Wisner Baum represents farmers, pesticide applicators, landscapers, and others who sprayed Gramoxone® and developed Parkinson’s disease.
Anyone with Parkinson’s in their family knows that it doesn’t just affect one person. It affects the whole family. Those closest become caregivers. Kids watch their parents change.
Our paraquat lawyers have sat across the table from these families, and seen firsthand what has been taken from them. That is why we are preparing to take paraquat lawsuits to trial. Families suffering the consequences of Syngenta’s alleged failure to warn deserve full and fair compensation for their losses.
We are currently offering free and fast paraquat Parkinson’s lawsuit consultations.
To discuss your potential case, please contact us or call (310) 207-3233.
Paraquat Lawsuit Update 2026
Wisner Baum is actively tracking developments in the paraquat Parkinson’s disease litigation. Below are key updates from the federal paraquat MDL and state court proceedings.
March 2, 2026 – Paraquat MDL Case Total Reaches 6,509
The latest report from the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation shows a slight uptick in federally filed paraquat claims.
February 26, 2026 — R. Brent Wisner to Serve as Trial Counsel for the Next Bellwether Trial
Wisner Baum managing partner R. Brent Wisner will serve as trial counsel in the upcoming paraquat bellwether trial, which is scheduled for April 13, 2026 in Philadelphia. Attorneys say 1,639 cases related to paraquat are currently pending in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas.
February 7, 2026 — 6,489 Cases in Paraquat MDL, Case-Specific Deadlines Extended Again
The total number for pending cases in the Paraquat MDL reached 6,489 last month.
In other news, the MDL judge has again extended the stay on case-specific deadlines through March 6, 2026, citing ongoing paraquat settlement negotiations. The court indicated that it will revisit whether the stay should continue at that time.
January 28, 2026 — First Bellwether Case Settles Before Trial
Syngenta and Chevron settled the first paraquat Parkinson's lawsuit scheduled to go before a jury. The case, which was the first bellwether trial in the Philadelphia Paraquat Products Litigation (not the federal MDL), was resolved before opening statements began. The terms of this paraquat settlement were not disclosed. While this individual case settled, the broader paraquat litigation remains active, with additional trials on the calendar for April 2026 and beyond.
January 6, 2026 — MDL Case Count Reaches 8,257
As of January 2026, the federal paraquat MDL includes 6,476 pending cases, with over 8,000 total cases filed. Additional cases are also pending in state court.
December 20, 2025 — MDL Case Count Decreasing as Settlement Progresses
The number of pending cases in the paraquat MDL decreased last month, reflecting the progress of paraquat settlement negotiations. The pending case count will continue decreasing as more plaintiffs accept settlements for paraquat lawsuit claims.
October 30, 2025 — Paraquat MDL Stay Extended
The MDL judge overseeing federally-filed paraquat cases extended the stay on case-specific discovery through January 2026 to allow the paraquat Parkinson’s settlement process to continue.
August 20, 2025 — Stay Extended, Paraquat Bellwether Cases in Limbo
Judge Nancy Rosenstengel extended the stay on all case-specific deadlines in the paraquat MDL through next month. This is the third time a pause like this has happened since the parties announced a settlement framework in April. While much of the agreement’s framework is in place, final terms have not been approved.
April 26, 2025 — Paraquat Settlement Framework Announced
The parties filed a joint motion informing the court that they had entered into a signed settlement framework that could resolve many of the cases in the MDL. This is a significant development signaling that both sides are working toward resolving these claims. Final terms have not yet been publicly disclosed.
April 19, 2024 — Bellwether Cases Dismissed After Expert Ruling
The Paraquat MDL judge dismissed four bellwether cases after excluding the testimony of one of the plaintiffs’ experts on general causation. The court subsequently directed the parties to select a new group of cases for trial preparation. Plaintiffs’ attorneys have since developed additional expert testimony to support the well-established scientific link between paraquat and Parkinson’s disease.
March 28, 2024 — Prior Illinois State Court Paraquat Settlements Revealed
Court records show that Syngenta quietly settled a group of paraquat Parkinson’s disease lawsuits in Illinois state court in 2017. The settlements, which Syngenta resolved confidentially, involved plaintiffs who alleged they developed Parkinson’s disease after paraquat exposure.
