[2023] Projected Paraquat Lawsuit Settlement Amounts

Paraquat Lawsuit Settlements

It’s important to remember that Paraquat settlements are dealt with on a case-by-case basis in the Paraquat MDL. Unlike class action lawsuits, where a settlement is divided equally between all plaintiffs, the Paraquat MDL settles each case based on its own facts in relation to bellwether trials and other procedures in the litigation.

Our lawyers estimate that Paraquat settlements could be between $20,000 to $1 million per client.

Please be advised that any projected or estimated settlement amounts mentioned on this page are general estimations and are not guaranteed. These figures are based on similar previous litigations, the nature of injuries sustained, and estimated costs of damages. They are meant to provide a general idea of what settlement ranges could look like and should not be taken as definitive expectations for your case.

Every legal case is unique, with its own specific circumstances that can significantly affect the outcome. This information is not legal advice and does not address the specifics of your situation. To obtain a more accurate understanding of the potential value of your case, it is best to consult directly with a qualified attorney who can provide personalized guidance.

Visit this page for more updates on the Paraquat settlement as they become available.

What Is Paraquat?

Paraquat dichloride (paraquat) is a toxic chemical agent most commonly used as an herbicide.

Although it was first produced more than 130 years ago, its application as an herbicide did not become popularized until the mid-20th century. Paraquat is now used as an herbicide agent on a range of more than 100 different types of crops.

Paraquat is widely used as an herbicide (plant killer), primarily for weed and grass control. In the United States, Paraquat is available in various strengths and most widely sold in its liquid form.

Is Paraquat Safe?

According to the American Council on Science and Health, Paraquat’s relative toxicity of glyphosate, another popularly used herbicide known to be toxic, ranges from 33-250.

A lethal dose for an average person is around 2.5 grams, and it is even more toxic when inhaled. Paraquat poisoning is also possible from skin exposure.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Paraquat causes direct damage when it comes in contact with the lining of the mouth, stomach, or intestines. After Paraquat enters the body, it is distributed to all areas of the body and causes toxic chemical reactions to occur in primarily the lungs, liver, and kidneys.

Paraquat’s toxicity has made it a traditionally popular agent for suicide because it can kill a person with a single sip. Paraquat exposure has also been linked to adverse health effects, including Parkinson’s disease.

Several countries, including the entirety of the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom, ban Paraquat for use in agriculture, citing the risks of chronic exposure to the herbicide.

What Health Risks Are Linked To Paraquat Exposure?

Paraquat exposure has been found to increase the risk for several health problems, including the following:

• Parkinson’s Disease
• Kidney failure
• Heart failure
• Liver failure
• Lung scarring

Paraquat Poisoning Symptoms And Side Effects

Ingesting or inhaling Paraquat can cause Paraquat poisoning. Symptoms of Paraquat poisoning are sometimes severe and often hard to ignore.

Paraquat poisoning symptoms and side effects include:

• Tongue sores and mouth ulcers
• Pain in the mouth and throat
• Bleeding in the mouth and throat
• Vomiting
• Stomach pain and cramping
• Blood clots
• Cell death
• Tissue death
• Lung cysts
• Lung collapse
• Dehydration
• Mineral salt imbalance
• Low blood pressure
• Fast heart rate
• Trouble breathing
• Muscle weakness
• Confusion
• Seizures
• Coma
• Other health problems

The Science Behind the Risks of Paraquat Exposure

Though Paraquat can now only be applied commercially and with a license in the United States as it is labeled a “Restricted-Use Pesticide”, Paraquat spraying continues to put farmworkers and chemical applicators at risk of dangerous and toxic exposure that can lead to various injuries, health effects, and notably the development of Parkinson’s Disease.

In February 2011, the National Institute of Health (NIH) conducted a study – the Farming and Movement Evaluation (FAME) – exploring claims that exposure to the popular herbicide Paraquat could be linked to a greater risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.

FAME drew data from the Agricultural Health Study, a larger project that tracked more than 80,000 farmers, agricultural workers, and their spouses.

FAME researchers identified 115 individuals who had developed Parkinson’s, studying 110 of these individuals who were open to providing information on the herbicide they frequently used.

Using the FAME study, the NIH concluded that people exposed to Paraquat or another chemical called Rotenone developed Parkinson’s disease approximately 2.5 times more often than non-users.

