Paraquat Lawsuit Overview

Paraquat, also known as Methyl Viologen, is a highly toxic herbicide developed in the early 1960s for controlling weeds and grass. In the United States, it is classified as a “Restricted Use Pesticide” (RUP), meaning it can only be handled by licensed applicators.

To prevent accidental ingestion, the herbicide is treated with a color dye to make sure it is not confused with coffee, with a sharp odor added and a chemical agent that causes someone who ingests it to vomit. However, those precautions may not be enough to protect users from the health risks linked to Paraquat exposure.

As a result of the manufacturers apparent failure to adequately warn about the toxic side effects of Paraquat exposure, thousands of Paraquat lawsuits have been filed through the federal court system, each involving similar allegations that the manufacturers failed to warn about the Paraquat Parkinson’s disease risks.

Paraquat Parkinson’s Disease Lawsuit: MDL 3004

Due to the rising number of Paraquat lawsuits being filed, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation ordered each of the claims filed throughout the federal court to be centralized before U.S. District Judge Nancy J. Rosenstengel in the Southern District of Illinois, as part of Paraquat Multidistrict Litigation (MDL 3004).

Who Qualifies for a Paraquat Parkinson’s Disease Lawsuit?

Individuals diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease after routine exposure Gramoxone and Paraquat weed and grass killers, including;

• Farmers and Farm Workers
• Herbicide Applicators
• Chemical Mixers
• Tank Fillers
• Families Living Around Farming Communities

Who is the Paraquat lawsuit against?

Chevron Chemical Company, Syngenta and other companies have sold a variety of paraquat-based herbicides, including:

• Gramoxone
• Paraquat Concentrate
• Blanco
• Cyclone SL 2.0
• Other Paraquat-based Herbicides

2025 Paraquat Lawsuit Updates

August 1, 2025 Update: A new NIH-backed study published in Arthritis & Rheumatology links pesticide exposure to a significantly higher risk of rheumatoid arthritis among women farmworkers and spouses of applicators. Some insecticides, including organophosphates like chlorpyrifos and parathion, were associated with up to a 132% increased risk. The findings add to growing concerns about pesticide-related health risks, which have already led to thousands of Paraquat Parkinson’s disease lawsuits.

July 2, 2025 Update: The federal judge overseeing the Paraquat Parkinson’s disease litigation has extended the stay on case-specific discovery until July 21, as lawyers continue working to finalize the terms of a proposed global Paraquat settlement. While no payout details have been released, upcoming trial dates in October 2025 and April 2026 remain uncertain pending the outcome of these negotiations.

June 2, 2025 Update: A new Mayo Clinic study found that living within one mile of a golf course may increase the risk of Parkinson’s disease by 126%, potentially due to pesticide exposure—including Paraquat. As more research links residential and environmental exposure to Parkinson’s, Paraquat litigation continues to expand, with over 5,800 lawsuits pending and a potential settlement announcement expected soon.

May 17, 2025 Update: Judge Nancy Rosenstengel has paused all Paraquat lawsuit discovery deadlines for 30 days as settlement negotiations progress, following reports that a deal may soon resolve thousands of Parkinson’s disease claims. The parties must submit a settlement status update by June 11, 2025. If no agreement is finalized, preparations will resume for the first bellwether trial, currently scheduled for October 14, 2025.

May 1, 2025 Update: A Paraquat settlement agreement has been reached to resolve thousands of Parkinson’s disease lawsuits pending in the federal MDL, according to a joint court filing. While details remain confidential, the agreement may significantly impact the future of the litigation, though separate claims in California and Pennsylvania state courts are still expected to proceed, with at least one trial set for this summer.

April 2, 2025 Update: In the latest JPML docket report, the panel indicates there are now a total of 5,911 Paraquat Parkinson’s disease lawsuits currently pending in the litigation.

March 3, 2025 Update: The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals is considering whether to reinstate four Paraquat lawsuits that were originally set to be the first federal bellwether trials over Parkinson’s disease risks linked to the weedkiller. These cases were dismissed last year after the trial judge excluded proposed expert witnesses from testifying.

February 5, 2025 Update: The U.S. District Judge presiding over thousands of federal Paraquat lawsuits has ordered the parties to prepare six cases for potential Paraquat bellwether trials, indicating that the first two claims will go before juries on October 14, 2025 and April 6, 2026.

January 1, 2025 Update: The Paraquat MDL is steadily progressing, with significant developments as the first bellwether trial approaches, currently scheduled for fall 2025. During a recent status conference, the MDL judge underscored the importance of keeping plaintiffs well-informed about the status of their cases, especially as timelines tighten and critical decisions are made. To facilitate the ongoing management of the litigation, the next status conference is set for January 29, 2025, at 11:00 AM at the East St. Louis courthouse, with options for in-person or virtual attendance. Details for remote access will be provided in a forthcoming court order.

Separately, the Special Master overseeing procedural compliance in the MDL filed a report on December 30, 2024, highlighting the failure of 47 plaintiffs to submit mandatory Plaintiff Assessment Questionnaires (PAQs). Despite multiple extensions and reminders, these individuals have not met the court’s requirements. As a result, the Special Master has recommended that these cases be dismissed without prejudice, allowing for potential re-filing if compliance is later achieved.

