Paraquat Lawsuit  

CASE JOURNEY 

• February 9, 2026: Syngenta Files New Motion for Summary Judgment 

Roundup litigation updates are affecting paraquat cases. Syngenta filed a partial summary judgment motion on a federal pre-emption issue under Supreme Court review, suggesting the judge wait, noting that dismissing some claims could streamline discovery. 

• February 3, 2026: Lien Resolution Administrator Appointed for Paraquat Lawsuits 

A lien resolution administrator has been appointed for the thousands of paraquat lawsuits in federal court. This third party helps facilitate the resolution of claims in a settlement, which may indicate that the settlement process is advancing. 

• January 28, 2026: Syngenta Settles Paraquat Case, Cancelling Upcoming Trial 

Syngenta has agreed to settle the paraquat lawsuit scheduled for trial, and the closely watched landmark trial will not proceed. The company has consistently settled cases as they approach trial. 

• January 23, 2026: Paraquat Trial Could Begin Next Week 

As federal paraquat cases were paused amid ongoing settlement discussions, state-level litigation continued to progress. A Philadelphia case was scheduled for trial on Monday, representing a major milestone, as it would have been the first paraquat lawsuit to proceed to trial, considering Syngenta’s pattern of resolving cases before trial. The result was anticipated to draw significant attention. 

• January 22, 2026: Thousands of Paraquat Cases Still Pending 

As a potential settlement remains pending, 6,476 paraquat lawsuits are currently active in federal court, with additional cases in state courts. Attorneys continue filing new claims while the MDL stays largely on hold during the settlement process. 

• January 12, 2026: New Paraquat Cases Filed as EPA Announces Safety Investigation 

Six new cases were filed, bringing the MDL total to 6,476, as the EPA announced it would reassess paraquat’s safety and require manufacturers to prove current uses are safe under real-world conditions. This development may prompt both sides to finalize a settlement and could favor plaintiffs. A decision is expected soon on whether an agreement has been reached, or the stay will be extended. 

• January 2, 2026: Paraquat Stay Extended Again 

The pause on much of the paraquat MDL has been extended again. Although news of a proposed settlement had been expected before the January expiration of the stay, it will now continue through March—nearly a year since the settlement was first tentatively agreed upon. 

• December 19, 2025: Will 2026 Be the Year That Paraquat Settles? 

Final terms of a potential settlement in the thousands of paraquat lawsuits have been pending for months. With the MDL pause ending in January and a status conference scheduled next month, further developments may soon clarify whether 2026 will bring resolution to the litigation. 

• December 3, 2025: More Growth for Paraquat Lawsuits as Plaintiffs Await Settlement 

There are 6,470 active federal paraquat lawsuits, with more than 30 new MDL filings in recent weeks. January remains the target date for updates on the settlement and the number of cases covered. 

• November 13, 2025: EPA Issuing Data Call-In for Paraquat 

The EPA released an updated paraquat review and issued a data call-in to manufacturers for additional information, citing “greater uncertainty” about the herbicide’s ability to volatilize. Paraquat is already banned in dozens of countries worldwide. 

• November 10, 2025: More Than 6,000 Paraquat Lawsuits Active, Awaiting Settlement Framework 

There are currently 6,433 active paraquat lawsuits in federal court, nearly unchanged from 6,435 last month. The cases await a public update on a potential settlement framework, including coverage, any cutoff date, and possible individual payouts. As 2025 concludes, further details may not emerge until early next year. 

• November 3, 2025: January Status Conference Added to Schedule as Settlement Work Continues 

A status conference for the thousands of federal paraquat lawsuits has been set for January 5, the same date the litigation pause was extended to allow the parties to finalize a settlement. Final settlement details remain pending. 

• October 15, 2025: What Cases Will the Paraquat Settlement Cover? 

The paraquat settlement has not yet been finalized, with both sides given until January to complete negotiations. It remains unclear how many of the more than 6,400 federal cases and additional state cases will be resolved. If finalized, details on included case types and potential payouts will become available, and updates will follow once released. 

• October 1, 2025: More Paraquat Lawsuits Filed 

At the start of October, 6,445 paraquat lawsuits were pending in federal court, up about 80 cases from the prior month as a settlement decision remained pending. 

• September 29, 2025: MDL Stay Extended Into Next Year, Trial Postponed 

The pause in the paraquat MDL has been extended until January 5, 2026, and Judge Rosenstengel vacated the October bellwether trial. The postponement was expected as a settlement is being finalized, with the court stating the pause will “allow the settlement process to unfold.” 

• September 17, 2025: Paraquat MDL Pause Expires Soon 

The pause on case-specific discovery in the paraquat MDL will expire next week, allowing both sides to finalize a settlement. Final terms are still pending. 

• August 2025 

The judge overseeing the federal paraquat MDL has extended the work pause until September 26 to allow both sides to finalize a settlement, which has been under negotiation since April and could resolve thousands of cases. 

