Overview
More than 6,500 federal lawsuits allege that exposure to the herbicide paraquat contributed to Parkinson’s disease in farmworkers, applicators and others (per Walch Law and firm pages, 2026). The cases are consolidated in MDL 3004 in the Southern District of Illinois before Judge Nancy J. Rosenstengel, with Syngenta and Chevron as defendants (per Drugwatcher and The New Lede, 2025–2026). A tentative master settlement was reached in April 2025 (per The New Lede); a July 2026 Lone Pine order requires non-settling plaintiffs to prove individual exposure or face dismissal (per court order CMO 25), and hundreds of plaintiffs have rejected the offer (per AboutLawsuits, Oct 2, 2026).
Status of the science / claims: Plaintiffs rely on epidemiological studies linking paraquat exposure to Parkinson’s disease; defense contests causation and exposure (per firm pages and court filings, 2025–2026).
Companies involved
Settlement amounts
Tentative master settlement (Apr 2025) is not final; per-case amounts depend on injury, exposure and liens (per firm pages, 2026). Nothing can be promised.
Case count
| Month | Filed cases | Δ |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1, 2026 | 6,500 | — |
Key dates
- October 2, 2026Hundreds of plaintiffs reject the settlement offer; litigation continues (per AboutLawsuits, Oct 2, 2026)
- July 28, 2026Lone Pine order: non-settling plaintiffs must prove individual exposure or face dismissal (per court order CMO 25 and firm pages, Jul 2026)
- February 1, 2026New scheduling order sets expert-challenge and Daubert deadlines (per Drugwatcher, Feb 2025 update cycle)
- April 1, 2025Tentative master settlement agreement reached between lead MDL counsel (per The New Lede, Jun 2025)
- June 1, 2024Judge Rosenstengel denies several defense motions to exclude plaintiff experts (per Drugwatcher, 2024)
- June 1, 2019Federal paraquat cases consolidated into MDL 3004, S.D. Ill. (per JPML and court records)
Updates
- Updated Oct 3, 2026New case (Oct 2026, US): Paraquat Parkinson’s MDL 3004 (S.D. Ill.) — 6,500+ cases; tentative master settlement Apr 2025 (per The New Lede); Lone Pine order Jul 2026 (CMO 25); hundreds rejected the offer (per AboutLawsuits, Oct 2, 2026).
Notable filings
No notable filings recorded yet. Docket entries are added from public court records as they appear.
FAQ
Is there a paraquat Parkinson’s lawsuit?
Yes. More than 6,500 federal cases are consolidated in MDL 3004, S.D. Ill., alleging paraquat exposure contributed to Parkinson’s disease (per Walch Law and court records, 2026).
Is there a paraquat settlement?
A tentative master settlement was reached in April 2025 (per The New Lede). It is not final; a July 2026 Lone Pine order requires non-settling plaintiffs to prove individual exposure or face dismissal (per court order CMO 25).
Who are the defendants?
Syngenta and Chevron are the named defendants in the MDL (per Drugwatcher, 2025–2026).
What does the Lone Pine order mean?
Plaintiffs who do not join the settlement must prove their own exposure to paraquat or face dismissal (per court order CMO 25 and firm pages, Jul 2026). A case review would confirm standing.
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