Paraquat, a highly toxic herbicide widely used in agriculture, has become the subject of numerous lawsuits across the United States. These Paraquat lawsuits allege that exposure to the chemical can lead to serious health issues, most notably Parkinson's disease. As more evidence emerges linking Paraquat to neurological damage, affected individuals and their families are seeking justice and compensation through Paraquat Parkinson's disease lawsuits..
If you or a loved one was exposed to the herbicide Paraquat and subsequently developed Parkinson's disease, you may file a Paraquat lawsuit. An experienced Paraquat lawsuit lawyer can help evaluate your case, gather evidence, and fight for the compensation you deserve. Don't face this challenging situation alone—reach out to a qualified Paraquat lawyer today to explore your legal options and protect your rights.
What Is Paraquat?
Paraquat is a highly toxic industrial herbicide that has been widely used in agriculture since the 1960s for controlling weeds and grasses. Its active ingredient, paraquat dichloride, is a quaternary ammonium compound that works by interfering with photosynthesis and causing rapid cell death in plants.
This potent herbicide is commonly applied to crops such as corn, soybeans, and cotton, as well as in orchards. Due to its extreme toxicity to humans and animals if ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin, Paraquat is classified as a "restricted use pesticide" in the United States, meaning only licensed applicators can use it. While it remains legal in the U.S. under strict regulations, many countries, including the European Union and China, ban the use of Paraquat.
The herbicide has become increasingly controversial in recent years as mounting evidence suggests a link between Paraquat exposure and the development of Parkinson's disease. This connection has led to numerous lawsuits and growing concerns about its continued use, prompting calls for stricter regulations or outright bans in many parts of the world.
Who is At Risk for Paraquat Exposure?
Due to its high toxicity and restricted use, the risk of paraquat exposure is primarily concentrated among those who work directly with the herbicide in agricultural settings. The most vulnerable groups include:
- Farmers and agricultural workers
- Agricultural laborers
- Crop dusters
- Professional herbicide applicators
- Chemical mixers and tank fillers
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) confirmed that the main route of paraquat exposure occurs during its preparation, application, and post-application phases. Strict regulations require workers handling paraquat to use specific protective equipment, including chemical-resistant gloves, respiratory protection, and safety glasses with splash guards to mitigate these risks.
While paraquat is not available for household use, individuals living near farms that use the herbicide may also face risks. A study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology found that people residing within 500 meters (approximately 1,600 feet) of areas where paraquat was used had a 75% higher risk of developing Parkinson's disease.
Interestingly, the American Parkinson's Disease Association has identified several risk factors for Parkinson's that overlap with potential paraquat exposure scenarios, including:
- Working as a farmer
- Living on a farm or in a rural area
- Exposure to farm animals
- Pesticide exposure
- Drinking well water
These correlations underscore the potential long-term health risks of paraquat exposure, particularly in agricultural communities as research continues to explore the link between paraquat and neurological disorders, those in high-risk occupations or living in areas where farmers or others use paraquat need to understand the potential dangers and take appropriate precautions.
How Does Paraquat Exposure Occur?
Despite strict regulations to protect those who work with the herbicide paraquat, exposure can still occur.
Experts have identified four primary ways that paraquat exposure can occur:
- Herbicide drift: In hot and humid conditions, paraquat droplets can become airborne and drift away from the intended application area, even without strong winds. This can lead to unintended exposure in the surrounding regions.
- Herbicide overspray: Errors in application or spraying during windy conditions can result in paraquat covering areas beyond the intended target, potentially exposing people and environments that were not meant to come into contact with the herbicide.
- Herbicide runoff: Paraquat can seep into the ground, contaminating soil and nearby water sources. This runoff can affect property owners adjacent to sprayed areas and even those downstream, through contamination of the ground or water.
- Ingestion: If paraquat contaminates food or water sources, consuming these items can lead to exposure. Even small amounts of this toxic chemical ingested over an extended period can result in chronic health issues.
Paraquat affects not only those directly involved in its application but also individuals in surrounding areas. Its far-reaching impact further stresses the importance of strict safety measures and the concerns raised in paraquat lawsuits.
Paraquat Poisoning and Exposure Symptoms
Paraquat exposure can occur through ingestion, skin contact, or inhalation, each with potentially severe consequences. The most acute form of harm is paraquat poisoning, which typically results from ingestion and can be life-threatening.
Ingestion:
Paraquat poisoning symptoms appear rapidly after ingestion and include:
- Severe pain and swelling in the mouth, throat, and intestines
- Intense abdominal pain
- Nausea and vomiting
As the toxin spreads throughout the body, it triggers harmful chemical reactions, causing one or more adverse health effects. Paraquat poisoning primarily affects the lungs, liver, and kidneys. Within days or weeks, victims may experience:
- Lung scarring
- Heart failure
- Kidney failure
- Liver failure
Survival rates for significant paraquat ingestion are extremely low. Those who do survive often face long-term or permanent lung damage and potential harm to other organs.
