➢ Paraquat & Parkinson’s Disease Lawsuits
If you or a loved one was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease after working with or living near the weed killer Paraquat, you may have the right to file a lawsuit and receive compensation.
For decades, farmers, licensed pesticide applicators, and rural families have been exposed to this chemical. A growing body of research links that exposure to Parkinson’s disease, a progressive and incurable disorder of the nervous system.
If you or a loved one were exposed to Paraquat and diagnosed with Parkinson’s diagnosis, you may be eligible to take legal action. Find out if you qualify by contacting the law firm of Hissey Mulderig & Friend toll-free at 1-866-806-8117, or send us a message using the contact form on this page.
➢ What is Paraquat and Why Is It So Dangerous?
Paraquat is one of the most widely used and most toxic weed killers (herbicides) in American agriculture. It is sold under brand names such as Gramoxone, and it is applied to crops including cotton, soybeans, corn, almonds, grapes, and citrus. Paraquat is a restricted-use pesticide, which means it is so hazardous that only trained, licensed applicators are legally permitted to handle it.
Swallowing or otherwise ingesting even a small amount of Paraquat can be fatal, and there is no antidote. The United States Environmental Protection Agency classifies it among the most toxic herbicides in use, and dozens of countries have banned it outright. People are most often exposed by mixing, loading, or spraying the chemical, by working in or near treated fields, or by living close to farmland where it is regularly applied.
➢ How is Paraquat Linked to Parkinson’s Disease?
A substantial and growing body of scientific research connects Paraquat exposure to Parkinson’s disease. Paraquat triggers oxidative stress, a form of cell damage caused by unstable molecules called free radicals, and that damage destroys the dopamine-producing nerve cells in a region of the brain called the substantia nigra. Those are the very same cells that are lost in people who develop Parkinson’s disease.
The epidemiology points the same direction. A widely cited 2011 study in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives found that people with Parkinson’s were roughly two and a half times more likely to have used Paraquat. The National Toxicology Program at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences has reviewed the laboratory and human evidence connecting Paraquat to Parkinson’s. More recent research has reported that people who lived or worked near areas where Paraquat was sprayed faced nearly double the risk, and that the risk rises with longer and heavier exposure.
➢ Who Qualifies to File a Paraquat Lawsuit?
To pursue a Paraquat Parkinson’s claim, you generally need two things: a confirmed clinical diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, and a documented history of Paraquat exposure. You may qualify if you:
- Worked as a licensed applicator, mixer, or loader who handled Paraquat directly.
- Worked on or around farms where Paraquat was sprayed, including farmworkers who were present in treated fields.
- Lived near agricultural land where Paraquat was regularly applied and were exposed through drift or proximity.
Both people who handled the chemical directly and those who were exposed nearby may have valid claims. If you are unsure whether your exposure counts, you can contact our law firm and speak with an attorney to find out if you qualify.
➢ What Compensation Can a Paraquat Lawsuit Recover?
Individuals and their families who file a Paraquat lawsuit may be eligible to seek compensation for the actual costs associated with receiving a Parkinson’s diagnosis, including:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Costs from long-term and in-home care
- Lost wages and reduced earning capacity, and
- Pain and suffering
Families who have lost a loved one to Parkinson’s disease may also be eligible to file a wrongful death claim against the companies that manufactured and sold Paraquat.
➢ What is the Status of the Paraquat Litigation?
Thousands of people who developed Parkinson’s after Paraquat exposure have filed lawsuits against the makers of this herbicide. Those cases have been grouped together in a federal multidistrict litigation, a process that places similar claims before a single court to move them forward efficiently.
Settlement negotiations between the plaintiffs and the manufacturers involved in the Paraquat litigation are currently underway. Importantly, the litigation remains active, and new claims may still be possible.
Because legal deadlines known as statutes of limitations apply to these claims, waiting can put your rights at risk. The sooner your case is reviewed, the sooner you will know whether you qualify and what your options are.
➢ What Other Health Problems Are Linked to Paraquat?
Paraquat’s harm is not limited to the nervous system. Because it is so toxic, exposure and poisoning have been linked to a range of other serious conditions, including:
- Lung scarring, known as pulmonary fibrosis or “Paraquat lung,” which can cause respiratory failure
- Kidney failure and acute kidney injury
- Liver damage and liver failure
- Heart failure and scarring of the esophagus
Acute Paraquat poisoning can be fatal, which is part of why the chemical is so tightly regulated.
Hissey Mulderig & Friend is currently focused on Parkinson’s disease claims tied to Paraquat exposure, so if you developed Parkinson’s after exposure, we encourage you to reach out.
➢ Contact a Paraquat Law Firm to Start Your Claim
If you or a loved one was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease after Paraquat exposure, the team at Hissey Mulderig & Friend can help.
Our law firm has spent decades representing workers and other individuals who were injured by exposure to dangerous chemicals and defective products, including complex toxic exposure cases like asbestos and mesothelioma.
Hissey Mulderug & Friend handles cases on a contingency basis. This means you will never have to pay attorneys fees or other legal costs unless we recover compensation for you.
Find out if you qualify to file a Paraquat lawsuit or start your claim today by contacting Hissey Mulderig & Friend toll-free at 1-866-806-8117. You can also reach us by filling out our free claims submission form, located at the top of this page.