June 7, 2021 — Federal MDL Established
The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation consolidated all federally filed paraquat lawsuits into the Southern District of Illinois (MDL No. 3004) for coordinated pretrial proceedings. Chief U.S. District Judge Nancy J. Rosenstengel has been assigned to oversee the litigation. Dozens of paraquat Parkinson’s lawsuits are currently pending.
Wisner Baum will continue to update this section as the paraquat Parkinson’s litigation progresses. If you have questions about your legal options, contact us for a free consultation.
Paraquat MDL: How the Litigation Works
Paraquat Parkinson’s disease lawsuits filed in federal courts across the country are consolidated into a single multidistrict litigation, or MDL, for coordinated pretrial proceedings. The case is designated as In re: Paraquat Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 3004, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois. Chief U.S. District Judge Nancy J. Rosenstengel presides over the litigation.
An MDL is used in complex litigation involving large numbers of similar claims. It allows a single judge to oversee pretrial proceedings (discovery, expert testimony disputes, and bellwether trial preparation) for efficiency. Unlike a class action, individual plaintiffs in the MDL retain their own cases and their own attorneys, but common legal and factual issues are addressed together.
In the paraquat MDL, the bellwether process involves selecting a small number of representative cases to be prepared for trial. The outcomes of bellwether trials typically influence the trajectory of the broader litigation, including the terms of any global paraquat settlement.
In April of 2025, the parties announced that they were working toward a settlement in the federal MDL.
What Affects the Value of a Paraquat Parkinson’s Lawsuit?
One of the most common questions prospective clients ask is what their paraquat lawsuit might be worth. While no attorney can guarantee a specific outcome, and every case is evaluated on its own facts, several factors generally influence the compensation a plaintiff may receive in a paraquat Parkinson’s disease lawsuit.
Strength of the exposure evidence. Cases supported by strong documentation of paraquat exposure (employment records, applicator licenses, or purchase records, for example) tend to be valued more highly than those with limited documentation.
Severity of the diagnosis and its impact on daily life. Plaintiffs with advanced symptoms, significant loss of independence, or early-onset disease may have claims that reflect greater impact on their quality of life. The costs of ongoing medical care, including medications, physical therapy, and in-home assistance, are also relevant.
Medical evidence connecting exposure to diagnosis. A plaintiff’s medical records, treating physicians’ opinions, and the timeline between exposure and diagnosis all contribute to the strength of the causation argument.
The trajectory of the broader litigation. In mass tort cases, the outcomes of bellwether trials and the terms of any global settlement agreement significantly influence individual claim values. The paraquat litigation has seen important developments, including confidential state court settlements and the April 2025 announcement of a settlement framework in the federal MDL. These developments, along with the results of future trials, will continue to shape the litigation landscape.
The plaintiff’s age, life expectancy, and economic losses. Lost wages, diminished earning capacity, and the anticipated cost of future care all factor into how much a paraquat lawsuit may be worth. Younger plaintiffs or those who were still working at the time of diagnosis may have claims reflecting decades of lost income.
Parkinson’s disease is among the most serious injuries at issue in any current mass tort litigation. The disease is progressive, incurable, and profoundly affects every aspect of a person’s life. Juries in toxic tort cases have historically recognized the gravity of degenerative injuries, and the verdicts in comparable cases (like Roundup, for example) reflect that recognition.
Wisner Baum has extensive experience litigating toxic tort claims against agrochemical companies, including securing a $2 billion jury verdict in the Pilliod v. Monsanto Roundup trial and a $289 million verdict in the landmark Johnson v. Monsanto trial.
While every case is different and past results do not guarantee future outcomes, our track record demonstrates our commitment to holding agrochemical companies accountable when their products cause serious harm.
Do I Qualify for a Paraquat Lawsuit?
You may qualify for a paraquat Parkinson’s lawsuit if you were exposed to paraquat and have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. While every case is evaluated individually, the following criteria are generally what paraquat attorneys evaluate when determining eligibility.