• June 2025 

Final terms of the tentative paraquat settlement are still pending. Earlier this month, over 100 lawsuits were dismissed for failing to submit a required questionnaire, though thousands of cases remain, so this has little impact on overall progress. 

• May 2025 

After last month’s announcement that the paraquat parties signed a letter agreement to settle cases, the MDL paused case discovery to “allow counsel to focus on finalizing the terms.” The parties must update the court on a final agreement by June 11. 

• April 2025 

New court documents show that the parties have signed a letter agreement to settle many MDL cases. It’s unclear how many lawsuits will be included, but the settlement is expected to resolve “many” claims. Syngenta moved to settle before the first bellwether trial in October 

• January 2025 

The EPA has postponed its paraquat update, stating more information is needed and planning to withdraw a previous interim decision. In the MDL, bellwether trials are set for October 14 this year and April 6, 2026, guiding the litigation’s overall direction and potential outcomes. 

• December 2024 

The paraquat Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) saw a decline of 10 cases in December. This is the second time in the last three months that the number of MDL cases has decreased. 

• November 2024 

At the start of the month, seven U.S. senators signed a letter urging the EPA to ban paraquat, citing its toxicity as well as the potential risk of Parkinson’s disease. 

• October 2024 

Despite the EPA stating it has not found a link between paraquat and Parkinson’s, 47 members of Congress urged a ban, citing toxicity and Parkinson’s risks. Paraquat is already banned in dozens of countries. 

This month, two of the 10 MDL bellwether cases selected in August were voluntarily dismissed and replaced by two new cases. The court noted this change is unlikely to affect the litigation’s schedule or direction. 

Bellwether trials help both sides gauge outcomes; plaintiffs may drop cases after losses, or defendants may offer settlements if they lose. 

• August 2024 

MDL Judge Nancy Rosenstengel has selected 10 new potential bellwether cases for discovery, the phase in which parties exchange trial evidence. The original four bellwether cases were dismissed after a key plaintiff expert’s testimony was excluded in April. 

• June 2024 

On June 5, Judge Rosenstengel extended the bellwether selection deadline by 30 days. While new MDL filings continue at a slower pace, attorneys report an uptick in cases filed in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas after the prior bellwether trials were canceled. 

• May 2024 

The judge granted plaintiffs until June 10 to select 16 new potential bellwether cases for limited discovery, which narrows the scope of exchanged information to streamline the process and reduce costs. Following last month’s disruptions involving bellwether trials and excluded expert testimony, the litigation continues to move forward. 

• April 2024 

MDL Judge Nancy Rosenstengel dismissed four bellwether test cases after excluding the plaintiffs’ key expert on general causation—whether paraquat can cause Parkinson’s disease. Expert testimony is critical in mass torts to link a product to alleged harm, and its exclusion can weaken a case. Nevertheless, plaintiffs’ attorneys continue filing claims, and the court has permitted selection of a new group of bellwether cases. 

• January 2024 

MDL Judge Nancy Rosenstengel dismissed four bellwether cases after excluding the plaintiffs’ key general causation expert on whether paraquat can cause Parkinson’s disease. Although expert testimony is vital in mass torts and its exclusion can weaken claims, plaintiffs continue filing cases, and the court has allowed a new group of bellwether selections. 

• November 2023 

Internal documents obtained by Carey Gillam, managing editor of The New Lede an Environmental Working Group supported news site indicated that Syngenta and Chevron were aware of concerns dating back to the 1980s. 

• June 2023 

Chevron and Syngenta sought summary judgment to dismiss paraquat Parkinson’s claims for lack of scientific evidence; if granted, 3,700 claims could be dismissed. 

• April 2023 

The court revised the briefing schedule in the paraquat MDL, setting deadlines for Daubert and summary judgment motions, responses, and replies, along with page limits, optional roadmap briefs, and a hearing beginning August 21, 2023. 

• March 2023 

A judge authorized short-form complaints in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, enabling plaintiffs to join by referencing the master complaint and adding specific injury and loss details streamlining multiple claims. 

• December 2022 

The paraquat MDL reported a total of 2,352 pending cases, an increase of 1,870 new cases in the past year. 

• February 2022 

The court dismissed certain claims against Chevron and Syngenta, including public nuisance claims against Chevron and Minnesota consumer protection claims against Syngenta, while allowing the remaining claims to proceed. 

• December 2021: The paraquat MDL grew to 482 cases in its first year. 

• November 2021: The court ruled that Chevron U.S.A. Inc. is the sole Chevron entity liable for paraquat-related claims, dismissing cases against related companies and subsidiaries for post-1990 exposure. 

• July 2021 

The court appointed Randi Ellis as Special Master in the paraquat MDL. A Special Master assists with complex litigation by conducting hearings, reviewing evidence and testimony, issuing orders, reporting to the judge, resolving disputes, overseeing group settlements, and ensuring compliance with court orders. 

• June 2021 

The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation established MDL 3004, consolidating 14 paraquat lawsuits from six federal districts in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois under Judge Nancy Rosenstengel. 

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