Paraquat Parkinson's Disease Litigation

Fighting for Farmers & Agricultural Workers Exposed to Paraquat

Trust Injury Law LLC represents individuals nationwide who developed Parkinson's disease or related neurological conditions after exposure to the toxic herbicide Paraquat. Once marketed as an efficient weed killer, Paraquat has now been linked by decades of research to irreversible neurological damage and long-term disability among farmworkers and rural residents.

Practice Areas: Toxic Torts | Product Liability | Agricultural Law | Personal Injury | Wrongful Death

Who May Have a Claim

You may be eligible to file a Paraquat claim if you:

  • Worked as a farmer, pesticide applicator, crop duster, or agricultural worker
  • Lived near farmland or areas where Paraquat was sprayed
  • Experienced direct or indirect exposure through drift, contaminated clothing, or groundwater
  • Have been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease or similar neurological disorders after exposure

Important Note:

Our firm also represents families of deceased individuals who may have been harmed by long-term Paraquat exposure. Because symptoms often appear years after exposure, many victims remain unaware that Paraquat may be the underlying cause of their illness.

What Is Paraquat?

Paraquat dichloride is a highly toxic herbicide widely used in U.S. agriculture for decades on crops such as corn, soybeans, and cotton.

Global Ban Status

Although banned in over 30 countries — including the European Union, China, and Brazil — Paraquat remains legal in the United States under strict "restricted use" guidelines.

Scientific studies have shown that exposure to Paraquat, even at low levels, significantly increases the risk of developing Parkinson's disease, a progressive brain disorder that affects movement, balance, and speech.

Health Risks Linked to Paraquat

Exposure to Paraquat has been associated with:

Parkinson's Disease

  • • Progressive brain disorder
  • • Irreversible neurological damage
  • • Significantly increased risk even at low exposure levels

Motor Symptoms

  • • Tremors
  • • Rigidity and stiffness
  • • Balance impairment
  • • Difficulty with movement

Cognitive & Mood Changes

  • • Cognitive decline
  • • Memory problems
  • • Depression and anxiety
  • • Mood changes

Other Effects

  • • Respiratory damage (high-dose cases)
  • • Organ damage
  • • Long-term disability

Federal Multidistrict Litigation

Paraquat cases are being coordinated in federal multidistrict litigation (MDL No. 3004) in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois. Trust Injury Law actively participates in this national litigation framework.

Evidence Collection & Preservation

Critical Evidence Categories

Exposure Documentation

Obtain and Preserve:

Medical Evidence

  • Parkinson's disease diagnosis and date
  • Neurologist evaluations and movement disorder specialist reports
  • DaTscan or other imaging results
  • Treatment records and medication history (levodopa, etc.)
  • Progression notes and functional assessments
  • Differential diagnosis ruling out other causes

Critical Practice Tip:

Establish a clear timeline showing Paraquat exposure preceded Parkinson's diagnosis by several years. Expert testimony from movement disorder specialists and toxicologists is essential to establish causation and rule out alternative explanations.

Discovery Targets Against Manufacturers

  • Scientific Studies: Internal and external research on Paraquat-Parkinson's link
  • Regulatory Communications: EPA correspondence, safety data submissions
  • Warning Evolution: History of product labels and safety warnings
  • Marketing Materials: Claims about safety and efficacy
  • Alternative Products: Safer herbicide options available but not promoted
  • Foreign Bans: Company response to international restrictions
  • Corporate Knowledge: Executive awareness of neurological risks

Damages Framework

Economic Damages

  • Medical Expenses: Neurologist visits, medications (levodopa, dopamine agonists), physical therapy
  • Future Medical Care: Lifetime treatment costs, deep brain stimulation (DBS), long-term care
  • Lost Wages: Inability to work due to motor impairment and disability
  • Lost Earning Capacity: Permanent disability ending career in farming or other occupations
  • Caregiver Costs: In-home care, assisted living, nursing home expenses
  • Adaptive Equipment: Mobility aids, home modifications, assistive devices