Skin Exposure
While less immediately dangerous than ingestion, skin exposure can still be harmful, especially under certain conditions:
- Prolonged contact
- Exposure to concentrated forms of paraquat
- Contact with broken skin (cuts, sores, or severe rashes)
Inhalation
Paraquat inhalation can lead to lung damage, even if immediate symptoms aren't apparent. Research suggests that inhaled paraquat may directly affect the brain. One study on laboratory mice found that prolonged exposure caused a partial loss of smell, an early indicator of Parkinson's disease.
The varied and severe symptoms associated with paraquat exposure highlight the herbicide's extreme toxicity. These health risks form the basis of many paraquat lawsuits, as affected individuals seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, and diminished quality of life resulting from exposure to this dangerous chemical.
Prolonged Paraquat Exposure: Parkinson's Disease and Paraquat
Parkinson's disease is a progressive nervous system disorder affecting movement, with symptoms gradually worsening over time. Tremors, stiffness, slow movement, and impaired balance are characteristic of it.
As the disease progresses, patients may experience difficulty walking and talking, as well as mental and behavioral changes, sleep problems, depression, and memory difficulties.
The disease is caused by the death of neurons in the brain, particularly those producing dopamine. While the exact cause remains unknown, researchers believe a combination of genetic and environmental factors plays a role, with paraquat exposure increasingly recognized as a significant environmental risk factor.
The link between chronic paraquat exposure and Parkinson's disease has been the subject of numerous scientific studies, with mounting evidence suggesting a strong correlation. This connection forms the basis of many paraquat lawsuits.
According to a systematic review of paraquat-related literature, Parkinson's occurrence was 25% higher in individuals exposed to the herbicide, with even higher rates among those with prolonged exposure. Another comprehensive study examining 31 pesticides identified paraquat as one of the most concerning in terms of its risk to Parkinson's.
The mechanism by which paraquat may contribute to Parkinson's development is particularly troubling. The herbicide works by producing intracellular molecules that cause oxidative stress and cellular damage—a process strikingly similar to the oxidative stress believed to cause nerve cell death in patients with Parkinson's disease.
Perhaps most alarmingly, according to the Unified Parkinson's Advocacy Council, one paraquat toxicity study found that individuals exposed to the dangerous herbicide from their teenage years through young adulthood had a 200% to 600% increased risk of developing Parkinson's, depending on the duration of exposure.
Paraquat Manufacturers and Brand Names
Paraquat is produced by several agrichemical companies and marketed under various brand names. One of the most well-known brands in the United States is Gramoxone SL 2.0 Herbicide, manufactured by Syngenta, a Swiss-based agrochemical corporation. Chevron Corporation held the distribution rights for paraquat in the 1960s through an agreement with a company that Syngenta later acquired.
The herbicide is sold under numerous trade names, including:
- AH 501
- Bai Cao Ku
- Blanco
- Bonedry
- Crisquat
- Cyclone SL 2.0
- Devour
- Dexuron
- Esgram
- Firestorm
- Garmixel
- Gramoxone
- Helmquat 3SL
- Ortho Paraquat CL
- Para-col
- Para-Shot 3.0
- Parazone
- Pillarxone
- PP148
- Quick-Quat
- Tota-col
Paraquat exposure might have occurred through any of these branded products, not just those explicitly labeled as "paraquat."
Related article: How to File a Lawsuit Against a Company
Paraquat Lawsuits Across the U.S.
The landscape of Paraquat litigation in the United States has expanded significantly since 2020, with lawsuits filed in multiple jurisdictions across the country. Here's an overview of the current state of Paraquat lawsuits:
May 1, 2025—Paraquat Lawsuit Filings and Settlement Developments
Legal Filings
As of May 1, 2025, several new lawsuits related to Paraquat exposure were filed. A Missouri resident filed suit in the federal Paraquat MDL (Southern District of Illinois), alleging that years of exposure to Syngenta’s herbicide caused his Parkinson’s disease. The complaint includes claims for strict liability, negligence, and breach of warranty.
Other lawsuits were filed in state courts in Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Georgia by agricultural workers and family members who allege long-term Paraquat exposure led to severe illness, including Parkinson’s disease. In Pennsylvania’s coordinated litigation program in Philadelphia, the caseload had surpassed 1,136 cases.
No new class actions or unsealed complaints were reported in April. The litigation remains focused on individual personal injury claims. Most amended complaints this month involved the routine addition of new plaintiffs or updates to exposure history.
MDL Developments
On April 14, 2025, the parties in MDL No. 3004 announced a tentative settlement framework and jointly requested that the court pause a pending appeal in the Seventh Circuit. A letter of agreement had been signed to resolve a substantial portion of the more than 5,800 federal cases. According to the plaintiff's leadership during a court conference on April 15, the terms were expected to be finalized within 30 days.
Bellwether trial selection moved forward in early April. Judge Nancy J. Rosenstengel named six representative cases for trial, with three set for October 15, 2025, and three for April 6, 2026. These bellwether plaintiffs were licensed applicators or individuals with heavy exposure. Fact discovery concluded in March, and deadlines for summary judgment and Daubert motions are scheduled for mid-August.
