Parkinson’s Roundup Lawsuit | 2026 Latest Updates

Plaintiffs allege that paraquat herbicides, such as Gramoxone, caused their Parkinson’s disease. Syngenta and Chevron deny liability. Roundup is Monsanto’s glyphosate herbicide, a different product, and its own MDL covers non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The paraquat cases are lawsuits in MDL No. 3004 in the Southern District of Illinois. A Master Settlement Agreement was executed on September 3, 2025. As of October 1, 2026, 6,602 actions were pending. Plaintiffs who declined their settlement offers were ordered into limited discovery in June 2026. The court has made no finding that paraquat causes Parkinson’s disease.

Latest Parkinson’s Roundup Lawsuit Updates

August 10, 2026: California Cancels All Paraquat Registrations

California’s pesticide regulator announced in a DPR release dated August 10, 2026 that all makers of pesticide products containing paraquat had voluntarily canceled their California registrations. The last registrant canceled on August 6, 2026 [1]. DPR began its reevaluation of paraquat in November 2024. Licensed dealers may still sell canceled stock for up to two years.

July 6, 2026: The New Lede Reports Opt-Out Plaintiffs Must Meet the Special Master

According to The New Lede, Judge Nancy J. Rosenstengel ordered plaintiffs who do not accept the Syngenta settlement plan to attend mid-July meetings with the special master [2]. Many opt-out plaintiffs must also be deposed by early August. The order allows narrow third-party discovery on their paraquat use.

June 10, 2026: Court Dismisses 27 Cases over a Missing Questionnaire

In an order adopting the special master’s reports, the Southern District of Illinois dismissed 27 member cases without prejudice [3]. The reports were by Special Master Randi S. Ellis. The plaintiffs did not serve the Plaintiff Assessment Questionnaire that Case Management Order No. 10 required.

June 3, 2026: Nachawati Opt-Out Cases Selected for Limited Discovery

An order selecting Nachawati opt-out cases for limited discovery says the court understands that 183 of 217 qualified plaintiffs of Nachawati Law Group refused the offer [4]. That is over 80% of the firm’s qualified plaintiffs. Selected plaintiffs must complete a Plaintiff Fact Sheet within 14 days and be deposed within 60 days.

June 2, 2026: Court Selects Two Firms’ Opt-Out Cases for Limited Discovery

An order selecting Smith and DiCello opt-out cases chose about 10% of them for limited discovery. It states that 100% of the plaintiffs represented by DiCello Levitt refused the offers they received [5]. Over 90% of The Smith Law Firm’s plaintiffs did the same. The court says many plaintiffs have accepted their offers and wants to learn “the possible reasons for these exceedingly high opt-out rates.”

April 8, 2026: Special Master Gets Access to Settlement Information

Case Management Order No. 24 gave Special Master Randi Ellis access to settlement information. Data from the plaintiffs’ settlement administrators was due by April 20, 2026 [6]. The order directs her to meet each plaintiff who opted out or has not decided. The goal is that each plaintiff makes an informed decision. She must report to the court within 90 days.

March 3, 2026: Syngenta Announces the End of Paraquat Production

Syngenta announced from Basel that it will cease global production of the herbicide paraquat by the end of June. It cited competition from generic producers around the world [7]. Syngenta is a defendant in MDL No. 3004.

January 27, 2026: Syngenta Settles the First Philadelphia Bellwether Case

The New Lede reported that Syngenta settled with the plaintiff in the first Philadelphia bellwether paraquat trial. The settlement came on the eve of the trial’s opening, and the terms were not disclosed [8]. The report said Syngenta and Chevron deny liability and that more than 8,000 lawsuits had been filed across the U.S. by January 2026.

September 3, 2025: Master Settlement Agreement Executed

Co-Lead Plaintiffs’ Counsel and the defendants executed a Master Settlement Agreement for Certain Individual Claims and Actions Involving Paraquat Products, according to Case Management Order No. 24. It tasked Special Master Randi Ellis with settlement administration and eligibility determinations.

July 8, 2025: Syngenta Settles the Nemeth Case Before Trial

According to The New Lede, Syngenta settled Douglas Nemeth v. Syngenta, a Philadelphia case set for trial on August 4, 2025, for an undisclosed amount [9]. Nemeth, a farmer and agricultural worker, alleged that Syngenta should have warned users of the risk of Parkinson’s disease from long-term paraquat use.

