The first Paraquat trial is set for April 2025 in Philadelphia state court. It is expected that this case, along with many others pending in Pennsylvania state court, will settle before reaching trial. Chevron and Syngenta are likely to avoid the risk of going to trial by settling these lawsuits early.

The Paraquat MDL in Illinois saw a slight increase in active cases this month, rising from 5,680 to 5,770.

The number of cases in Philadelphia’s mass tort litigation concerning the herbicide paraquat has surged by nearly 50% over the past six months. Judge Joshua Roberts, overseeing the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas’ complex litigation center, noted a steady increase in the Paraquat lawsuits, with the caseload rising from around 500 at the beginning of 2024 to 728.

Over the last month, 90 new cases were added to the Paraquat class action MDL, a significant decrease from the 225 new cases in April. The total number of pending cases in the MDL now stands at 5,680.

Following a sluggish period in March, the Paraquat class action MDL saw a resurgence in new cases during April. With 225 new cases added, the monthly average typical of this litigation has been restored. The total number of pending cases now stands at 5,590.

An Arkansas widow has filed a new Paraquat lawsuit, claiming that her husband’s regular exposure to Paraquat through direct contact and pesticide drift led to his Parkinson’s disease. He began experiencing symptoms around 2007 and was officially diagnosed, ultimately passing away on May 15, 2021, with Parkinson’s disease contributing to his death.

From 1965 to 1975, the decedent was directly exposed to Paraquat products while working on his family farm in Rison, Arkansas. During this period, like many farmers, he was unaware that exposure to Paraquat could cause Parkinson’s.

A recent study, originally published in late April 2024, has highlighted a strong link between environmental exposures and Parkinson’s disease. Researchers found that occupational exposure to industrial toxins significantly increases the risk of developing Parkinson’s, with the highest risk associated with exposure to harmful dyes, methylene chloride, and certain foods like fatty whale meat containing toxic pollutants.

The study, which analyzed data from various global regions, identified occupational exposures as the highest risk, followed by general and residential exposures.

The said study supports the argument that Paraquat can cause Parkinson’s disease. The evidence linking environmental toxins, such as pesticides, to an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease strengthens the claim against Paraquat. While other environmental causes of Parkinson’s disease exist, this study underscores that Paraquat and other pesticides (e.g., demeton, monocrotophos) can cause the disease.

Chief Judge Rosenstengel dismissed four bellwether lawsuits following the exclusion of crucial testimony from Dr. Martin Wells, the plaintiffs’ primary expert on general causation. This ruling effectively terminates those cases, as it prevents the plaintiffs from establishing the required causal connection for their claims.

The judge has directed the parties involved to choose 16 new cases for limited fact discovery by a specified deadline. The plaintiffs will select eight of these cases, while Chevron and Syngenta will each choose four. All selected cases must be filed on or before the date of the judge’s Order and must not include any materially deficient Plaintiff Assessment Questionnaires.

After the selections are made, the court will issue a Case Management Order detailing the discovery schedule and establishing trial dates.

The rate of new case filings in the Paraquat MDL has slowed, with just 47 new cases added in March. This represents a significant slowdown from the substantial increase in filings observed in February. Since the start of the year, around 300 new cases have been filed, with the vast majority—280 cases—filed in February.

Concerning events have unfolded in cases involving Paraquat, primarily as a result of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) authorizing the use of the hazardous herbicide Paraquat. This endorsement by the regulatory body could negatively impact Paraquat cases across the country.

The Paraquat MDL has seen a decrease in pending cases, unusual for a litigation that previously averaged over 150 new cases per month. Recent filings, including a lawsuit from a former farm worker alleging inadequate warnings led to his Parkinson’s Disease, continue to highlight the ongoing legal actions against Paraquat manufacturers for health risks associated with the herbicide.

The Paraquat class action lawsuit MDL has seen its lowest monthly growth in two years, with only 86 new cases added, bringing the total to 5,072. The litigation is currently awaiting a trial date and a Daubert ruling.

