Paraquat Litigation Update
The first bellwether trial in the paraquat Parkinson’s litigation was scheduled to begin in Philadelphia on January 28, 2026. However, on January 27, the night before trial, defendants Syngenta and Chevron quietly settled the case. The case alleged long-term exposure to the herbicide paraquat causes Parkinson’s disease. The defendants’ choice to settle indicates that they do not want these cases to go before a jury. According to the judge, the settlement only applies to the first bellwether case, and the remaining paraquat mass tort cases remain active. As of February 2026, the paraquat multidistrict litigation (MDL) includes 8,257 total cases, with 6,476 cases pending. Additional trials are scheduled to begin in April and later this fall.
If you or a loved one were recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease or have experienced other health problems after being exposed to paraquat, you should obtain a free consultation with a paraquat exposure lawyer. The statute of limitations to file your claim may be short, stemming from the date of your diagnosis and/or when you should have known about the relation between paraquat and Parkinson’s disease. To be set up with a free consultation, call our office at (713) 932-0777.
What is Paraquat?
Paraquat dichloride is a quaternary ammonium compound that is highly toxic and has been used as a broad-spectrum, fast-acting contact herbicide in the U.S. since 1964. Paraquat is used for controlling weeds and in agricultural settings as a post-harvest desiccant, which is a chemical used to kill the plant so that the crop is easier to harvest. Paraquat is commonly used on crops such as coffee, cotton, maize, potatoes, rice, soybeans, sugar cane, tea, wheat, and several fruits. Paraquat is classified by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a “restricted use” pesticide, meaning that only licensed applicators are able to use it. The paraquat herbicide is incredibly dangerous to both humans and animals if swallowed, inhaled, or absorbed, and has been linked to severe conditions like Parkinson’s disease. Despite the risk of causing Parkinson’s disease, nearly 8 million pounds of the herbicide are sprayed on U.S. crops every year. Paraquat can be found in multiple spray herbicide products, including Gramoxone, Firestorm, Helmquat, and Parazone.
How Does Paraquat Work?
Paraquat kills plants by disrupting photosynthesis, a process that plants need to survive. The herbicide penetrates the plant’s skin and enters the chloroplasts to accept electrons needed for photosynthesis. This process creates a highly reactive paraquat radical, which is a molecule with an unpaired electron. The paraquat radical then reacts with molecular oxygen to produce destructive reactive oxygen species, which rapidly destroy the plant’s cell membranes. The destruction of the plant’s cell membranes leads to rapid water loss, wilting, browning, and eventually the death of the plant. Paraquat has no residual activity and is deactivated once it comes into contact with soil.
What are the Health Effects Related to Paraquat?
While paraquat is intended to kill weeds and crops, it is also highly toxic to human and animal cells. Exposure to paraquat through ingestion, inhalation, or skin contact can lead to serious health conditions. Once paraquat enters the body, it activates oxidative stress, which affects cells and can change their structure and function. Changes in cells can cause extensive damage and disrupt cellular respiration processes in both humans and animals. Paraquat poisoning has been linked to causing Parkinson’s disease and can cause other serious neurological conditions, depending on the degree of exposure.
How are People Exposed to Paraquat?
Paraquat can enter the body through inhalation, contact with your skin, accidental ingestion, and contact with your eyes or mouth. There are many ways in which someone may become exposed to paraquat. The most common methods for paraquat exposure include:
- Manufacturing process exposure: There is a high risk of exposure during paraquat manufacturing. The chemical could be inhaled or splashed onto the skin of manufacturers.
- Exposure during the application process: Those who work on farms and apply paraquat without wearing protective equipment may potentially inhale or come into contact with the chemical.
- Post-application process exposure: People working in fields shortly after they have been treated with paraquat may unknowingly come into contact with the chemical.
- Incidental exposure: People who live on or near farms that use paraquat may inhale paraquat without knowing.
What are the Symptoms of Paraquat Poisoning?
Some symptoms of paraquat poisoning may begin immediately, while others can take weeks to appear. The immediate symptoms of paraquat poisoning include pain and swelling in the mouth and throat. Additionally, you may experience gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea because the products containing paraquat also contain a vomiting agent to prevent accidental poisoning. Other symptoms that can take days to weeks to appear include heart failure, kidney failure, liver failure, seizures, or lung scarring. There is currently no known antidote to paraquat poisoning, and even small amounts can be lethal.
Who are the Defendants in the Paraquat Litigation?
The primary defendants in the paraquat Parkinson’s litigation are Syngenta Crop Protection, LLC., Syngenta AG, Growmark, and Chevron U.S.A., Inc. Syngenta Crop Protection, LLC., Syngenta AG, and Growmark are headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, and are the manufacturers of paraquat. U.S.A., Inc. distributed and sold paraquat using the brand name Gramoxone in the United States pursuant to an agreement with Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI), a predecessor to the Syngenta companies.
The lawsuits allege that the defendants were creating, marketing, and selling a product that they were aware caused Parkinson’s disease. The defendants are also accused of concealing the risks of the herbicide and hiding the evidence of its dangers from the government in order to make a profit off of U.S. consumers. Those who have been exposed to paraquat and have developed severe health conditions as a result should speak with an experienced mass tort attorney to see if they qualify to file a paraquat lawsuit.
Contact Simmons and Fletcher, P.C. for Your Free Consultation
If you have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease or any other serious, life-altering illness after exposure to paraquat, you may qualify for a paraquat lawsuit in the paraquat Parkinson’s MDL. At Simmons and Fletcher, P.C., our personal injury attorneys work diligently to ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve from the negligent party. Our firm works on a contingency fee basis, which means that we front all the costs of investigation and trial, and you don’t pay us unless we are able to make a recovery. To talk about your case with a paraquat exposure lawyer, call (713) 932-0777. Some mass tort claims are handled in association with other law firms.
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