Paraquat Herbicide Lawsuits Prepare for Bellwether Trials

Lawsuits against manufacturers of paraquat, a toxic weed killer that has been linked to Parkinson’s disease, are moving forward toward bellwether trial selection. The judge overseeing the litigation, The Honorable Nancy J. Rosenstengel in the Southern District of Illinois, has asked the parties to select 16 potential cases for trial. Plaintiffs will select eight cases, defendant Chevron USA will select four, and defendant Syngenta will also select four. The 16 cases will be be broken into four groups, with the first of these trials slated to start in November 2022, and the other beginning in the spring, summer, and fall of 2023.

Plaintiffs in the roughly 400 paraquat cases are alleging that companies such as Chevron Chemical Company, Syngenta, Growmark and others have sold paraquat-based herbicides despite knowing about the alleged link between the dangerous chemical and Parkinson’s disease. Plaintiffs also claim that they were not warned of the alleged dangerous health risks associated with the herbicide. Farmers, agricultural workers, gardeners, chemical mixers and transporters of paraquat-containing herbicides/pesticides may be at risk for developing the central nervous system condition.

Schedule a Consultation Today if You Think You Have a Potential Paraquat Claim

If you or a loved one handled or used an herbicide or pesticide containing paraquat and were later diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease, you may be legally entitled to compensation.