The Paraquat class action MDL saw a significant uptick in activity, with over 200 new cases in the last 30 days, increasing the total to nearly 5,000 cases.

Concurrently, Dr. Douglas Weed filed a motion to dismiss a subpoena regarding his 2021 article on paraquat and Parkinson’s disease, arguing the request was excessive and beyond legal boundaries.

The Paraquat class action MDL saw only 30 new cases in the past month, marking the lowest monthly addition since its inception two years prior. Despite the previous 18 months’ consistent inflow of 200-300 new cases monthly, this significant drop hints at a potential slowing phase in the MDL’s growth.

Both parties in the Paraquat litigation have submitted their closing Daubert briefs. Following a week-long Daubert hearing, the MDL Judge delayed the bellwether trial, allowing more time for the parties to address the issues.

If the Judge sides with the defense and excludes the plaintiffs’ expert witnesses, it could lead to the dismissal of thousands of cases.

A pivotal Daubert hearing began in Illinois concerning the Paraquat litigation, focusing on Dr. Martin Wells’ claim that Paraquat causes cell death linked to Parkinson’s disease. Chevron and Syngenta challenge this claim, pointing to prior exclusions in Dr. Wells’ testimonies and emphasizing the role of genetics in Parkinson’s disease.

This hearing’s outcome is deemed crucial for the direction of the paraquat litigation itself.

Paraquat defendants Syngenta and Chevron identified 611 potentially dubious claims in the MDL, which they believe lack sufficient evidence and were driven by advertising campaigns. This skepticism about the authenticity of claims is common in large litigations, but it’s believed that most of the 611 Paraquat claims hold merit.

The first bellwether trial in October will shed more light on the core issue of whether Paraquat causes Parkinson’s disease.

Chevron and Syngenta filed for summary judgment in the MDL, challenging the scientific evidence linking Paraquat to Parkinson’s disease. They assert that even if the allegations changed from design-defect to failure-to-warn, they would still be protected by federal law and the EPA’s stance.

Both companies presented additional arguments for dismissing specific claims, but the success of this motion is deemed unlikely.

Chief Judge Rosenstengel addressed allegations of impropriety involving deceased plaintiffs in the MDL, implementing stricter requirements on plaintiffs’ lawyers. These Paraquat lawyers now have to provide detailed certifications about their clients, and cases based on shaky evidence may face dismissal.

Such tighter scrutiny might eventually pave the way for more trustworthy negotiations and potential Paraquat lawsuit settlements.

Over 200 Paraquat lawsuits in Pennsylvania state courts have now been consolidated into a state MDL in Philadelphia. The presiding judge ruled that new plaintiffs can utilize a Short Form Complaint, mirroring the form used in the federal MDL.

The Paraquat class action lawsuit MDL saw the addition of another 277 cases over the last month. This influx is higher than average, bringing the total case count to 2,998.

The Paraquat lawsuit began the year with a mere 69 new cases in January but surged in February with 300 new additions. Consequently, the total case count rose to 2,721.

The Paraquat MDL witnessed a notable decrease, with only 69 new Paraquat cases added, taking the tally to 2,352. Despite this drop, indications suggest the upcoming monthly total might see a substantial increase.

The first bellwether test trial for the Paraquat MDL has been delayed and is now rescheduled for October 2023. Multiple postponements have arisen due to unforeseen circumstances, including expert witness deposition delays.

As the bellwether trials approach, now scheduled for July 2023, there has been a surge in new Paraquat Parkinson’s disease lawsuits. Amidst this, conflicts between Paraquat lawyers over pretrial discoveries persist, with both sides presenting objections.

Following the EPA’s interim approval of Paraquat in August 2021, a non-profit foundation challenged the decision in court. The EPA seeks a voluntary remand to reconsider its initial risk-benefit analysis instead of defending its previous stance.