Paraquat MDL Judge Sets June 11 Settlement Update Deadline

Paraquat MDL Judge Sets June 11 Settlement Update Deadline

Introduction

The U.S. District Judge overseeing all federal Paraquat lawsuits has issued a 30-day pause on discovery deadlines, allowing time for attorneys to finalize the terms of a large-scale settlement.

This development could resolve thousands of claims brought by individuals who developed Parkinson’s disease after being exposed to the herbicide.

Thousands of Lawsuits Centralized in Federal Court

More than 6,000 lawsuits are currently pending in the federal court system, all alleging that Syngenta and Chevron failed to properly warn users of the potential health risks linked to Paraquat exposure, especially during the mixing, spraying, or handling of the product. Due to the common legal and factual issues, all cases have been consolidated into a multidistrict litigation (MDL) in the Southern District of Illinois, under the direction of a single federal judge since June 2021.

Tentative Settlement Reached Amid Trial Preparations

Although the court has been preparing a selection of bellwether cases for early trial dates, expected to begin later this year, a tentative settlement was recently announced. However, the exact terms have not yet been disclosed, and individual plaintiffs are still awaiting details on possible compensation. The settlement talks prompted a joint motion filed on April 14, 2025, requesting that the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals pause an ongoing appeal as the parties near agreement.

Earlier Bellwether Dismissals and New Trial Candidates

In April 2024, the judge dismissed the initial batch of bellwether lawsuits after excluding the plaintiffs’ expert witness testimony. That decision is currently under appeal. Meanwhile, the judge has moved forward by selecting 10 new bellwether candidates late last year, this time incorporating different expert testimony. These cases are being readied for trial, with the first trial set for October 14, 2025, and the second on April 6, 2026.

Court Orders 30-Day Stay in Discovery

On May 9, 2025, the judge issued an order staying all case-specific discovery deadlines for 30 days, instructing both sides to update the court on the settlement status no later than June 11, 2025. If the settlement does not move forward, discovery will resume for the second batch of bellwether trials. It remains uncertain whether the trial schedule will be affected if settlement discussions collapse.

Bellwether Trials to Serve as Indicators

While the outcome of these bellwether trials will not be legally binding for other plaintiffs, they are viewed as critical indicators. The trials will showcase key evidence and testimony that could be central in future proceedings, helping both sides gauge potential jury reactions if a nationwide Paraquat settlement is not ultimately reached.