Parkinson’s Disease Lawsuit Filed Against Chlorpyrifos Manufacturers

Each plaintiff describes years of chlorpyrifos exposure while mixing, loading or applying the pesticide, or working in and around treated areas.

Four men have filed a product liability lawsuit against manufacturers of chlorpyrifos pesticides, alleging years of exposure to the insecticide caused neurological damage that ultimately led each of them to develop Parkinson’s disease.

The complaint (PDF) was brought by Keith Lutz, Dean Larson, Paul Chesterson and Arthur Emery in Delaware Superior Court on September 15, naming Corteva Inc., Corteva Agriscience LLC, the Dow Chemical Company and Loveland Products Inc. as defendants.

The lawsuit alleges the manufacturers knew or should have known chlorpyrifos could cause neurological damage, yet failed to adequately study the effects of long-term exposure on adults or warn users about the potential risk of Parkinson’s disease.

Chlorpyrifos Exposure Health Concerns

Chlorpyrifos was first registered for use in the United States in 1965 as a broad-spectrum organophosphate insecticide that kills insects by interfering with the nervous system. Over the following decades, it became one of the most widely used insecticides in the country and was sold under brand names including Dursban, Lorsban, Cobalt, Match-Up and Warhawk.

Chlorpyrifos was widely used in agricultural, residential and occupational settings, exposing farmers, pesticide applicators, pest control workers, groundskeepers and others who mixed, sprayed or worked around treated areas.

Before most residential uses were phased out in 2000, the pesticide was also commonly used by homeowners in and around homes to control insects. Chlorpyrifos was also heavily used during the first Gulf War around military camps and living areas, potentially exposing service members working near treated locations.

However, the insecticide has recently been linked to serious neurological risks, with a study published last year finding that found individuals with substantial exposure faced more than a 2.5-fold increased risk of Parkinson’s disease.

Those findings have led to a growing number of chlorpyrifos Parkinson’s disease lawsuits, alleging manufacturers failed to adequately investigate or warn about the neurological risks associated with repeated exposure.

Chlorpyrifos Parkinson’s Disease Allegations

Each of the four plaintiffs describes years of repeated chlorpyrifos exposure before being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, although their work histories and exposure periods differed.

Lutz, of Pennsylvania, says he was exposed from 1985 to 1991 while mixing, loading and applying chlorpyrifos, as well as through pesticide drift and contact with treated areas. Larson, of North Dakota, alleges a much longer exposure period, from 1980 to 2019.

Chesterson, of Connecticut, says he was exposed from 1985 to 1992, while Emery, of Delaware, alleges exposure from 1983 to 1995. All four claim the exposure occurred through ordinary and foreseeable uses of chlorpyrifos.

The lawsuit alleges concerns about chlorpyrifos neurotoxicity were mounting by the 1990s, when regulators began examining Dow’s safety claims and reporting practices.

According to the complaint, Dow failed to timely report hundreds of adverse health incidents to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, resulting in what was then the agency’s largest pesticide-related fine. It also points to a 1999 EPA scientific review recommending tighter restrictions before most residential uses were withdrawn the following year.

Plaintiffs further allege the manufacturers never adequately studied whether repeated chlorpyrifos exposure could cause Parkinson’s disease or other neurodegenerative conditions in adults.

“Indeed, not one of the Defendants conducted any studies regarding the chronic neurological effects of Chlorpyrifos exposure on adults, millions upon millions of whom purchased, used, and were exposed to Chlorpyrifos. The studies that Defendants did perform, including those submitted to the EPA, were often poorly designed and executed.”

– Keith Lutz et al. v. Corteva Inc. et al.

Plaintiffs present claims of negligence, failure to warn, design defect and unfair and deceptive business practices, seeking both compensatory and punitive damages.

Chlorpyrifos Exposure Lawsuits

Currently, chlorpyrifos attorneys are reviewing potential product liability lawsuits for those who were diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease after exposure to chlorpyrifos for long periods of time due to:

• Personally mixing or applying chlorpyrifos
• Working on a farm during or after chlorpyrifos applications
• Living on a farm where chlorpyrifos was regularly used
• Using chlorpyrifos as a residential insecticide
• Working near chlorpyrifos spraying or pesticide drift
• Occupational exposure through pest control, construction, golf course maintenance or military service during the Gulf Wars

Free consultations and claim evaluations are available for individuals diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Attorneys will review the treatment history and products involved, as well as location, duration and circumstances of exposure to determine whether the individual qualifies to pursue a claim.

All chlorpyrifos lawsuits are handled on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no upfront legal fees or expenses, and attorneys are paid only if they successfully obtain compensation.

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