Exposure to paraquat. You may have been exposed to paraquat through your work or through proximity to areas where the herbicide was applied. Occupations and circumstances associated with paraquat exposure include:
- Farmers who used paraquat on their crops
- Licensed pesticide applicators
- Farmworkers who worked in or near fields where paraquat was sprayed
- Landscapers and groundskeepers
- Crop dusters and aerial applicators
- Workers at facilities where paraquat was mixed, loaded, or stored
- Railroad workers and others who used paraquat for vegetation management
- Residents who lived near farms, orchards, or other areas where paraquat was regularly applied
A qualifying medical diagnosis. Paraquat lawsuits involve a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease. However, other neurological conditions that may be associated with paraquat exposure can also form the basis of a claim, including:
- Parkinson’s disease
- Atypical Parkinsonism
- Progressive supranuclear palsy
- Multiple system atrophy
Timing. Paraquat exposure may have occurred years or even decades before a Parkinson’s diagnosis. Some plaintiffs in the current litigation were exposed to paraquat many years ago. However, a long gap between exposure and diagnosis does not necessarily preclude a claim.
If you are unsure whether you qualify, we encourage you to contact Wisner Baum’s paraquat lawsuit lawyers for a free evaluation. There is no cost or obligation. Give us a call today at [PHONE] or fill out our contact form.
Building a Paraquat Parkinson’s Disease Lawsuit
A paraquat lawsuit requires evidence demonstrating two things:
- The plaintiff was exposed to paraquat.
- The plaintiff has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease.
Experienced paraquat attorneys work with clients to gather and develop this evidence throughout the course of the litigation. You do not need to have all of these documents in hand before contacting an attorney.
Evidence of paraquat exposure may include:
- Employment records showing work in agriculture, landscaping, pesticide application, or other occupations involving paraquat.
- Applicator licenses or pesticide handling certifications
- Records from employers, co-ops, or suppliers documenting paraquat purchases or use.
- Crop records or farm management documents.
- Witness statements from coworkers, supervisors, or family members who can attest to the plaintiff’s work with or around paraquat.
- Residential records showing proximity to farms or facilities where paraquat was applied.
- USGS pesticide use data or state agricultural records documenting paraquat application in the plaintiff’s area.
Medical evidence may include:
- Medical records documenting the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease or a related condition.
- Treatment records, including medications, therapy, and specialist visits.
- Physician statements regarding the progression and severity of the disease.
- Records of related health impacts, including falls, hospitalizations, and the need for assisted living or in-home care.
Wisner Baum’s paraquat lawyers work with leading medical experts, toxicologists, and agricultural specialists to connect your exposure history to diagnosis. If you believe you may have a claim but are uncertain about what documentation you can provide, do not worry. Our legal team will help assess your situation during a free consultation.
What is Paraquat?
Paraquat dichloride is a non-selective, broad-spectrum herbicide used primarily to kill weeds and grass. Austrian chemist Hugo Weidel and his student, M. Russo, discovered paraquat in the 1880s. Roughly 50 years later, scientists Michaelis and Hill discovered the chemical’s redox properties and named the compound methyl viologen. Scientists discovered the chemical’s weed-killing properties in the late 1950s.
Commercially introduced in 1962 as Gramoxone, paraquat quickly became a top-selling herbicide despite numerous studies linking the herbicide to wide-ranging health issues. The rise in paraquat use coincided with the surge in no-till farming in the U.S. and worldwide.
Common Paraquat Products
Syngenta and Chevron are two of the largest paraquat producers. Some of the most common paraquat products include:
- Blanco
- Bonedry
- Cyclone SL 2.0
- Devour
- Firestorm
- Gramoxone
- Helmquat 3SL
- Para-Shot 3.0
- Paraquate Concentrate
Paraquat Side Effects
Research shows that paraquat exposure is dangerous, even at low levels. Paraquat side effects depend on the amount, route, and duration of exposure to the herbicide and the person’s overall health. The herbicide enters the body via:
- Skin: Contact or penetration of the skin, mucous membranes, and other epithelial tissues (including the mouth, nose, trachea, and conducting airways, particularly where cuts, abrasions, rashes, sores, or other tissue damage are present).
