner, and Ohannessian—objected, stating they had completed their PAQs, including medical records confirming Parkinson's diagnoses. Their lawyer cited staffing changes and efforts to compile and verify the information accurately. The counsel argued that the delays did not harm the defendants' defense and requested the court reject the dismissal recommendation.

Another plaintiff objected, citing a recent change in lawyers. The new counsel, who filed a notice of appearance on June 6, 2024, requested thirty days to submit the PAQ.

The number of paraquat-related lawsuits in Philadelphia has surged nearly 50% in the past six months, rising from 500 to 728 cases. Judge Joshua Roberts attributes this to:

Favorable Outcomes: Better results in Elmiron lawsuits filed in Philadelphia.
Concerns with MDL: Judge Rosenstengel’s dismissal of key experts and bellwether cases in the Paraquat MDL caused a trial pause, prompting lawyers to prefer state court.

California Assembly member Laura Friedman introduces Assembly Bill 1963 to ban Paraquat starting January 1 due to its extreme toxicity. Labor leader Dolores Huerta supports the bill, highlighting its harmful impact on Latino farmworkers.

The Paraquat class action MDL saw 90 new cases added last month, down from 225 in April. The total number of pending cases is now 5,680.

A new study shows a strong correlation between environmental exposures and Parkinson's disease. Researchers discovered that occupational exposure to industrial toxins like harmful dyes, methylene chloride, and certain foods such as fatty whale meat significantly heightens the risk of developing Parkinson's. The analysis, encompassing data from various global regions, indicated that occupational exposures present the highest risk, followed by general and residential exposures.

This finding bolsters the argument that Paraquat, a pesticide, can cause Parkinson's disease. Evidence connecting environmental toxins, including pesticides like demeton and monocrotophos, to an elevated risk of Parkinson's, supports claims that Paraquat could be a contributing factor. The study underscores that while there are multiple potential environmental causes of Parkinson's, the link between pesticides and the disease is significant.

An Arkansas widow filed a lawsuit yesterday, claiming her husband’s regular exposure to Paraquat caused his Parkinson’s Disease. Her husband, exposed to Paraquat from 1965 to 1975 on their Rison farm, began showing Parkinson’s symptoms in 2007 and was diagnosed soon after. He passed away on May 15, 2021, with Parkinson’s contributing to his death. The lawsuit alleges that he, like many farmers, was unaware of the risks associated with Paraquat exposure.

After a slow March, the Paraquat class action MDL experienced a resurgence in April, adding 225 new cases. This increase restores the monthly average typical for this litigation, bringing the total number of pending cases to 5,590.

Chief Judge Rosenstengel dismissed four key Paraquat lawsuits, citing the exclusion of essential testimony from Dr. Martin Wells, a primary expert on causation. This decision, detailed in a 99-page opinion, critically impacts the plaintiffs' ability to prove a causal link, effectively ending these cases.

Despite the setback, the litigation is not concluded. The remaining Paraquat legal team is tasked with strengthening their expert testimonies, as reliance on Dr. Wells alone is insufficient. The judge has directed the parties to select 16 new cases for limited fact discovery. Plaintiffs will choose eight cases, while Chevron and Syngenta will select four each, adhering to specific criteria including complete Plaintiff Assessment Questionnaires.

Following case selection, a new Case Management Order will schedule discovery and set trial dates. The dismissed plaintiffs have the option to appeal, while their attorneys focus on reinforcing their arguments with more compelling expert evidence to establish the link between Paraquat and Parkinson’s disease.

New lawsuit was filed in Connecticut by the surviving spouse of a decedent who was exposed to Paraquat from 1966 to 2001. The lawsuit claims that this exposure led to the development of Parkinson's Disease, contributing to the decedent's death in 2022. Parkinson's symptoms, which can take years to develop after exposure, were diagnosed on September 1, 2019. The filing also mentions a typographical error that mistakenly identifies another plaintiff from related litigation, a minor oversight that could be seen unfavorably by the overseeing judge, given prior concerns.

Paraquat MDL has seen a slowdown in new case filings, with only 47 new cases added in March. This follows a significant increase in filings during February. Since the start of the year, around 300 new cases have been filed, with the bulk of 280 cases occurring in February.

A new lawsuit was filed in the Paraquat MDL by a Tennessee plaintiff who had prolonged exposure to Paraquat from 1982 to 1994. The lawsuit alleges that this exposure significantly contributed to the plaintiff developing Parkinson’s disease in 2023.

The Paraquat class action MDL experienced a significant increase, with 241 new cases added in the last month, marking the highest monthly volume since November. The MDL now comprises 5,318 pending cases.

• 60 Lawsuits at Risk: Special Master advises dismissal due to non-compliance with questionnaire.
• Majority from One Firm: Significant portion of affected cases linked to a single law firm.

• Reduced Case Influx: Notable decline in new Paraquat MDL cases.
• Previous vs. Current Rate: Shift from monthly average of 250 to less than 50 in recent months.