April 14, 2025: Syngenta Signs a Letter Agreement to Resolve the MDL Cases

A court filing dated April 14, 2025 said Syngenta and lead plaintiffs’ counsel had signed a Letter Agreement. It was meant to resolve the paraquat litigation, The New Lede reported [10]. The report put the MDL at more than 5,800 active lawsuits. Syngenta said it continues to believe there is “no merit” to the claims.

September 30, 2024: Systematic Review Examines Paraquat and Parkinson’s Disease

Medical Research Archives published a systematic review by Douglas L. Weed of recent epidemiologic evidence on paraquat and Parkinson’s disease [11]. It covered studies published from 2019 to 2024. The review concluded that “there is no compelling scientific argument for claiming causality.” It is the work of a single author.

April 17, 2024: Court Dismisses the First Four Trial Cases

In a memorandum and order, Judge Rosenstengel excluded the testimony of the plaintiffs’ sole general-causation expert. The court granted summary judgment to the defendants. It dismissed with prejudice the four cases chosen as the first trial set [12]. The cases were Richter, Fuller, Burgener and Coward. The court directed the parties to select 16 new cases for limited discovery.

What Is Parkinson’s Disease?

According to NINDS, a U.S. government health institute, Parkinson’s disease is a disorder of the nervous system. It affects movement and gets worse over time [13]. It causes nerve cells in parts of the brain to weaken, become damaged and die. The paraquat lawsuits concern people who have received this diagnosis.

Who May Be Affected?

The plaintiffs in the paraquat MDL are people diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease after using paraquat herbicides, such as Gramoxone, at work in farming or landscaping. The NIEHS Parkinson’s page reports that people who used rotenone or paraquat at work developed Parkinson’s disease 2.5 times more often than nonusers [14]. It says home or garden pesticide exposure may also raise the chance. EPA says all paraquat products registered in the United States are Restricted Use Pesticides. Only trained, certified applicators may use them. The MDL court asks each selected plaintiff for a diagnosis date and exposure details. The paraquat MDL includes no Roundup Parkinson’s case. The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation describes the Roundup MDL, No. 2741, as actions alleging that Roundup causes non-Hodgkin lymphoma [15]. The same panel’s October 1, 2026 report lists 6,602 actions pending in the paraquat MDL [16]. The Roundup class settlement lists non-Hodgkin lymphoma types only [17]. The Roundup lawsuit overview covers that litigation. Only an individual legal review can tell whether a person’s own facts fit these circumstances.

Reported Injuries or Damages

The injury alleged is Parkinson’s disease. NINDS lists symptoms such as problems with movement and balance, tremors of the hands or fingers, and stiffness. In the four first trial cases, one plaintiff also claimed punitive damages and two spouses claimed loss of consortium. These are allegations, and the defendants dispute them. The April 2024 ruling covered those four cases only. Shrestha and colleagues published a 2020 Agricultural Health Study analysis in Environmental Research. It covered 38,274 pesticide applicators and 27,836 spouses. It found increased Parkinson’s disease risk with ever-use of terbufos and 2,4,5-T [18]. The analysis does not report glyphosate among the pesticides associated with the disease. NIEHS says pesticide exposure has consistently been associated with the onset of Parkinson’s disease. The EPA interim decision says the agency has not found a clear link. It looked at paraquat exposure from labeled uses and health outcomes such as Parkinson’s disease and cancer [19].

Recall and Regulatory Background

No recall of paraquat has been announced. EPA released its paraquat interim decision on August 2, 2021. It added mitigation measures. E&E News reported a November 2025 EPA memorandum. It found “greater uncertainty regarding the potential for paraquat to volatilize than previously considered” [20]. The same report says Lee Zeldin, the EPA Administrator, posted on January 9, 2026. He said EPA will “freshly reassess the safety of paraquat.” The New Lede reported that EPA will host a roundtable on paraquat safety. EPA said so on June 30, 2026 [21].

Evidence to Preserve

Keep these records and items, which may help show the diagnosis and the paraquat exposure:

• Medical records that show the Parkinson’s disease diagnosis and the date it was made.
• Any family history of the disease.
• Records of paraquat or Gramoxone use, such as receipts, application logs and photographs.
• Product labels and containers. Do not throw them away.
• The applicator license, or the supervisor’s license the work was done under.
• Work history showing when, how often and how the product was used, and what protective gear was worn.
• Names of co-workers or supervisors who can confirm the use.
• Messages with employers, dealers or the manufacturer about the product.