- Inhalation: Spray droplets enter the nose or mouth.
- Ingestion: The liquid chemical is swallowed.
Acute Exposure – Paraquat Poisoning
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “one small sip [of paraquat] can be fatal, and there is no antidote.” In general, people who accidentally or intentionally ingest paraquat may experience any of the following symptoms:
- Acute kidney failure
- Coma
- Confusion
- Heart issues
- Liver failure
- Lung scarring
- Muscle weakness
- Pulmonary edema
- Respiratory failure possibly leads to death
- Seizures
While these cases are rare, paraquat poisoning may also occur via skin contact or inhalation. This report out of China highlights the potential for paraquat poisoning via skin absorption, and this report highlights the potential for paraquat poisoning via inhalation.
Chronic, Low-Dose Paraquat Exposure
Most paraquat applicators who repeatedly use the herbicide as intended are exposed to chronic, low doses. Even at this level of exposure, paraquat herbicide is capable of causing severe side effects, including:
- Eye damage: Conjunctivitis, destruction of the ocular surface, and keratitis.
- Skin damage: Ranging from reddening and blistering to severe burns.
- Parkinson’s disease: Studies show that the risk of Parkinson's disease increases with long-term exposure to paraquat.
- Respiratory arrest: Ingestion of paraquat can cause lung fibrosis and death due to respiratory failure.
- Other damage: Paraquat can harm kidney, liver, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular health.
Paraquat Toxicity – Lawsuits Allege Herbicide is “Unreasonably Dangerous”
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) describes paraquat as “toxic” and “highly poisonous.” While paraquat remains commercially available in the U.S., the EPA lists the herbicide as “restricted,” meaning only licensed applicators may use it. Despite the herbicide’s restricted status, paraquat lawsuits allege the herbicide is unreasonably dangerous, even when licensed applicators use the product as intended.
Paraquat Banned in Over 67 Countries
Paraquat is so toxic that at least 67 countries have issued bans, citing paraquat studies linking exposure to Parkinson’s disease and other serious health issues. In the U.S., however, paraquat use has reached an all-time high within the last 25 years.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, estimated annual paraquat use in the U.S. more than doubled between 2008 and 2018. USGS estimates for 2018 range from approximately 11 million to more than 17 million pounds applied to American farmland annually.
Paraquat is one of only two pesticide products still used in the U.S. that are either banned outright or phased out of use in the European Union, Brazil, and China.
Paraquat Parkinson’s Disease Link
The body of scientific research linking paraquat and Parkinson’s disease has continued to grow in recent years. Several studies have concluded that exposure to paraquat increases the likelihood of developing Parkinson’s disease and that the effect is dose-dependent. The research suggests that farmworkers and pesticide applicators are more at risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. People who live near fields and other areas where paraquat is heavily used may also be more at risk for Parkinson’s.
What is Parkinson’s Disease?
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder of the brain. One of the disease’s hallmarks is the selective degeneration and death of dopaminergic neurons (dopamine-producing nerve cells) in the brain. Once dopaminergic neurons die, they are not replaced. The presence of Lewy bodies (insoluble aggregates of a protein called alphasynuclein) in many of the remaining dopaminergic neurons in the brain is also a hallmark of Parkinson’s.
When enough dopaminergic neurons have died, dopamine production falls below the level the brain requires for proper control of motor function, resulting in the motor symptoms associated with Parkinson’s.
Presently, there is no cure for Parkinson’s. No treatment will cease its progression. The treatments most commonly prescribed for its motor symptoms tend to become progressively less effective the longer they are used. Parkinson’s treatments may also increasingly cause unwelcome side effects the longer they are used.
According to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, a person diagnosed with Parkinson’s spends an estimated $26,400 per year on their care. Additionally, Parkinson’s diagnoses in the U.S. result in an annual economic burden of $19.8 to $26.4 billion.
Common Parkinson’s Symptoms
Parkinson’s affects the motor system, which is the part of the central nervous system that controls movement. People with Parkinson’s may not notice the symptoms immediately as the disease manifests gradually and symptoms often worsen over time.
