Paraquat Lawsuit Attorneys

Diagnosed with Parkinson’s After Paraquat Exposure?

Domina Law Group is investigating cases nationwide from plaintiffs who have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease after using paraquat.

The toxic herbicide, often sold under the brand name Gramoxone, is at the center of numerous lawsuits filed by farmers, farm workers, and victims of secondary exposure who claim paraquat herbicide manufacturers failed to warn about the chemical’s risk of neurological damage.

Domina Law is now investigating potential claims involving paraquat and Gramaxone for victims in all 50 states. We are prepared to help exposed individuals pursue compensation through paraquat litigation. You may have a paraquat claim if:

1. You are a farmer, commercial grower, or agricultural worker who has been exposed to paraquat and developed complications, including Parkinson’s.
2. You live near a farm or location where paraquat herbicides were used.
3. Your family member was exposed to paraquat and died from health complications.

Our paraquat exposure lawyers can review your case and discuss how we may be able to help you. We offer FREE consultations and don’t collect a fee unless we win.

Why Choose Domina Law Group?

Domina Law Group is an Omaha-based trial practice with a national reputation for handling high-stakes cases. We have taken on some of the world’s most powerful corporations and have secured proven results in cases involving agricultural law and exposure to herbicides.

• We have recovered over $2 billion in compensation for clients.
• Our firm filed one of the nation’s first Roundup cancer lawsuits.
• We’ve fought for farmers and farm workers in landmark cases against Monsanto, Syngenta, developers of the Keystone XL Pipeline, and other major corporations.

Domina Law filed one of the first Roundup cancer claims in the nation for Partner Dave Domina’s brother Larry Domina, a third-generation farmer diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after using Roundup on his Nebraska farm. Our experience means we know how to protect the rights of farm workers and victims harmed by exposure to harmful herbicides like paraquat.

Pre-trail hearings over paraquat are pending, but major litigation is on the horizon. Hundreds if not thousands of paraquat lawsuits could be consolidated into multidistrict litigation (MDL), a process that groups complex claims into one federal court for purposes of efficiency. As with Roundup, this could make the claims process easier for victims and families seeking compensation for their losses.

What is Paraquat?

Paraquat dichloride is a toxic chemical used as a non-selective foliar spray to kill unwanted vegetation and weeds. Despite being banned in over 30 countries, paraquat is one of the most widely used herbicides in the world. In the U.S., the EPA restricts its use to commercially licensed users.

What Products Contain Paraquat?

Paraquat comes in liquid form dyed with a blue color and is sold under a number of product names. Gramoxone SL 2.0 Herbicide, which is manufactured by Syngenta, is the most common. Other trade names include:

• Otho-Paraquat
• Para-SHOT
• Parazone
• Quick-Quat
• Firestorm
• Helmquat
• Devour
• Blanco

Paraquat is extremely toxic and poisonous if ingested. It can cause kidney, heart, and liver failure, lung scarring, and esophageal strictures (scarring of the esophagus that makes it difficult to swallow), according to the CDC.

Can Paraquat Cause Parkinson's?

Paraquat Exposure & Parkinson’s Disease

Over the past 20 years, there has been growing evidence that exposure to paraquat can cause Parkinson’s disease, a devastating neurodegenerative disorder. This includes:

• A 2009 study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology that showed people living in residential environments within 1,600 feet of areas sprayed with paraquat had a heightened risk of Parkinson’s. Researchers found exposure to paraquat and a fungicide called maneb could increase Parkinson’s risks by as much as 75%.
• A 2011 study called the Farming and Money Evaluation (FAME), which concluded that individuals exposed to paraquat were 2.5 times more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease than those who had no exposure.
• A 2011 NIH study published in Environmental Health Perspectives that found strong associations between Parkinson’s and paraquat. Researchers also found that paraquat exposure extends beyond the occupational / agricultural environment to nearby communities.
• A 2014Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology published in Environmental Healththat showed individuals exposed to paraquat had a greater risk of Parkinson’s and that farm workers who applied paraquat had twice the risk of developing Parkinson’s as the general population.

In October 2020, the EPA took a major step in its regulatory review of paraquat by proposing new mitigation measures to protect public health based on the growing body of evidence. This includes a proposal to prohibit aerial application. Numerous groups, including the Unified Parkinson’s Advocacy Council and The Michael J. Fox Foundation, continue to urge the EPA to ban paraquat.

Paraquat Lawsuits Are Being Filed Now

Paraquat is now the center of a growing number of lawsuits brought by farmers, agricultural workers, and other victims who claim their exposure to paraquat herbicides caused their Parkinson’s.

The first lawsuit was filed in 2017 against Syngenta, the manufacturer of Gramoxone, and Growmark, another manufacturer of Paraquat products. Chevron U.S.A, Inc. and other entities that manufactured, distributed, marketed, and sold paraquat have also been named as defendants.

Because there could be hundreds or thousands more paraquat lawsuits filed in the coming years, plaintiffs are seeking certification for a paraquat MDL. Multidistrict litigation (MDL) involves the consolidation of multiple lawsuits into one court for pre-trial proceedings and discovery. Unlike class actions, lawsuits in MDLs are treated as their own and may be sent back to the courts they came from for trial, if necessary.

At Domina Law, we have the experience and resources not only to help victims evaluate their claims and legal options, but also to fight and litigate their claims. Though MDL certification can help produce global settlements to compensate victims for their damages, trial may be necessary to hold defendants liable.

Can I File a Paraquat Lawsuit?

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease or other health complications after being exposed to paraquat, you may be able to pursue a claim for compensation.

Domina Law is actively reviewing potential paraquat claims and can help evaluate if you have grounds for legal action. Some important things to note:

• Farmers, farmworkers, and farm neighbors are affected. Farmers, agricultural workers, and retailers who mix, distribute, sell, or use paraquat herbicides are most at risk for neurological damage, but residents near areas where paraquat is applied can also be affected by secondary exposure. Several studies, including one from the NIH, have found evidence of paraquat drift sickening residents in nearby communities.
• Claims are being filed nationwide. Paraquat herbicides are used widely across the country. A map of estimated paraquat use shows areas with the highest use to be California’s Central Valley, Texas, North Carolina, Illinois, Kansas, Indiana, Georgia, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Iowa. Domina Law is handling cases throughout the U.S.
• Victims can have extensive damages. Health complications resulting from paraquat exposure can have profound consequences that impact victims physically, emotionally, and financially. According to the Unified Parkinson’s Advocacy Council, the cost of living with Parkinson’s can amount to nearly $30,000 per year. Sometimes, victims pay the ultimate price.
• There are time limits in place. There are deadlines for filing toxic exposure lawsuits and time will be needed to conduct investigations. The best way to preserve your right to compensation is to have your case reviewed by an attorney sooner rather than later.

What Damages Can I Recover from a Paraquat Settlement?

If paraquat claims are granted MDL status, it could pave the way for a global settlement payout to plaintiffs. Such settlements, similar to the billion-dollar payout over Roundup, can compensate victims and families for their losses. This can include:

• Past hospital and medical bills
• Costs of future medical treatment and special care
• Lost income and future earnings
• Pain and suffering
• Loss of consortium / companionship
• Funeral expenses
• Other economic and non-economic damages

Domina Law Group is a trial-tested team comprised of some of the nation’s most respected civil trial attorneys. We have extensive experience litigating complex claims and are ready to see how our paraquat toxic exposure attorneys can help you. Contact us to request a FREE case review.