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Paraquat Lawsuit | Parkinson’s Settlement, Updates February 2024

A victim who used Paraquat should consider filing a Paraquat lawsuit seeking compensation if they suffered through Parkinson’s disease. Paraquat has been on the market for approximately six decades as a leading and Powerful herbicide. Despite the fact that there are known dangers associated with this product, it continues to be legal for sale in the United States. Countries across the world, including China, have banned the sale of paraquat, but the United States Environmental Protection Agency stubbornly refuses to take a similar step. Although the EPA has introduced additional regulations, this highly dangerous substance, which causes Parkinsons’s disease, is still readily available in this country.

Toxic herbicide lawsuit- paraquat lawsuit

Paraquat lawsuit updates: January 202

  • October 11, 2023: A victim from Georgia who toiled on a farm owned by his family for over 24 years is pursuing a Paraquat lawsuit. He alleges that the corporation did not properly warn him that the the herbicide killer could cause him neurological issues such as Parkinson’s disease. The lawsuit is being litigated in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois.
  • October 6, 2023: October was previously scheduled for the the first bellwether trial for the Paraquat consolidated lawsuits. It is possible that the Judge will not issue a decision in the Daubert motions until 2024! Daubert motions are complicated and time consuming.
  • September 27, 2023: The parties have filed their last Daubert briefs. Everyone is waiting forthe judge’s ruling. In August, Judge Rosenstengel continued the initial bellwether trial so that the paraquat lawyers could perform additional briefing and she would have more time for consideration of the pending Daubert motions. It is worrisome that Judge Rosenstengel is delaying her ruling on the Daubert motions. The delay raises serious questions of the possibility that the judge could exclude victims’ experts. This would terminate the Paraquat MDL.
  • September 21, 2023:  The Paraquat class action MDL has over 1,000 additonal lawsuits since the end of May 2023. Currently there are over 4,700 victims in the Paraquat consolidated lawsuit. The paraquat litigation in Federal Court is one of the largest mass tort MDL’s in the United States.
  • September 7, 2023: Legal memos summarizing each parties Daubert arguments, needs to be submitted by the litigants prior to or ON September 8, 2023.
  • September 3, 2023:  The manufacter Syngenta has made serious allegations that Dr. Earl Ray Dorsey is collaborating with victims’ attorneys and members of the media to set forth scientific research in order to link paraquat to Parkinson’s disease. Syngenta asserts in recent legal filings that the attorneys wrongfully influenced Dr. Earl Ray Dorsey’s findings. Dorsey is a New York Neurologist who published an article “Paraquat, Parkinson’s Disease, and Agnotology.” The manufacturer argues that incorrect scientific findings should not be entered into evidence before the jury.  The co- author of the research, Dr. Amit Ray released documentary evidence as a result of a subpoena. However, Dr. Earl Ray Dorsey has refused to release the documents. Dr. Earl Ray Dorsey’s attorneys argue that the request for evidence was too late and not meaningful to the litigation.  Dr. Earl Ray Dorsey alleges that Syngenta is trying to discredit his research and asserts that he is not involved in the pending litigation.

Paraquat is a widely used herbicide in agriculture,

Paraquat is a widely used herbicide in agriculture, primarily known for its effectiveness in controlling weeds and grasses. However, there has been growing concern about its potential health risks, including its alleged connection to Parkinson’s disease. Hundreds of lawsuits have been filed against the manufacturers and distributors of paraquat by individuals who claim that their exposure to the herbicide led to the development of Parkinson’s disease. These lawsuits generally revolve around the following key points:

  1. Alleged Link to Parkinson’s Disease: Plaintiffs argue that long-term exposure to paraquat is associated with an increased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. Some scientific studies have suggested a possible connection between paraquat exposure and Parkinson’s disease, although more research is needed to establish a conclusive link.
  2. Negligence and Failure to Warn: Lawsuits typically claim that manufacturers and distributors of paraquat were aware of the potential health risks associated with the herbicide but failed to adequately warn users or take necessary safety precautions.
  3. Product Liability: Plaintiffs often argue that paraquat is a defective product due to its alleged association with Parkinson’s disease, and they seek compensation for their injuries and medical expenses.

Who Makes Paraquat Products?