The most common Parkinson’s symptoms include:
- Resting tremor – Shaking movement when the muscles are relaxed
- Bradykinesia – Slowness in voluntary movement and reflexes
- Rigidity – Stiffness and resistance to passive movement
- Postural instability – Impaired balance
Parkinson’s can also result in “secondary” motor symptoms, which include:
- Freezing of gait
- Shrinking handwriting
- Mask-like expression
- Slurred, monotonous, quiet voice
- Stooped posture
- Muscle spasms
- Impaired coordination
- Difficulty swallowing
- Excess saliva and drooling caused by reduced swallowing movements
Other health problems related to PD include memory problems, sleep disorders, depression, pain, constipation, and other non-movement symptoms.
Does Paraquat Cause Parkinson’s Disease?
Yes, according to lawsuits citing the growing body of medical research linking chronic, low-dose paraquat exposure to Parkinson’s disease. In 2011, scientists reported that exposure to paraquat increased the risk of Parkinson’s by more than two-fold. Conversely, scientists in the Netherlands noted that the country had a decrease in Parkinson’s disease in the general population following a ban on paraquat.
How Does Paraquat Cause Parkinson’s?
Scientists generally agree that oxidative stress is a major factor in—if not the precipitating cause of—the degeneration and death of dopaminergic neurons and the accumulation of Lewy bodies, both of which are considered hallmarks of PD pathology.
Paraquat causes oxidative stress because of redox properties that are inherent to the chemical’s composition.
A strong oxidant, paraquat readily undergoes redox cycling (a repetitive process involving reduction and oxidation reactions) in the presence of molecular oxygen, which is plentiful in living cells. Paraquat’s redox cycling in living cells interferes with cellular functions that are necessary to sustain life with cellular respiration in animal cells.
The redox cycling also creates a reactive oxygen species known as superoxide radical, an extremely reactive molecule that can initiate a cascading series of chemical reactions that create other reactive oxygen species that damage lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids, molecules that are essential components of the structures and functions of living cells.
Because paraquat’s redox cycling can repeat indefinitely in the conditions typically present in living cells, a single molecule of paraquat can trigger the production of countless molecules of destructive superoxide radicals.
The same redox properties that make paraquat toxic to plant cells and other types of animal cells make it toxic to dopaminergic neurons in humans. Paraquat creates oxidative stress through redox cycling, which interferes with the function of, damages, and ultimately kills dopaminergic neurons in the human brain.
Scientists have known of paraquat’s redox cycling properties since the 1930s, and scientists have known that paraquat is toxic to human and plant cells due to its redox properties since the 1960s.
Studies Linking Paraquat to Parkinson’s Disease
Epidemiological studies have found that exposure to paraquat significantly increases the risk of developing PD. Hundreds of in vitro studies (experiments in a test tube, culture dish, or other controlled experimental environments) have found that paraquat creates oxidative stress that results in the degeneration and death of dopaminergic neurons (among other types of animal cells).
A 2009 study on California Central Valley residents found evidence that exposure to a combination of paraquat and maneb (fungicide) increases the risk of Parkinson’s, particularly in younger subjects or when the pesticide exposure occurs at younger ages.
A 2011 study of participants in the large Agricultural Health Study (AHS) found an odds ratio of 2.5 increased risk among those who mixed or applied paraquat. If the research subjects had a defect in a specific gene, the risk for PD increased, the study found. “Our findings, considered together with earlier results, suggest that paraquat use plays a role in human PD. Because paraquat remains one of the most widely used herbicides worldwide, this finding potentially has great public health significance,” the study authors wrote.
A 2017 study found an association between paraquat exposure and PD, especially among individuals with certain genetic characteristics. The study further concluded that paraquat exposure damaged DNA and impaired mitochondrial respiration.
Paraquat is one of only a handful of toxins that scientists use to produce animal models of Parkinson’s disease. Animal studies have found that paraquat herbicide causes a dose-dependent depletion of dopamine among mice injected with the chemical, and the effect is long-lasting and irreversible.
If you would like more information on your legal rights, we offer free and fast paraquat Parkinson’s lawsuit consultations. Please fill out our contact form or call toll-free (310) 207-3233.
