Several studies have connected exposure to paraquat herbicide to a higher risk of Parkinson’s disease. That means there is reason to believe paraquat manufacturer Syngenta knew the risks, potentially exposing them to liability.
If you were diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease after being exposed to paraquat, Roden Law may be able to pursue legal action on your behalf. Thousands of people have already filed similar lawsuits to seek compensation for past and ongoing medical care and the other damages caused by their illnesses.
Call our experienced class action lawyers today to learn more about your legal options. Our lawyers represent the injured without charging you any upfront costs or fees. An initial legal consultation is also free of charge.
Call today for answers to your legal questions: 1-844-RESULTS.
Who May Have the Right to File a Paraquat Lawsuit?
Unlike other herbicides, paraquat is not something anyone can walk into a store and buy. You must have a license to use this product. That means the people who were most likely exposed work in certain types of occupations, such as:
- Farming
- Landscaping
- Groundskeeping
- Other agricultural jobs where professional-grade pesticides are regularly used
People who live near farmland where paraquat is sprayed may also be at risk, along with family members of those who work in the industries listed above. Paraquat could have entered your body after being absorbed through your skin, often through a rash or cut. Some people may have eaten or drank something that was contaminated with the herbicide.
If you fit these criteria, and you were diagnosed with Parkinson’s, you may be able to file a paraquat lawsuit.
You may be unsure if you were exposed because the herbicide that may have caused your illness was not called paraquat. In fact, paraquat is just the active ingredient in various brand name herbicides, such as:
- Parazone
- Blanco
- Helmquat
- Firestorm
- Para-SHOT
- Devour
These herbicides are used on dozens of crops, like:
- Potatoes
- Oranges
- Coffee
- Pears
- Almonds
- Garlic
- Grapes
- Maize
- Soybeans
- Wheat
- Oranges
- Grapes
- Strawberries
It is important to review your situation with an experienced lawyer to determine if you may have a viable case. We need to consider the specific details surrounding your paraquat exposure and medical diagnosis, such as:
- When you were diagnosed
- How often you were exposed to paraquat
- The way you were exposed
- Genetic factors that may be related to your diagnosis
- And more
Damages in a Paraquat Lawsuit
The goal of a defective product case like a paraquat lawsuit is to secure compensation for the victim’s damages.
Medical Expenses You Have or Will Likely Incur
Your lawyer can include all medical costs related to Parkinson’s disease, including the cost of long-term care, stays at the hospital, medication, and much more.
Lost Wages and Loss of Earning Capacity
You may still be able to work for a time after you are diagnosed, but you may miss work because you are physically unable to work, or you need to attend follow-up appointments with doctors. Eventually, your illness may diminish your earning capacity because you must work less or stop working entirely. This is known as loss of earning capacity and can be included in a defective product claim.
Pain and Suffering
This type of compensation addresses the mental distress and physical pain caused by the illness. For example, someone with Parkinson’s disease may have difficulty moving due to stiff muscles. Victims may become depressed because their lives will never be the same.
Damages for Wrongful Death
Our firm may be able to file a lawsuit on behalf of someone who died from Parkinson’s disease. This lawsuit would include wrongful death damages, such as funeral costs and the victim’s final medical expenses.
Punitive Damages
This form of compensation is reserved for cases if extreme or intentional negligence. While many injury claims do not include punitive damages, they are more likely to come up in class actions/defective product claims.
Call Roden Law to discuss a potential paraquat lawsuit. Phone: 1-844-RESULTS.
History and Regulation of Paraquat
Paraquat is an active ingredient in numerous herbicides that are used to control grass and weeds. Paraquat is also utilized as a defoliant to remove leaves before crops are harvested.
The U.S. is one of approximately 100 countries that still allow the use of paraquat. There are also 50 countries that have banned the use of this herbicide. This includes China, which produces and exports paraquat.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) heavily restricts paraquat’s use to those with commercial licenses. The EPA has mandated the inclusion of additives to help people discover they have been exposed. For instance, if humans ingest paraquat, the additives cause them to vomit.
Heavy regulation has not done much to limit the use of paraquat. An estimated 15 million acres of U.S. land were sprayed with herbicide in 2016. The U.S. Geological Survey estimates that the use of paraquat tripled from 2008 to 2018.
Studies on Parkinson’s Disease and Paraquat
Researchers began connecting the dots between paraquat and Parkinson’s disease back in the 1980s. There were numerous cases of advanced Parkinson’s disease in California. Eventually researchers connected this cluster to a chemical that has a structure like paraquat. Identifying this connection led to much more research that revealed abnormal numbers of Parkinson’s cases in agricultural locations.
This led to much more research, including by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). One of their studies looked at thousands of agricultural workers and revealed a compelling link between exposure to paraquat and the later development of Parkinson’s disease.
Another NIH study found people who had been exposed to rotenone or paraquat had a 2.5 times greater risk of developing Parkinson’s. Researchers evaluated more than 100 people who were diagnosed with Parkinson’s and 358 who did not have the disease.
UCLA researchers studied residents and workers who may have been exposed to pesticides in California’s Central Valley. They concluded there was a strong correlation between the risk of Parkinson’s disease and exposure to paraquat. The risk of Parkinson’s increased as exposure to paraquat increased.
According to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, individuals exposed to paraquat at an early age have a 200 to 600 percent increase in developing Parkinson’s.
Despite significant research and calls to ban paraquat, it was reapproved for use by the EPA in 2020.
Update on Paraquat Lawsuits
So many paraquat lawsuits have been filed, many were consolidated into a multidistrict litigation (MDL) in 2021. As of May 1, 2024, there were 5,590 pending lawsuits in the paraquat MDL. These lawsuits were grouped together because they have similar questions of fact and make similar allegations, including that manufacturers were aware of the risks.
The Guardian discovered corporate documents that reveal how Syngenta worked to alter scientific research linking paraquat to Parkinson’s. They even concealed unfavorable research from paraquat regulators.
Contact Us to Determine if You Can File a Paraquat Lawsuit
Roden Law is currently investigating lawsuits against Syngenta over the link between Parkinson’s disease and paraquat. If you are unsure if you may have a valid case, call to learn more about legal options.
If you hire our firm, there are no upfront costs. There are also no fees while working on your case.
Contact Roden Law today to schedule your free consultation.
Call our firm today: 1-844-RESULTS.