Paraquat is the name of a substance that Is used as a weed killer. Paraquat is the name of the family of products, and the main form of this toxic chemical is called Gramoxone. Currently, Gramoxone is manufactured and sold by Syngenta. There have been numerous companies that have owned the brand over the years. At present, Syngenta is owned by ChemChina, which purchased the company in a $43 billion deal. While a Chinese conglomerate can own the company and sell this dangerous product, Paraquat is longer approved for use in China itself.

Other companies that make Paraquat products are:

  • Altitude Crop Innovations, LLC
  • Helm Agro
  • Drexel Chemical Company
  • Sinon USA, Inc.
  • Adama Group
  • United Phosphorous
  • Innvictis Crop Care, LLC

Corporate Documents Show that Paraquat Makers Acted Poorly

Currently, the two main defendants in the Paraquat lawsuits are Syngenta and Chevron Corporation. There are damning internal documents that detail the company’s exact knowledge of the danger of Paraquat and their strategy for misleading the general public. Syngenta and Chevron both invested extensive time and money into influencing the regulatory debate around Paraquat.  These are the exact factors that have led juries and other cases to hit the defendants with large punitive damage penalties.

Paraquat is so dangerous that only specially licensed applicators can come into contact with the herbicide. They must wear extensive safety equipment from head to toe, so the herbicide will not come into contact with any part of their body. If Paraquat so much as touches their skin, they may suffer serious health consequences.

Paraquat Has Been Connected to Parkinson’s Disease

Research has shown exactly how dangerous Paraquat is for both those who work with it and others who have been exposed to the herbicide. The main hazard is that people may develop Parkinson’s disease years after exposure.  Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative neurological condition for which there is no cure. Parkinson’s disease occurs when certain nerve cells in the brain break down and die.

There have been numerous studies that have detailed the connection between Parkway. And Parkinson’s disease. Primarily, these studies have documented the increased number of cases in the people who have been exposed to the herbicide over a prolonged period of time.  Much of the evidence that ties the two together is the strong numerical conclusions that show a greatly increased rate of Parkinson’s disease in people who have worked with Paraquat or have lived in areas adjacent to where it was widely used.

At this point, there have been more than a dozen studies that have examined a possible numerical connection between Paraquat and Parkinson’s disease. Each of these studies has found a similar correlation, and some have found a very strong connection. Although nobody has reached a definitive conclusion that paragraph causes Parkinson’s, the numerical figures can seem convincing on their own.

How Paraquat May Cause Parkinson’s Disease

When the nerve cells die, it leads to a loss in the production of dopamine. The nervous cells produce a critical substance that regulates the messages between the brain in the nervous system that control the body’s movement. The loss of dopamine leads to a breakdown in the brain’s control over the body’s movement.

There is no known cure for Parkinson’s disease. Instead, the disease will progressively worsen over time, continuing to rob the patient of their quality of life. Here are some of the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease:

  • Tremors and involuntary shaking of limbs
  • Stiffness and rigidity in muscles
  • Slower than usual physical movements
  • A loss in coordination
  • Problems with balance
  • Unpleasant sensations from the body’s nerves
  • Dizziness and blurred vision
  • Trouble swallowing

While some of the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease may be controllable with medication, the condition will grow worse over time. Although Parkinson’s disease is not often fatal, the patient will suffer and lose the life that they had before the onset of the condition.

Parkinson’s Disease Usually Does Not Occur on its Own

It is very rare that a person will be diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease with no exposure to toxic substances. When one is exposed to certain chemicals, the substances may build up in the brain and body over the years. The long-term buildup of toxic chemicals can eventually cause the damage to the brain that results in Parkinson’s disease.  Again, a large majority of the people who suffer from this neurological condition can trace the disease to exposure to toxins at a certain point in their life. For example, many veterans at Camp Lejeune who were exposed to contaminated water are now suffering from Parkinson’s disease.  Here, the prolonged exposure to the deadly toxins in Paraquat are alleged to be responsible for thousands of cases of Parkinson’s disease.

The Number of Paraquat Lawsuits Is Growing

Paraquat has become a relatively large multidistrict litigation. The plaintiffs have alleged that corporate documents show that Syngenta and Chevron knew of the danger of Parkinson’s disease and continued to mislead the public about the safety of the product.