The influx of new cases in the Paraquat class action MDL has significantly decreased. After averaging about 250 new cases monthly over the last two years, only 26 new cases were added in January, bringing the total to 5,077 pending cases.

The Paraquat Multi-District Litigation (MDL) has recently observed a significant reduction in its case count. Key updates include:

• Drop in Pending Cases: The MDL has seen a decrease of 21 cases over the past month.
• Comparison to Past Trends: This reduction is notable given the MDL's history of averaging over 150 new cases per month for the last two years.
• Possible Causes: The decrease is likely attributable to a combination of large groups of inactive cases being dismissed and a slowdown in the filing of new cases.

A recent Paraquat lawsuit has been initiated, with the plaintiff alleging that insufficient warnings from the defendants led to their direct exposure to the herbicide and a lack of public knowledge about its risks. Key details of the case include:

Plaintiff's Background: The plaintiff, a former farm worker and herbicide applicator in Homestead, Florida from 1978 to 2004, claims to have been regularly exposed to Paraquat. This exposure is said to have resulted in the plaintiff developing Parkinson’s Disease around 2014.

Nature of the Lawsuit: The suit seeks compensation for various damages, including emotional and mental anguish, medical expenses, and other economic and non-economic losses due to the defendants’ alleged negligence.

Statute of Limitations Argument: The plaintiff's legal team contends that the victim was unaware of the potential harm caused by handling Paraquat as instructed. The plaintiff reportedly only became aware of the link between Paraquat and illnesses like Parkinson’s disease and end-stage renal disease after March 2021.

Ongoing Legal Actions: This case adds to a growing list of lawsuits filed this year against Paraquat manufacturers, signaling a continued legal battle over the herbicide's alleged health risks.

The Paraquat Multi-District Litigation (MDL) has now exceeded 5,000 pending cases. However, the past month saw only 86 new cases added, marking the lowest monthly case volume in over two years. This trend of reduced case filings has been observed for the second consecutive month, indicating a notable decrease in the rate of new case submissions in the MDL.

Contrary to the previous month's slower pace, the Paraquat class action Multi-District Litigation (MDL) has witnessed a substantial influx of over 200 new cases in the last 30 days. This increase significantly alters the recent trend, elevating the total count of pending cases to nearly 5,000. This recent development suggests that the earlier slowdown in new case filings may have been a temporary deviation rather than a long-term trend in the litigation.

Dr. Douglas Weed, the author of a controversial article examining the potential link between paraquat and Parkinson’s disease, has recently filed a motion seeking the dismissal of a subpoena issued by the plaintiffs' attorneys. His article, titled “Does paraquat cause Parkinson’s disease? A review of reviews,” published in NeuroToxicology in September 2021, argues against the prevailing scientific consensus that paraquat is a causative factor in Parkinson’s disease.

Asserting that he holds no direct connection to the ongoing paraquat litigation, Dr. Weed challenges the scope and extent of the documentation demands made by the subpoena. He argues that the requests are overly burdensome, stretching beyond the permissible geographic limits set by Rule 45. Through his motion, Dr. Weed highlights the rights of non-parties in legal proceedings and asserts that the overreaching nature of the subpoena, coupled with its alleged violation of Rule 45, warrants its dismissal.

The Paraquat class action Multi-District Litigation (MDL) experienced an uncharacteristic decline in new cases this past month, with only 30 new filings, marking the lowest monthly influx since the inception of the MDL over two years prior. This comes after a consistent 18-month period during which the Paraquat MDL emerged as one of the most active, witnessing an average of 200-300 new cases monthly and a striking total of 1,000 cases in the recent two-month span alone. This abrupt decrease in new cases suggests the possibility that the litigation is entering a new stage, characterized by a decelerated pace of growth.

What was anticipated to be a pivotal month for the Paraquat class action, highlighted by the commencement of the first bellwether test trial, has instead ushered in a period of uncertainty. The litigation's trajectory now seemingly hangs in the balance as Judge Rosenstengel deliberates on the resolution of Daubert challenges concerning expert opinion evidence. With all briefs submitted, the involved parties find themselves in a state of expectancy, awaiting her critical decision. Given the intricate and extensive nature of Daubert rulings in such complex cases, and with no new trial date on the horizon, there's a growing possibility that a conclusive ruling might not materialize until 2024.

Currently, among 4 Bellwether cases, the first trial will be held in October 2023.

Both the Defendants and Plaintiffs of the case are submitting documents of Daubert motions. It refers to a stage in legal proceedings where one party challenges the credibility or validity of an expert witness.

Both parties are trying their hardest to strike each other's expert witness so they won't testify.

However, at this point, defendants have a chance to claim Dismiss the Motions. Defendants can file a request that some Plaintiffs claim to dismiss entirely.

Court has already set the date of hearing for this trial on the 21st of August, 2023.

The Court has appointed an Executive Committee official for Plaintiffs, Chad Finely, who is working hard with other counsel of plaintiffs on these responses and motions.