Non-Economic Damages

  • Pain and Suffering: Physical discomfort, tremors, rigidity, balance issues
  • Emotional Distress: Depression, anxiety common in Parkinson's patients
  • Loss of Enjoyment of Life: Inability to engage in hobbies, recreational activities, farm work
  • Loss of Consortium: Impact on spouse and family relationships
  • Diminished Quality of Life: Progressive nature of disease, loss of independence

Punitive Damages

Available when manufacturers demonstrated:

  • Knowledge of Parkinson's link through scientific research
  • Continued sale in U.S. despite bans in 30+ countries
  • Failure to update warnings despite mounting evidence
  • Prioritizing profits over farmworker safety
  • Fraudulent concealment of known neurological risks

Maximizing Recovery

Parkinson's is a progressive, degenerative disease requiring lifetime care. Work with life care planners and economists to project future costs accurately. Expert testimony from movement disorder specialists is critical to establish both diagnosis and causation.

Client Intake & Case Evaluation

Initial Screening Questions

  1. Occupation and work history? (Farmer, pesticide applicator, crop duster, agricultural worker)
  2. Years of Paraquat exposure? (Dates, duration, frequency of use)
  3. Location of exposure? (Farm location, crops treated, residential proximity)
  4. Parkinson's diagnosis date? (Must establish exposure preceded diagnosis)
  5. Who diagnosed? (Neurologist, movement disorder specialist)
  6. Current symptoms and severity? (Tremor, rigidity, bradykinesia, postural instability)
  7. Medications? (Levodopa response is typical in Paraquat-induced Parkinson's)
  8. Family history of Parkinson's? (May affect causation analysis)
  9. Other exposures or risk factors? (Head injuries, other pesticides)

Evidence Preservation Instructions

Immediately instruct clients to:

  • Gather all employment and agricultural records
  • Obtain complete medical records from all treating physicians
  • Document timeline of exposure and symptom onset
  • Preserve pesticide purchase receipts and application logs
  • Identify witnesses to Paraquat use (co-workers, family)
  • Collect photographs showing farm operations and equipment
  • Maintain medication logs and treatment records

Strong Case Indicators:

  • Documented occupational exposure to Paraquat for multiple years
  • Parkinson's disease diagnosis from qualified neurologist
  • Clear timeline showing exposure preceded diagnosis
  • Employment records or farm logs confirming Paraquat use
  • No strong alternative causation (no family history, head trauma, etc.)
  • Progression consistent with typical Parkinson's disease
  • Within applicable statute of limitations

MDL Considerations

Paraquat cases coordinated in MDL No. 3004 (S.D. Illinois):

  • Centralized Discovery: Coordinated expert depositions, document production
  • Bellwether Trials: Test cases to establish settlement values
  • Pooled Resources: Shared expert costs and litigation expenses
  • Settlement Facilitation: MDL structure often leads to global settlements
  • Individual Fact Sheets: Each case maintains individual merits while benefiting from collective litigation

Contact Trust Injury Law LLC

If you or someone you love developed Parkinson's disease after Paraquat exposure, you may be entitled to significant compensation.

Contact Trust Injury Law LLC today for a free and confidential case evaluation.

  • Client Referrals: Connect qualified Paraquat clients with experienced litigation attorneys
  • Co-Counsel Arrangements: Partner on complex toxic tort and agricultural cases
  • MDL Coordination: Participate in federal multidistrict litigation (MDL No. 3004)
  • Expert Witness Resources: Movement disorder specialists, toxicologists, agricultural experts
  • Discovery Sharing: Access to manufacturer documents and scientific evidence

All consultations are strictly confidential and without obligation. No fees unless we win your case.

Disclaimer: Attorney Advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. All claims are evaluated individually. Trust Injury Law LLC is not affiliated with any government agency or manufacturer. All consultations are strictly confidential and without obligation.