2022 was a year of large growth in the number of paraquat lawsuits. The number of active cases in the multidistrict litigation practically quintupled over the course of the year. Now, there are approximately 2,500 cases that are part of the litigation.  Since Parkinson’s disease is a delayed onset condition that can show symptoms decades after the initial exposure to toxins,  there are new plaintiffs that have the ability to file a lawsuit.

Paraquat Trials Will Begin in 2023

There have been a number of delays in the Paraquat lawsuit process.  One of the most important milestones in a mass tort lawsuit is the depositions and testimony of the expert witnesses. In this case, the testimony of experts has been delayed, causing slippage of the overall timetable in the trial.  Previously, the first Bellwether case in the litigation was scheduled to go to trial in October 2022. Now, because of delays in the expert witness deposition, the first trial has now been pushed back approximately a year to October 2023. In the meantime, the number of new lawsuits continues to grow monthly. We expect continued growth in the number of Paraquat plaintiffs.

If you are a loved one who has been exposed to the dangerous herbicide oh, and you have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, you may be entitled to significant financial compensation. Cases of Parkinson’s disease have usually been worth $100,000 to $300,000 in a lawsuit. Our attorneys will meet with you and learn more about your case and come up with our own estimate on your approximate damages. We will then file a lawsuit on your behalf and fight for every dollar that you deserve. As always, it does not cost you anything to speak with an attorney, and you do not need to pay us anything unless you win your case.

For years, Paraquat has been used as an herbicide on American farms and fields. However, the substance is so dangerous that it is illegal in Europe and has even been recently banned in China. However, the Chinese company that owns Paraquat is still able to sell the product in the United States thanks to the failure of the Environmental Protection Administration to actually protect Americans. Now, research has tied Paraquat to cases of Parkinson’s disease, and injured people are filing lawsuits.

Paraquat is sold under the brand name of Gramoxone. It is manufactured by Syngenta. This company was acquired by China National Chemical Corporation in 2015. Paraquat is one of the deadliest chemicals that is commercially available. It can only be applied by licensed and specially-trained people wearing heavy protective equipment. Even brief contact with the skin or inhalation can cause serious injury. Regardless of whether the product works, it is extremely toxic and dangerous.

Paraquat Has Been Connected to Parkinson’s Disease

Of course, products that are this potent usually come with their share of side effects. The research is beginning to show exactly how dangerous Paraquat is. The main concern is that Paraquat has been connected to Parkinson’s disease. This is a degenerative neurological condition that is often caused by exposure to toxins.

With Parkinson’s disease, the nerve cells in the brain are damaged by a drop in dopamine. Researchers are honing in on the causes of this disease. Most cases are tied to some sort of exposure to chemicals that change the makeup of the brain. While Parkinson’s disease can occur on its own, it is somewhat rare. Not only are farmers and people who worked on farms at risk of developing Parkinson’s from Paraquat exposure, but people in the surrounding areas are also in danger. Substances applied to crops can spread in the air.

Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease primarily affects movement. It begins with slight tremors that grow progressively worse over time. Here are some of the complications associated with the condition:

  • Shaking of limbs, usually starting in hands and fingers
  • Slower movement, making tasks of daily life more difficult
  • Stiff muscles that can keep you from moving
  • Impaired ability to speak
  • Lack of ability to make automatic movements, such as blinking and smiling
  • Problems with swallowing, chewing and eating

In addition, Parkinson’s disease can also impact your emotions. Patients report feeling depressed and anxious. They may even have trouble sleeping.

Parkinson’s disease is degenerative, and it is not curable. Doctors can treat the symptoms and try to manage its progression, but patients will not recover. In the meantime, it will slowly take away their quality of life.

Research Has Documented the Connection Between Paraquat and Parkinson’s

One study found that exposure to Paraquat can lead to a 600% increase in the chance of developing Parkinson’s disease. This study has been confirmed by other research that has found the same exact thing. There are at least five research surveys that document a high statistical correlation between exposure to Paraquat and Parkinson’s disease. Nevertheless, the EPA disputes this research and believes that there is insufficient evidence to tie the herbicide to the disease.