The court continued efforts to remove non-compliant cases. In April, more than 100 lawsuits were dismissed without prejudice because they had not submitted the required Plaintiff Assessment Questionnaires. These dismissals followed prior extensions and were intended to streamline the MDL and focus on claims that were well-supported.
The total number of cases stands at approximately 5,859. New suits continued to be filed, while some older cases were pruned for noncompliance.
A key legal issue in the MDL remains on appeal. The plaintiffs had previously challenged the court’s decision to exclude their lead causation expert, which led to the dismissal of earlier bellwether trials. Oral arguments were held in February, but in mid-April, the parties moved to stay the appeal due to the potential global settlement.
Media Reports
In mid-April, U.S. news coverage highlighted the announcement of a settlement framework. National and legal media noted that over 5,800 federal and hundreds of state cases could be resolved under this agreement. Reports emphasized growing political and public scrutiny of Paraquat, mainly due to its alleged link to Parkinson’s disease.
In Tennessee, lawmakers considered House Bill 809, which would grant immunity to herbicide manufacturers if the EPA approved their product labels. The bill would have shielded companies like Syngenta and Chevron from failure-to-warn lawsuits. After emotional testimony from affected families, the state’s House Judiciary Committee postponed the bill until 2026.
Legal outlets and advocacy platforms continued to report on the volume of new claims and the progress of bellwether trial scheduling. Local media also profiled individual plaintiffs, particularly older farmers and workers who had used Paraquat for decades before developing Parkinson’s symptoms. These stories reinforced the national scope of the litigation and the urgency of addressing claims before trial begins later in 2025.
Federal Multidistrict Litigation (MDL)
In June 2021, the federal Paraquat lawsuits were consolidated into a Paraquat Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) in the Southern District of Illinois. Judge Nancy Rosenstengel presides over this Paraquat MDL, which now includes over 5,800 cases. This consolidation aims to streamline pretrial proceedings and ensure consistent rulings across similar cases. The first bellwether trials are scheduled to begin in October 2025.
State Court Proceedings
While many cases are part of the federal MDL, several state courts are also handling Paraquat lawsuits, including:
- The Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas is handling a significant group of cases, with the first Paraquat trial scheduled for April 2025.
- Illinois State Courts: Given the state's agricultural prominence, Illinois is seeing many Paraquat cases filed in its state court system.
- Florida State Courts: Lawsuits have been filed in Florida, reflecting the state's agricultural industry and potential exposure to Paraquat.
- California State Courts: California, with its vast agricultural sector, is another key state for Paraquat litigation.
Paraquat lawsuit attorneys are actively investigating potential claims in all 50 states. This broad legal landscape offers multiple avenues for seeking justice for individuals who believe they may have been harmed by Paraquat exposure, depending on their location and specific circumstances.
While the Paraquat litigation continues, some plaintiffs have received a settlement for Paraquat. In 2021, Syngenta agreed to a $187.5 million settlement in a Paraquat lawsuit with some plaintiffs.
Compensation Available in a Paraquat Lawsuit
In a Paraquat lawsuit, plaintiffs may be eligible for various types of compensation, depending on the specifics of their case and the extent of their injuries. The potential compensation typically includes:
- Medical expenses: This covers past, current, and future medical costs related to Parkinson's disease or other health issues caused by Paraquat exposure. It may include fees for doctor visits, hospitalizations, medications, therapies, and assistive devices.
- Lost wages and earning capacity: Compensation for income lost due to the illness, as well as potential future earnings if the condition affects the person's ability to work.
- Pain and suffering: Non-economic damages for physical pain and emotional distress caused by the illness and its impact on quality of life.
- Loss of enjoyment of life: Compensation for the inability to participate in activities or hobbies that were previously enjoyed.
- Punitive damages: In cases where manufacturers are found to have acted with gross negligence, additional damages may be awarded to punish the defendant and deter similar conduct.
- Wrongful death damages: If a person dies due to Paraquat-related illness, their family may be able to seek compensation for funeral expenses, loss of companionship, and loss of financial support.
The exact amount of compensation varies widely based on individual circumstances, including the severity of the illness, the plaintiff's age, and the specific impacts on their life. An experienced attorney can help evaluate the potential value of a Paraquat claim and fight for fair compensation.
Contact an Experienced Paraquat Lawyer to Discuss Your Case
The ongoing Paraquat lawsuits represent a significant legal battle addressing the serious health risks associated with this widely used herbicide. As research continues to strengthen the link between Paraquat exposure and Parkinson's disease, affected individuals and their families are increasingly seeking justice through the legal system.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease following Paraquat exposure, an experienced Paraquat attorney can help by:
- Evaluating your case to determine eligibility for compensation
- Gathering and organizing crucial evidence to support your claim
- Navigating complex legal procedures and deadlines
- Negotiating with defendants to secure a fair settlement
- Representing you in court if necessary
- Ensuring you pursue all available avenues for compensation
Don't face this challenging situation alone. The legal landscape surrounding Paraquat litigation is complex, but you don't have to navigate it alone. Contact a qualified attorney today at 888-984-6195 or through the online form to discuss your case and explore your legal options. With the proper legal support, you can focus on your health and well-being while seeking the justice and compensation you deserve.