People can be exposed to Paraquat through inhalation from aerial spraying of the chemical, ingestion from food or drinks Paraquat has somehow gotten into, or skin contact from touching plants Paraquat has been applied to.

Health Effects from Paraquat

Paraquat exposure can lead to a number of short-term and long-term health effects.

These health effects depend on the amount of time a person is exposed to the chemical, what type of exposure they experience, and how consistent their exposure is over long periods of time.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), Paraquat exposure can lead to these symptoms:

Symptoms from short-term exposure (hours to days after exposure)

• Acute Kidney failure
• Confusion
• Coma
• Fast heart rate
• Injury to the heart
• Lung scarring (evolves more quickly than when small to medium amounts have been ingested)
• Muscle weakness
• Pain and swelling in the mouth/throat
• Pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs)
• Respiratory (breathing) failure, possibly leading to death
• Seizures
• Stomach pain

Symptoms from long-term exposure (weeks to months to years)

• Long-term lung damage/scarring
• Kidney failure
• Heart failure
• Liver failure
• Esophageal strictures (scarring of the swallowing tube that makes it hard for a person to swallow)
• Death (if large amounts of Paraquat are inhaled or ingested)

Parkinson’s Disease Resulting from Paraquat Exposure

Paraquat exposure has been most notably linked to the development and onset of Parkinson’s Disease, a brain disorder that leads to shaking, stiffness, and difficulty with walking, balance, and coordination.

Parkinson’s symptoms usually begin gradually and get worse over time.

As the disease progresses, people may have difficulty walking, talking, and performing everyday tasks.

How Does Paraquat Exposure Cause Parkinson’s Disease?

Various research projects and scientific studies over the past 30 or so years have shown links between long-term Paraquat exposure and Parkinson’s disease.

The mechanism by which this occurs is called oxidative stress, an imbalance between free radicals (oxygen-containing molecules with an uneven number of electrons) and antioxidants in the body, resulting in the damage and death of cells and potential onset of Parkinson’s Disease.

As mentioned previously, with the progression of Parkinson’s Disease, people may have difficulty walking and talking, and may experience mental and behavioral changes, sleep problems, depression, memory difficulties, and fatigue.

Parkinson’s Disease is more common in men and is usually associated with older populations, but can also affect middle-aged people in early onset cases.

Not everyone who is exposed to Paraquat will develop Parkinson’s Disease, but people with genetic predispositions to the disease or long-term exposure to the herbicide are more likely to be diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease.

Rotenone Exposure

Rotenone is a naturally occurring compound commonly used as a pesticide, insecticide, and piscicide.

Like Paraquat, Rotenone has been linked to Parkinson’s Disease from long-term exposure.

Rotenone is used by fisheries to snuff out unwanted species or incapacitate fish of interest to researchers, potentially exposing fisherman and workers to toxic levels of the pesticide.

It is applied to fish populations through aerial spraying of waters, sprayers on the backs of workers or on boats, or underwater hoses, putting those in the area of spraying or those who may eat fish from sprayed waters at risk of exposure.

Most research on Rotenone’s link to Parkinson’s Disease has come from studying animal test subjects, which have displayed neurological defects from exposure to the pesticide.

As research is expanded upon, more will be known on the toxicity of Rotenone and its links to Parkinson’s Disease.

Can you Participate in the Paraquat Lawsuit?

If you have previously been exposed to Paraquat — or similar pesticide Rotenone — and subsequently developed Parkinson’s disease or signs of ongoing developing Parkinson’s, you may qualify to participate in the Paraquat lawsuit.

Contact the offices of TorHoerman Law today for a free, no-obligation Paraquat lawsuit case consultation.

Our experienced chemical exposure law team can help you assess your case and your best plan of action.

Helpful Resources For Parkinson’s Disease Patients

You are not alone.

There are resources and support groups available to guide you.

Help, support, and advice are only a click away:

• Causes of Parkinson’s
• Environmental Risk Factors and Parkinson’s Disease
• Environmental Exposures and Parkinson’s Disease
• Environmental Factors
• National Institute of Health 2013 Study
• Parkinson’s Groups Call for Ban of Herbicide Linked to Parkinson’s Disease
• Find a Support Group
• The Michael J. Fox Foundation