The rest of the world has caught on to how dangerous Paraquat is. The European Union has banned its sale and usage as has China. Other countries have outlawed the product because of its use in suicides. However, the EPA has taken a different view. When Paraquat was up for licensing, the EPA approved the request. Although the agency put some restrictions on Paraquat’s usage, it still allowed this toxic and dangerous substance to be used in this country. This is yet another example of the EPA standing with companies over the people that it is supposed to protect. There is currently an effort in court to overturn the EPA’s approval of Paraquat.

Injured plaintiffs are beginning to file lawsuits against Syngenta. The problem for Syngenta is that plaintiffs have gotten their hands on internal documents that showed that the company knew the exact dangers of its product, especially with regard to Parkinson’s. The company did nothing to warn the general public or make the product safer.

More Injured Plaintiffs Are Filing Lawsuits

There is a growing number of lawsuits against Syngenta. These cases have been consolidated into multidistrict litigation. As of this writing, the number of cases is approaching 300. We think that this is just the tip of the iceberg for these lawsuits, and these cases could grow into the thousands. If you or a loved one have been affected, it is vital that you act soon to preserve your legal right to sue.

These cases are still relatively early, but there is an expected bellwether trial date of late-2022. If Syngenta loses the initial cases, they may feel some urgency to settle. Juries usually react strongly when internal company documents show that the company knew the danger of its product, yet it kept selling it. This could result in punitive damages against the company. We anticipate that a Paraquat settlement could result in a payout between $100,000-$300,000 per claim. As of now, the cases are proceeding towards trial, but Syngenta may look to settle these cases, given the legal risks that it faces.

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, you should review your work and residential history to see where you may have been exposed to toxic chemicals. If you worked on a farm or lived near a farm, chances are that Paraquat could be to blame for your degenerative disease. If that is the case, you may be entitled to financial compensation. Your Paraquat lawsuit could pay you for the following:

  • Medical bills
  • Pain and suffering
  • Lost wages
  • Emotional distress

You have the legal right to be compensated for your individual damages that you have suffered.

Paraquat is a highly toxic herbicide that poses significant health dangers to humans and animals if ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through the skin. Here are some of the health dangers associated with paraquat exposure:

  1. Acute Poisoning: Paraquat is extremely toxic, and even small amounts can be fatal if ingested. Accidental ingestion can lead to symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and in severe cases, respiratory distress, convulsions, and death.
  2. Respiratory Damage: Inhalation of paraquat can cause severe damage to the lungs. Symptoms may include coughing, chest pain, shortness of breath, and pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs). Long-term exposure can lead to chronic lung diseases like pulmonary fibrosis.
  3. Skin and Eye Irritation: Contact with paraquat can cause skin irritation, burns, and blisters. It can also lead to eye irritation, redness, and potential damage to the eyes if not treated promptly.
  4. Gastrointestinal Issues: Swallowing even small amounts of paraquat can result in gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.
  5. Renal and Liver Damage: Prolonged exposure to paraquat may lead to damage to the kidneys and liver, which can have long-term health implications.
  6. Neurological Effects: Some studies suggest that paraquat exposure may be associated with an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease and other neurological disorders, though more research is needed to establish a definitive link.
  7. Birth Defects: There is some evidence to suggest that paraquat exposure during pregnancy may be associated with an increased risk of birth defects, but further research is needed to confirm these findings.
  8. Environmental Impact: Paraquat is also harmful to the environment, as it is non-selective and can kill a wide range of plant species. It can contaminate soil and water, posing risks to ecosystems and wildlife.

Due to its extreme toxicity, paraquat is heavily regulated in many countries, and its use often requires special training and certification. Safety precautions, such as protective clothing and equipment, should always be used when handling paraquat, and it should be stored and disposed of properly. If you suspect exposure to paraquat, seek medical attention immediately, as early treatment can be crucial in preventing severe health consequences.

Contact an Attorney to File Your Own Syngenta Lawsuit

You can make Syngenta pay if a jury decides that Paraquat is unreasonably dangerous or if the company knew of the dangers and failed to warn about them. We can help you file a lawsuit, seeking justice when a company put their own profits ahead of your well-being. If you are seeking information about an Ozempic lawsuit, also contact us. As in every personal injury, hair relaxer lawsuit, mesothelioma lawsuit or Bard Powerport lawsuit case, you owe an attorney nothing unless you win your case.