Daniela Palme
2 oct 2025
As of October 2025, over 6,300 paraquat lawsuits are pending in federal court, with ongoing settlement negotiations. A tentative settlement framework was reached in April 2025, and trials have been paused while parties work to finalize the agreement.
Understanding the Paraquat Litigation
Thousands of people across the United States have filed lawsuits claiming that exposure to the herbicide paraquat caused them to develop Parkinson's disease. These cases have been consolidated into one of the largest mass torts currently moving through the federal court system.
Bottom Line Up Front: As of October 2025, over 6,300 paraquat lawsuits are pending in federal court, with ongoing settlement negotiations. A tentative settlement framework was reached in April 2025, and trials have been paused while parties work to finalize the agreement.
Key Information About the Paraquat MDL
MDL Number: MDL 3004 (In re: Paraquat Products Liability Litigation)
Court Location: U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois, East St. Louis Division
Presiding Judge: Chief Judge Nancy J. Rosenstengel
Date Established: June 7, 2021
Current Case Count: Over 6,300 cases as of September 2025
Special Master: Randi S. Ellis (appointed to assist with case management)
Who's Leading the Plaintiffs' Side?
Judge Rosenstengel appointed a diverse leadership team in July 2021 to oversee the litigation on behalf of plaintiffs. The leadership structure includes:
Co-Lead Counsel (3 attorneys):
Khaldoun Baghdadi - Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger (San Francisco)
Sarah Shoemake Doles - Carey Danis & Lowe (St. Louis)
Peter Flowers - Meyers & Flowers (Chicago)
Plaintiffs' Executive Committee (PEC):
The committee originally consisted of 14 attorneys, including:
Roopal P. Luhana - Chaffin Luhana LLP
Marlene Goldenberg - Nigh Goldenberg Raso & Vaughan
Additional committee members representing various firms nationwide
The leadership team includes 11 women and 5 men, with 4 attorneys of color, reflecting a deliberate effort to create a diverse and inclusive leadership structure.
Who Are the Defendants?
The primary defendants in the paraquat litigation are:
Syngenta Crop Protection, LLC - Currently manufactures and sells paraquat under the brand name Gramoxone. Syngenta is owned by Sinochem Holdings, a Chinese state-run conglomerate.
Chevron U.S.A. Inc. - Previously distributed paraquat in the United States until 1986 and holds the license for paraquat in the U.S.
Other defendants include various manufacturers and distributors of paraquat-based herbicides.
What is Paraquat?
Paraquat dichloride is a highly toxic chemical herbicide used primarily on farms to kill weeds and grasses. First introduced in the 1960s, it's commonly used on crops including cotton, corn, soybeans, and vineyard grapes.
Brand names include:
Gramoxone
Firestorm
Helmquat
Parazone
Despite being banned in over 70 countries (including China and the European Union), paraquat remains legal and widely used in the United States. A single sip can be fatal to humans, and there is no known antidote.
The Science Behind the Claims
Plaintiffs allege that exposure to paraquat causes oxidative stress that damages dopamine-producing neurons in the brain, triggering Parkinson's disease.
Key Scientific Evidence:
A 2011 National Institutes of Health (NIH) study found paraquat exposure was linked to a 2.5 times higher risk of developing Parkinson's disease.
Multiple epidemiological studies have shown associations between paraquat exposure and Parkinson's
Research indicates that the more exposure someone has to paraquat, the higher their risk of developing Parkinson's disease.
Recent Litigation Updates (2024-2025)
Settlement Developments (April-September 2025)
In April 2025, plaintiffs and defendants reached a tentative settlement framework that could resolve thousands of cases. Judge Rosenstengel has issued multiple stays on case-specific discovery to allow parties to finalize settlement terms.
Key Settlement Timeline:
April 2025: Settlement framework agreement signed
May-September 2025: Multiple stays issued to allow settlement finalization
September 29, 2025: Latest order extending stay and vacating trial dates
Expected: Payout schedule with settlement ranges anticipated within 60-90 days
The settlement is expected to cover cases in the federal MDL and hundreds of additional claims filed in California state court before April 7, 2025.
