Thousands of active paraquat lawsuits could be nearing a resolution.
Newly filed court documents in the 7th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals this week showed that a settlement agreement has been reached between defendants and many of the plaintiffs whose lawsuits are currently pending in multidistrict litigation (MDL).
“On April 14, 2025, lead counsel for Plaintiffs and Defendants in the [MDL] entered into a signed Letter Agreement that is intended to resolve this case and many others in the underlying MDL,” the Joint Motion stated.
It is unclear how many of the nearly 6,000 active cases pending in the MDL would be resolved by the settlement. The lawsuits claim that exposure to the highly toxic herbicide is connected to the development of Parkinson’s disease.
Paraquat manufacturer Syngenta’s decision to settle the cases comes with the first federal bellwether trial just six months away. This trial would essentially serve as a test case to help both plaintiffs and defendants understand what may happen if more paraquat lawsuits go to trial.
But the company opted to negotiate a settlement before any federal cases could go before a jury. It is unclear if that trial will move forward. It will depend on when the settlement agreement is finalized and how much of the MDL is covered.
The exact terms of the settlement, including how much plaintiffs may receive or which cases are included, have not yet been released. The terms are expected to be completed in the next 30 days.
Settlement Could Resolve Years-Long Lawsuits Over Paraquat’s Ties to Parkinson’s
The paraquat litigation has been ongoing for years, with the herbicide’s potential ties to Parkinson’s disease known for more than a decade.
A study published in Environmental Health Perspectives in 2011 determined that paraquat exposure plays a role in the development of the disease, building on previous research from animal studies that had yielded similar results.
Paraquat has long been known for its toxicity and is banned in dozens of countries, but has remained available in the U.S.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, it is one of the most widely used herbicides in the country.
But pressure has mounted in recent months for that to change. This fall, 47 members of the U.S. House of Representatives and seven U.S. Senators sent separate letters to the EPA advocating for a ban on the herbicide.
“Numerous studies have found that Paraquat causes serious health risks for workers who use the substance as well as the surrounding communities,” the letter from members of Congress stated. “These health risks include a higher risk of Parkinson’s disease, with some studies finding a 64% increase in the likelihood of developing Parkinson’s.”
Syngenta, which has produced paraquat since the 1960s, continues to publicly refute claims that its herbicide is tied to the disease.
“Syngenta rejects the claims of a causal link between paraquat and Parkinson’s disease because it is not supported by scientific evidence,” the company says on its website.