Paraquat MDL Settlement Reached in Parkinson’s Lawsuits

Paraquat MDL Settlement Reached in Parkinson’s Lawsuits

Introduction

According to newly filed court documents, a settlement agreement has been reached in the Paraquat multidistrict litigation (MDL), which could potentially resolve thousands of lawsuits that allege a link between Paraquat exposure and Parkinson’s disease.

The weedkiller, manufactured and sold by Syngenta and Chevron, has been the focus of widespread litigation across both federal and state courts. Plaintiffs in these cases claim that they were not properly warned about the health risks associated with Paraquat, particularly the potential to develop Parkinson’s disease.

Scope of the Litigation

Syngenta and Chevron currently face over 5,800 lawsuits in the federal court system alone, with several hundred more cases pending in California and Pennsylvania state courts. All of these lawsuits raise similar accusations: that the manufacturers failed to adequately disclose the neurological risks tied to Paraquat exposure. In response to the growing number of federal cases, a Paraquat MDL was established in June 2021 in the Southern District of Illinois to streamline pretrial proceedings and coordinate discovery. The MDL also includes plans for “bellwether” trials intended to help predict how juries may respond to evidence common to many of the cases.

Bellwether Trials and Appeals

In April 2024, the presiding judge selected the first group of bellwether cases, but later excluded critical expert witness testimony presented by the plaintiffs. This ruling is currently being reviewed by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. While the appeal remains pending, the judge selected a second group of 10 bellwether cases in late 2024. These cases rely on different expert testimony and are being prepared for trial dates scheduled in October 2025 and April 2026.

Joint Motion to Pause Appeal

On April 14, 2025, legal counsel for both plaintiffs and defendants filed a joint motion with the appellate court, requesting that the appeal be held in abeyance. This motion followed the signing of a Letter Agreement between both parties that is aimed at resolving the MDL cases for an undisclosed amount. The motion stated that finalizing the settlement could eliminate the need for the appeal, which would promote judicial efficiency.

Details Pending and State Cases Continue

While the Letter Agreement marks a major step toward resolution, specific details such as average settlement payouts and the total number of claims impacted have not yet been disclosed. The agreement appears to focus solely on the federal MDL. Meanwhile, hundreds of additional Paraquat lawsuits in state courts are expected to proceed, with at least one case in California set to go before a jury this summer.