Paraquat Exposure Parkinson’s Disease Lawsuit

If you or your loved one have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and were exposes to a herbicide known as Paraquat, you might be entitled to compensation for your injuries.

Research Indicates Exposure to Paraquat is Linked to Increased Risk of Parkinson’s Disease

Several studies have been done that link paraquat to Parkinson’s Disease through epidemiological studies. Experimental work has been conducted on rodents, which shows that exposure causes lesions in the substantia nigra. Some studies have suggested that people who live in rural areas where they have increased exposure to the pesticide are at an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease.

Some of this research was conducted back in 2010 and earlier. Recent reviews of the studies showed that there is a significant association between Parkinson’s disease and exposure to paraquat. Some of these reviews were conducted as recently as 2019. Future studies between the two are warranted.

One report indicates that early-onset Parkinson’s disease may have factors that precede the development of the disease by as much as a decade. These patients develop motor signs of PD before they reach the age of 50. Integrating genetic information and environmental factors is critical to understanding how they affect early-onset PD.

What is Paraquat Herbicide?

Paraquat is the common name for paraquat dichloride, which is an herbicide that is widely used in the United States. Since it was first registered with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the agency continues to review and re-evaluate the herbicide every 15 years.

Paraquat may also be known as Gramoxone, which is an end product that controls weeds in agricultural applications. This herbicide is a Restricted Use Pesticide (RUP), which means it may only be used by an applicator that is trained and certified.
The EPA has identified potential risks with paraquat to those workers who mix and apply the herbicide as well as those who enter the treated areas. Risks to bystanders within the areas of the sprayed fields were also identified. Safety measures were recorded in an addendum to the 2019 draft human health risk assessment.

Makers of the herbicide failed to include warnings on the label of the product. The risk of injuries increases without the warnings for staff who are exposed to the herbicide, such as farm workers, horticulturalists, and maintenance crews on golf courses and other maintained lawns.

Paraquat may be used in treating a wide variety of crops and fields, such as corn and wheat crops, orchards, cotton fields, hay fields, and landscaping. Studies have shown that people who were exposed to the chemical had an increased risk of developing health issues even if they had been trained correctly on handling the herbicide.

Paraquat Lawsuit

People who have been diagnosed with Parksons’s disease and were exposed to paraquat have filed lawsuits to seek compensation for their injuries. The lawsuits are designed to provide damages to the injured parties for current and future medical expenses, any lost time at work or lost wages along with permanent injuries and pain and suffering.

Current Status of Paraquat Lawsuits

The class action lawsuit had 482 plaintiffs who had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at the beginning of 2022. By the end of the year, the number had increased to over 2350 plaintiffs. The first bellwether test trial had been scheduled to start in 2022, but it has been postponed until October 2023 to allow expert witnesses to be deposed.

This delay gives others who have been exposed to the herbicide and now have Parkinson’s disease time to join the class action lawsuit. Chevron, Inc. and Syngenta are the main defendants in the case. Syngenta developed the herbicide and Chevron distributed it in the US. A bellwether trial allows a small number of plaintiffs and defendants to go to trial, which will establish guidelines for future trials. These trials are multi-district litigation (MDL), which is different from class-action lawsuits. With an MDL, plaintiffs are divided into groups. The groups may receive different amounts of damages, and some may decide to settle while others may choose not to.

How to File a Claim

If you have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and were exposed to paraquat or live in an area where the herbicide was used, you may be eligible to file a claim. You can schedule a consultation with Pulaski Kherkher, a personal injury law firm. We will discuss your situation and determine if you have grounds for a claim. We want you to receive the maximum amount you’re entitled to for your pain and suffering.

Contact us today to learn more about how we can assist you. Let us help you determine if you’re eligible to join this fight to hold the responsible parties accountable and to get the maximum settlement you’re entitled to.