Paraquat lawsuit claims allege that exposure to the herbicide paraquat caused Parkinson's disease. Federal cases against Syngenta and Chevron U.S.A. are coordinated in MDL 3004 in the Southern District of Illinois, which listed 6,602 pending actions on October 1, 2026. A Master Settlement Agreement was entered August 4, 2025, and plaintiffs who declined it are now litigating.
Updates on Paraquat Lawsuit
Paraquat exposure explained from EPA, CDC and court records: how it happens, who is most at risk, drift and vapor, the safety rules since 2016, Parkinson’s research, and the records that help show exposure.
The Supreme Court's June 25, 2026 ruling in Monsanto v. Durnell held that FIFRA can preempt state failure-to-warn claims, unsettling a central theory in paraquat cases. With 6,602 actions pending in MDL 3004 as of 1 October 2026 and a global settlement agreed in principle but no terms disclosed, here is what is verified and what is not.
Paraquat exposure linked to Parkinson's. Discover your legal options and how a paraquat lawsuit attorney can help you claim compensation.
Key facts (as of October 2026)
- July 2021: EPA issued its paraquat interim registration review decision, adding mitigation measures.
- Aug. 4, 2025: Plaintiffs' leadership counsel and the defendants entered a Master Settlement Agreement.
- June 12, 2026: CMO 25 set proof requirements for plaintiffs who do not participate or are ineligible.
- Oct. 1, 2026: 6,602 actions were pending in MDL 3004, out of 8,495 filed.
- Oct. 15, 2026: CMO 27 set fact-sheet and record deadlines and depositions by Feb. 16, 2027 for one firm's non-participating cases.
What the paraquat lawsuits claim
Paraquat dichloride is a weed killer that in the United States is a Restricted Use Pesticide, usable only by certified applicators. Plaintiffs allege that exposure while mixing, spraying or working near paraquat caused Parkinson's disease and that the manufacturers failed to warn of the risk. EPA's position is that it has not found a clear link between paraquat exposure from labeled uses and adverse outcomes such as Parkinson's disease, noting that a 2020 Agricultural Health Study update found no association. In November 2025, EPA said a new vapor-pressure study showed greater uncertainty about paraquat's potential to volatilize and that it plans to require more data from manufacturers.
Where the litigation stands
MDL 3004 is before Judge Nancy J. Rosenstengel, with Randi Ellis serving as Special Master. Case Management Order No. 25 confirms the Master Settlement Agreement with the Syngenta defendants and Chevron U.S.A. Inc. and says the settlement process is underway; the court's posted orders do not disclose a fund size or payout amounts. Plaintiffs who declined offers must meet with the Special Master and certify a fully informed decision not to participate. The court's October 2026 orders focus on those non-participating cases, with biweekly in-person status conferences beginning November 5, 2026. In June 2026 the Supreme Court held in Monsanto Co. v. Durnell that federal pesticide law preempted a failure-to-warn claim; that case involved glyphosate, not paraquat.
Who may qualify
For plaintiffs who keep litigating, CMO 25 requires a Parkinson's diagnosis made no earlier than 10 years after the first alleged paraquat exposure, from a movement disorder specialist or, where none is reasonably nearby, a licensed neurologist. Proof of use is graded by period: recent, intermediate (1995 to 2014) and early (before 1995). Plaintiffs alleging California use after 1974 must also produce state pesticide-use records. The settlement's own criteria have not been published.
Deadlines and next steps
Statutes of limitations vary by state and often run from diagnosis or from when the link to paraquat was, or should have been, discovered. CMO 25 also requires a statute-of-limitations affidavit for newly filed cases. See paraquat settlement amounts for what is published and the paraquat compensation calculator for the factors involved.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a paraquat settlement?
Yes. Court orders confirm a Master Settlement Agreement entered August 4, 2025 between plaintiffs' leadership counsel and the defendants, Syngenta and Chevron U.S.A. Inc. Case Management Order No. 25, entered June 12, 2026, says the settlement process is underway. No fund size, payout matrix or per-claimant amount appears in the court's posted orders.
What if I declined a paraquat settlement offer?
Under CMO 25, plaintiffs who received an offer and did not accept must contact Special Master Randi Ellis within 30 days and sign a certification of their decision not to participate. They must then produce a Plaintiff Fact Sheet, a medical records summary, evidence of use and individualized expert causation reports. Plaintiffs who still do not comply after a 30-day cure period may face dismissal with prejudice.
Does EPA say paraquat causes Parkinson's disease?
No. EPA says it has not found a clear link between paraquat exposure from labeled uses and Parkinson's disease, citing a 2020 Agricultural Health Study update that found no association and did not replicate earlier 2011 findings. Plaintiffs dispute that conclusion, and EPA's continuing review of paraquat volatilization may add new data.
Sources
- U.S. District Court, S.D. Ill. – Paraquat Products Liability Litigation, MDL 3004
- S.D. Ill. – Case Management Order No. 25 (June 12, 2026)
- S.D. Ill. – Case Management Order No. 27 (Oct. 15, 2026)
- EPA – Paraquat dichloride
- Supreme Court of the United States – Monsanto Co. v. Durnell, No. 24-1068 (June 25, 2026)
- JPML – Pending MDL Dockets by Actions Pending (October 1, 2026)
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