Estimated Settlement Ranges: Legal experts predict average settlements ranging from $700,000 to $1.5 million per plaintiff, depending on the duration of exposure and the severity of the injury.
Expert Testimony Challenges (2024)
The litigation faced a significant setback when Judge Rosenstengel excluded Dr. Martin Wells, the plaintiffs' key expert on general causation, in April 2024. This led to the dismissal of the first four bellwether cases. However, the court selected 10 new bellwether cases in August 2024 for continued discovery.
Case Management Issues
The court has been actively managing compliance with procedural requirements. In 2024, 116 cases were dismissed for failure to submit Plaintiff Assessment Questionnaires (PAQs) on time, and an additional 47 cases were recommended for dismissal in December 2024 for similar noncompliance.
State Court Activity
While the federal MDL represents the majority of cases, significant litigation is also proceeding in state courts:
Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas: Over 1,000 paraquat lawsuits are pending in the Pennsylvania state court. The first bellwether trial was scheduled for 2025, though it may be impacted by settlement discussions.
Leadership in Pennsylvania State Court:
Fidelma Fitzpatrick (Motley Rice) - Co-lead counsel and PEC member
Mike Daly (Motley Rice, Philadelphia office) - Liaison counsel
Who May Qualify for a Paraquat Lawsuit?
Individuals who may be eligible to file a paraquat lawsuit include:
Licensed commercial applicators who handled paraquat
Farmers and agricultural workers who were directly exposed to paraquat
Farm workers who mixed, loaded, or applied paraquat
Anyone diagnosed with Parkinson's disease after chronic paraquat exposure
Typical Exposure Period: Claims generally involve exposure that occurred from the 1970s through recent years, with many plaintiffs exposed for multiple years or decades.
Understanding Your Legal Options
Is This a Class Action?
No. While commonly referred to as the "paraquat class action," the MDL is not technically a class action lawsuit. Each case is evaluated individually, though they're consolidated for pretrial proceedings to increase efficiency.
Can New Cases Still Be Filed?
Yes. Attorneys are still investigating and filing new paraquat lawsuits. In fact, the MDL saw 50+ new cases filed in August 2025 alone.
What's the Timeline?
Mass tort litigation typically takes several years to resolve. The paraquat MDL was established in 2021, and settlement discussions are ongoing in 2025. Individual case outcomes will vary depending on whether a settlement is accepted or trial results are obtained.
What Happens Next?
The litigation is at a critical juncture with settlement negotiations underway. Potential outcomes include:
Global Settlement: Many or most cases resolve through the settlement framework currently being finalized
Bellwether Trials: If settlement talks fail, the 10 selected bellwether cases will proceed to trial to help gauge case values
Individual Resolutions: Some plaintiffs may opt out of the settlement and pursue individual trials
The next major milestone is the court's June 11, 2025, deadline for parties to update the court on settlement progress; although this date has passed, stays continue to be extended.
Regulatory Status and Advocacy
Despite the litigation, paraquat remains legal in the United States. However:
Over 50 U.S. lawmakers have urged the EPA to ban paraquat.
The EPA reviews paraquat safety on a 15-year cycle (last reviewed in 2021)
Advocacy groups continue to petition for an emergency ban, similar to the one issued for other toxic pesticides.
Current EPA regulations require licensed applicators to adhere to strict safety measures.
Why This Matters
The paraquat litigation represents a significant public health and legal issue. With thousands of plaintiffs alleging serious neurological harm from a widely used agricultural chemical, the outcome of this MDL could have far-reaching implications for:
Agricultural workers and their families
Pesticide regulations and safety standards
Corporate accountability for chemical manufacturers
Future mass tort litigation involving toxic exposures
Key Takeaways
Over 6,300 federal cases are pending in the Southern District of Illinois.
Settlement negotiations are actively ongoing with a framework agreement in place.
Judge Nancy Rosenstengel presides over the MDL with assistance from Special Master Randi Ellis.
The diverse leadership team includes three co-lead counsel and multiple PEC members.
Scientific evidence supports a link between paraquat exposure and Parkinson's disease.
New cases continue to be filed as more people become aware of the potential connection.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you believe you may have a paraquat-related claim, consult with a qualified attorney to discuss your specific situation.