Paraquat Lawyers

Representing Clients in Pennsylvania & Maryland

Have you been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD) or similar symptoms? Were you exposed to the herbicide Paraquat for at least 10 days within a one-year period at any point in your life? There could be a link between your Parkinson’s and your exposure – and a lawsuit filed against the makers of Paraquat could be justified.

Our focus is to help clients from southeastern Pennsylvania and northern Maryland who are:

• Farmers and farm workers
• Herbicide applicators
• Chemical mixers
• Tank fillers

We are also here to help anyone who lives around farming communities and agricultural sites. There is reason to believe that simply living in relatively close proximity to where Paraquat is frequently used could be enough to cause an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease.

Please note: When in the best interest of the client, Paraquat lawsuits may be referred to other law firms.

Call our attorneys at (888) 286-2850 or contact our firm online now.

What is Paraquat?

Paraquat is a toxic weed and grass killer that has been used in commercial crop operations since the ‘60s. It is sprayed on various crops to control weeds that would threaten the harvest later. Application processes can range from using large tanks attached to tractors to sprayers carried on a worker’s person.

Only certified companies or individuals can purchase Paraquat because it is a Restricted Use Pesticide (RUP). Currently, Paraquat is used across the nation but there is an inordinate amount of it being used in southeastern Pennsylvania, northern Maryland, and the Delmarva Peninsula. In these regions, more than 2.55 pounds of Paraquat are used per square mile, which is the highest level recorded in United States Geological Survey records. This is why our Paraquat attorneys are focusing their efforts on claimants in these regions, and why you might have a strong Paraquat claim if you live there and have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease or similar health conditions.

Brand Names for Paraquat

Popular brand names for Paraquat products include:

• Blanco
• Bonedry
• Bonfire Herbicide
• Cycline SL 2.0
• CycloneStar
• Devour
• Firestorm
• Gramoxone
• Helmquat 3SL
• Ortho Paraquat
• Para-Shot 3.0
• Paraquat
• Paraquat 43.2% SL (RedEagle)

Is Paraquat Dangerous?

Multiple countries have banned the use of Paraquat for years due to its high toxicity and links to dangerous diseases like Parkinson’s. China, Brazil, and the European Union have all acknowledged the dangers caused by Paraquat in its intended application, yet the United States still allows its use among certified buyers and agricultural companies. Although, there is legislation – the Protect Against Paraquat Act of 2019 (HR 3817) that is attempted to ban Paraquat in the country.

Notable arguments against Paraquat come from:

• Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center: Dr. Xuemei Huang of Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center has noted that Paraquat “may damage the brain’s dopamine-producing cells” that can eventually cause Parkinson’s disease symptoms like full-body tremors and nerve damage.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): The CDC has suggested that Paraquat is so toxic that any clothing that has been exposed to it must be carefully removed and should be disposed.

Direct exposure to Paraquat can cause respiratory failure, lung damage, liver damage, kidney failure, central nervous system damage, various forms of cancer, and more. However, Paraquat lawsuits are forming around Parkinson’s disease diagnoses that have been linked to indirect exposure to the herbicide.

Is Paraquat linked to Parkinson's?

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has remained unclear about whether or not it has connected Paraquat to PD diagnoses, but many other studies and safety organizations disagree. Herbicides like Paraquat have been related to severe diseases, cancers, and brain tissue damage for years, especially with continued use and exposure. The rate of Parkinson’s disease diagnoses among people who work with or around Paraquat alone shows a suspicious connection between the two.

What is Parkinson's Disease?

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive and chronic illness that affects the nervous system. Some symptoms can be alleviated with careful treatment, but the disease itself is currently incurable.

Symptoms of Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson’s disease symptoms include:

• Tremors
• Balance issues
• Muscle rigidity
• Loss of automatic movement
• Insomnia
• Chronic pain
• Full-body fatigue
• Memory issues
• Speech impediments
• Writing changes
• Depression or anxiety
• Difficulty swallowing or eating

PD itself is not fatal but it can cause numerous health complications that increase the person’s risk of serious injuries and illnesses. Injuries suffered in falls caused by PD-related imbalance issues are a leading cause of death among Parkinson’s patients. Pneumonia is also a serious threat to PD patients because the disease can significantly weaken their immune systems.

Who is Liable in Paraquat Lawsuits?

Chemical manufacturers who could be held liable for damages in a Paraquat lawsuit are:

• Adama Group
• Altitude Crop Innovations, LLC
• Chevron Chemical Company
• Drexel Chemical Company
• Helm Agro
• Innvictis Crop Care LLC
• Sinon USA, Inc.
• Syngenta
• United Phosphorus

Compensation for a Paraquat Lawsuit

Metzger Wickersham is currently hearing from people who might have Paraquat claims and lawsuits after being exposed to the herbicide and later being diagnosed with Parkinson’s. You could be owed significant compensation for your pain, suffering, medical bills, and lost wages, which we can fight on your behalf to secure.

Call Our Paraquat Attorneys Now

If you were exposed to Paraquat and have since been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease or think you might have PD, then now is the right time to talk to a Paraquat lawsuit attorney from Metzger Wickersham. We are focused on assisting clients who worked in the agricultural industry within southeastern Pennsylvania and northern Maryland, or who lived next to agricultural sites in these regions. However, we are proud to extend our legal assistance to anyone who thinks they might have a valid Paraquat lawsuit to file against a Paraquat manufacturer in pursuit of compensation and justice.

Call (888) 286-2850 now to arrange a FREE consultation.

Are You Eligible for a Paraquat Lawsuit?

There is a limited selection of people who are eligible to file Paraquat lawsuits at this time. Until a more direct link can be established, or the EPA accepts that Paraquat can cause Parkinson’s, the eligibility pool will likely remain narrow.

Important criteria for Paraquat lawsuit eligibility include:

• You have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and/or you were exposed to Paraquat.
• Your Paraquat exposure happened for at least 10 days within a one-year period during your lifetime.
• You have the name and/or addresses of the source of your exposure and that source had a commercial license to use Paraquat, i.e., you can identify the farm at which you worked and were exposed to Paraquat.
• You used, prepared, or were exposed to a Paraquat product by a licensed applicator after 1961.
• Your exposure to Paraquat happened while you worked as a farmer, farm worker, herbicide applicator, chemical mixer, flagger, tank filler, or another such worker before 2016; Or
• Your exposure to Paraquat happened while you were living adjacent to fields where Paraquat was applied.

You might be disqualified from filing a Paraquat lawsuit if your exposure was due to residential use, or you were exposed to Agent Orange at some point in your life. Additionally, death claims are currently not being accepted.