PARAQUAT LAWSUITS

Paraquat dichloride or simply, Paraquat, is a highly toxic and restricted-use herbicide that is used commercially by licensed applicators to kill and prevent the growth of weeds and grasses. The companies who manufacturer or distribute Paraquat are primarily:

• Syngenta
• Chevron

Paraquat is commonly marketed and distributed under the following brand names:

• Gramoxone
• Ortho-Paraquat
• Devour
• Blanco
• Paraquat Concentrate
• Helmquat 3SL
• Bonedry
• Cyclone SL 2.0
• Firestorm
• Para-Shot 3.0

The Paraquat lawsuits allege that the herbicide’s makers failed to warn of the product's health dangers, including how Paraquat increases the risk of developing Parkinson's disease. The Paraquat lawsuits are being filed against the manufacturers and distributors of the herbicide by people who either mixed, sprayed, transported, or otherwise worked with the herbicide and have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. In addition, people who may have never directly handled Paraquat, but lived near to where the herbicide was being applied and have developed Parkinson’s disease are also filing lawsuits seeking to recover compensation for the full extent of their injuries and damages.

Parkinson’s is a progressive debilitating disease with no cure. People who have been afflicted with the disease will need treatment and care for the rest of their lives. Victims of Paraquat exposure are filing lawsuits to not only recover compensation for the medical bills, lost wages, and other expenses they have already incurred, but also for the future care that will be required and the losses that will be suffered.

Attorney Ethan Vessels accepts Paraquat cases in both Ohio and West Virginia. If you or a loved one has been exposed to this herbicide either directly or indirectly and have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, please contact Ethan Vessels for a free, no obligation consultation. He can be reached by calling 740-374-5346 or sending a message here from this website.

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Paraquat is one of the most used herbicides in the United States. Approximately 11 million pounds of the herbicide are sprayed on crops each year to kill and prevent nuisance weeds and grasses. The crops where Paraquat is most widely used include:

• Corn
• Soybeans
• Wheat
• Alfalfa
• Hay
• Cotton
• Orchards
• Vineyards



In 1997, the EPA announced that exposure to Paraquat during the mixing, loading, and application of the herbicide and during the post-application process represented the primary means of exposure to this dangerous product. The EPA further suggested that despite the herbicide not being registered for residential use, exposure is possible for individuals who live near farms where the herbicide is applied. Therefore, people can be exposed to this toxic herbicide either directly or indirectly.

Direct Exposure

Direct exposure includes people who have mixed, sprayed, transported, or otherwise handled Paraquat in the course of their job or career. This may include those who work or have worked as farmers, farm workers, herbicide applicators, chemical mixers, tank fillers, agricultural pilots. 

Indirect Exposure

Indirect exposure includes people who either lived or worked in areas where Paraquat was or is being used or stored.

Michael J. Fox is a famous actor who was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease at the age of 29. He quickly became one of, if not the most, recognizable face of the disease and launched the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research in 2000 with a mission to find a cure for the disease. In a letter dated November 4, 2022, to the California Department of Pesticide Regulation, the Michael J. Fox Foundation writes:

“I respectfully urge the Department of Pesticide Regulation to reevaluate use of the herbicide, paraquat dichloride, because of the significant adverse impacts of this product, particularly the scientific evidence of paraquat’s links to Parkinson’s disease (PD). Our founder, Michael J. Fox, stated about his Parkinson’s disease diagnosis, “I had to build a new life when I was already pretty happy with the old one.” While Michael J. Fox’s Parkinson’s is not believed to have been triggered by paraquat; today, you are in a unique position to help change lives and prevent more people from paraquat exposure that may cause them to develop Parkinson’s disease and force them to build new lives.”

Numerous studies have found exposure or ingestion of Paraquat can lead to serious health risks, including Parkinson’s Disease. Over the past 20 years, the scientific community has stepped up its examination of the effects of Paraquat exposure on humans, and specifically the risk of Parkinson’s disease. Various studies have shown that even low levels of exposure to Paraquat increase the risk of developing Parkinson's Disease. A few of these studies include the following: 

Agricultural Health Study

This ongoing study by the United States government began in 1993. It examines the incidence of adverse health conditions in farmers and their spouses. To date, there have been approximately 100,000 participants in the study. Some of these people who either directly used Paraquat or lived near areas where Paraquat was applied, developed Parkinson’s disease.

The FAME Study

The Farming & Movement Evaluation, or FAME, study was conducted by the Parkinson's Institute and the National Institutes of Health in 2011. It evaluated a sample of cases from the Agricultural Health Study referenced above and concluded that people who were exposed to Paraquat are at least 2.5 times more likely to develop Parkinson’s Disease than those who are not. 

Meta-Analysis Study

This is a review of many studies conducted on Paraquat and its link to Parkinson's Disease. It confirmed these many research findings that indicated people who were exposed to Paraquat develop Parkinson's Disease at a higher rate compared to those who were not exposed.

For more than sixteen years, people in Ohio and West Virginia have been contacting Ethan Vessels for legal advice, guidance, and representation when they developed diseases or other serious health problems because they were exposed to toxic chemicals such as Paraquat.

Lawsuits involving toxic chemicals can be highly complex and difficult to prove. That’s why an attorney with Ethan’s experience, reputation, and resources is needed. Ethan typically handles these cases with co-counsel at no additional expense to the client.

Ethan is a proven trial attorney who adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards. His focus is representing those who have been injured due to the negligence of others, including companies who manufacture or distribute toxic chemicals but fail to properly warn people of the health dangers. 

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and you believe it may have been caused by either direct or indirect exposure to Paraquat, please contact Ethan Vessels for a free, no obligation consultation. He will answer all your questions and provide you with the feedback you need to decide whether you should pursue a claim and the amount of time you have remaining to file a lawsuit. The meeting and its details will be kept strictly confidential.

When he accepts Paraquat cases, he typically works on a contingent fee basis, which means there is no fee for his legal services until and unless a settlement or verdict is reached.