December 4, 2024 Update: A Paraquat lawsuit status conference is scheduled to be held this month on December 19, 2024 at 11:00am (Central). The conference set to be held over Zoom and will be available to the public to join. Interested parties who wish to join the conference may listen in by calling 571-353-2301 and entering Call ID: 459732554.

November 11, 2024 Update: Paraquat manufacturers have expressed concerns that some lawsuits are based on “implausible theories,” where plaintiffs may lack direct exposure to the herbicide, with many cases citing only second-hand contact. In response, the U.S. District Judge overseeing all Paraquat Parkinson’s disease lawsuits issued a court order requiring these plaintiffs to issue subpoenas for records proving Paraquat exposure. If they fail to do so, their lawsuits face possible dismissal without prejudice next month.

November 1, 2024 Update: Earlier last month, a group of 47 members of Congress sent a letter to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Michael S. Regan, calling for a ban of the weed killer Paraquat due to side effects it has on human health. The letter also states that Paraquat is linked to negative environmental impacts, noting that Paraquat residue is increasingly detected in soil and water, leading to harmful chemical accumulation in humans and animals.

October 1, 2024 Update: Significant developments have occurred in the Paraquat litigation over the past month, accompanied by supportive actions on a global scale. The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation reported an addition of 126 new Paraquat Parkinson’s disease lawsuits to the docket during September. Meanwhile, health advocates in Australia have launched a petition to ban the controversial herbicide following diagnoses of Parkinson’s disease among farmers who were routinely exposed.

September 2, 2024 Update: A new study has further validated the claims being made in thousands of Paraquat Parkinson’s disease lawsuits. A study published in the journal Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety found that exposure to Paraquat leads to the buildup of a protein in the brain associated with neurodegenerative diseases like Lewy body disease and Parkinson’s disease. According to the study, tests on human neuroblastoma cell lines showed that Paraquat exposure caused an accumulation of α-synuclein (α-syn), which the brain struggled to clear efficiently—a process similar to what occurs in individuals with neurodegenerative diseases.

August 21, 2024 Update: A Paraquat Parkinson’s disease class action lawsuit has been certified in Canada, allowing anyone in that country who developed Parkinson’s disease after using the paraquat-based weed killer Gramoxone to pursue damages.

August 3, 2024 Update: In the U.S. JPML’s latest docket report, the Paraquat litigation has grown slightly since June, increasing by another 77 claims registered on the docket. This brings the total number of lawsuits pending to 5,757.

June 5, 2024 Update: Last month, Judge Rosenstengel, overseeing the Paraquat Parkinson’s disease MDL, granted the plaintiffs an extension for selecting new cases for bellwether trials due to technical issues they encountered with the case information database. Originally set for May 10, 2024, the deadline has now been extended to June 10, 2024.

June 3, 2024 Update: As thousands of Paraquat lawsuits continue to be investigated by lawyers across the nation, the JPML reported in this months updated docket report that a total of 5,680 Paraquat Parkinson’s disease claims are currently pending in the multidistrict litigation as of June 3, 2024.

May 1, 2024 Update: U.S. District Judge Rosenstengel, overseeing the Paraquat Parkinson’s disease lawsuits, has disqualified a crucial expert witness, preventing four bellwether cases from proceeding to trial due to insufficient support. In response, the judge has decided to advance with a second batch of claims, necessitating a case-specific workup that might incorporate new expert testimony. The parties are instructed to choose 16 member cases for limited fact discovery by no later than May 10, 2024.

Paraquat Exposure Side Effects

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that Paraquat can enter the human body through absorption or penetration of the skin, as well as through mucous membranes, airways, cuts and abrasions, and via breathing it into the body or digestion through droplets introduced via the mouth, nose or airways.

A number of studies have linked Paraquat to devastating health consequences for those who are directly exposed to the toxic pesticide, particularly licensed applicators who work with it on a regular basis. It has been linked to several serious health effects, including:

• Parkinson’s Disease
• Heart Failure
• Kidney Failure
• Liver Failure
• Lung Scarring

Can Paraquat cause Parkinson’s Disease?

Parkinson’s disease is one of the most concerning risks associated with Paraquat, as the manufacturer has not adequately warned about this problem. It is believed that Paraquat creates oxidative stress in cells, which kills certain brain cells associated with the production of dopamine, which can lead to Parkinson’s disease.

Parkinson’s disease affects about 1 million Americans, and at least 6 million other people worldwide. The association between Paraquat exposure and Parkinson’s disease is so strong that scientists use Paraquat to induce Parkinson’s disease in animals for testing purposes.

Real Paraquat Exposure Stories

As AboutLawsuits has covered the significant scientific findings linking Paraquat to Parkinson’s disease and the growing number of lawsuits being filed against the manufacturers, numerous individuals have stepped forward to share their experiences with the herbicide.

These personal accounts reveal how individuals or their family members were diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease after routinely being exposed to the chemical for years through direct handling during agricultural work, or indirectly through environmental exposure such as crop dusting.

Contact a Paraquat Lawyer

Product liability lawyers provide free consultations and claim evaluations to help determine if financial compensation and settlement benefits may be available as a result of the manufacturers failure to warn about the link between Paraquat and Parkinson’s Disease. Lawsuits are being pursued nationwide for:

• Farmers and Farm Workers
• Herbicide Applicators
• Tank Filers and Transporters
• Gardeners, Groundskeepers and Municipal Workers
• Families Living Around Farming Communities