Filing Deadlines

Filing deadlines for injury claims come from state law. Which deadline applies depends on where you live and on when the exposure, the diagnosis and the harm occurred. Some states start the clock at diagnosis. Filing late can end a claim, however strong the facts are. Speak with a lawyer promptly so the right deadline is checked early.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is There a Link Between Roundup and Parkinson’s?

NIEHS names no link between Roundup and Parkinson’s disease. It does not list glyphosate among the pesticides it ties to the disease, but it does name paraquat, maneb, ziram, benomyl and several organophosphates.

What Is the Difference Between Roundup and Paraquat?

The difference between Roundup and paraquat is the chemical. Roundup contains glyphosate, while paraquat is sold under brands such as Syngenta’s Gramoxone. Paraquat has no homeowner uses, and EPA says one small sip can be fatal.

What Does the Research Say About Paraquat and Parkinson’s?

Research on paraquat and Parkinson’s disease is mixed. EPA says studies range in quality and give conflicting results. An NIEHS-funded 17-year study shows some pesticides, including paraquat, contribute to Parkinson’s onset and progression. A 2024 review found cohort studies revealed no association with paraquat exposure.

Is There a Paraquat Parkinson’s Class Action Lawsuit?

There is no U.S. paraquat Parkinson’s class action, only individual actions in MDL No. 3004. Law360 Canada reported on August 15, 2024 that the British Columbia Supreme Court certified a class action [22]. Parkinson Society British Columbia reports proposed class actions in Ontario, British Columbia and Québec [23].

How Much Is a Paraquat Parkinson’s Settlement Worth?

How much a paraquat Parkinson’s settlement is worth has not been made public. Case Management Order No. 24 gives no amount. Syngenta says the agreement “in no way implies that paraquat causes Parkinson’s Disease or that Syngenta has done anything wrong.”

Has Paraquat Been Banned in the United States?

Paraquat has not been banned in the United States, and EPA’s registration review of paraquat continues under docket EPA-HQ-OPP-2011-0855. Syngenta’s announced end to its own paraquat production does not change that, because The New Lede reported that generic paraquat from other suppliers is not affected.

References

1. https://www.cdpr.ca.gov/?p=19240
2. https://www.thenewlede.org/2026/07/judge-pressures-parkinsons-patients-to-accept-syngenta-paraquat-settlement/
3. https://www.ilsd.uscourts.gov/sites/ilsd/files/ParaquatOrder6-10-2026.pdf
4. https://www.ilsd.uscourts.gov/sites/ilsd/files/ParaquatOrder6-3-2026.pdf
5. https://www.ilsd.uscourts.gov/sites/ilsd/files/ParaquatOrder6-2-2026.pdf
6. https://www.ilsd.uscourts.gov/sites/ilsd/files/ParaquatCMO24.pdf
7. https://www.syngenta.com/media/syngenta-cease-paraquat-production-uk-2026
8. https://www.thenewlede.org/2026/01/syngenta-settles-bellwether-trial/
9. https://www.thenewlede.org/2025/07/with-trial-approaching-syngenta-settles-paraquat-lawsuit-brought-by-parkinsons-patient/
10. https://www.thenewlede.org/2025/04/syngenta-moving-to-settle-thousands-of-lawsuits-claiming-paraquat-causes-parkinsons-disease/
11. https://esmed.org/MRA/mra/article/view/5767
12. https://www.ilsd.uscourts.gov/sites/ilsd/files/ParaquatOrderofDismissal4-17-24.pdf
13. https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/parkinsons-disease
14. https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/conditions/parkinson
15. https://www.jpml.uscourts.gov/sites/jpml/files/MDL-2741-Transfer_Order-12-25.pdf
16. https://www.jpml.uscourts.gov/sites/jpml/files/Pending_MDL_Dockets_By_Actions_Pending-October-1-2026.pdf
17. https://www.weedkillerclass.com/Home/FAQs
18. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32919961/
19. https://www.epa.gov/node/270490
20. https://www.eenews.net/articles/epa-to-review-parkinsons-linked-pesticide/
21. https://www.thenewlede.org/2026/06/epa-to-hold-roundtable-on-paraquat/
22. https://law360.ca/ca/articles/1870469
23. https://parkinson.bc.ca/news/update-on-class-action-lawsuit-gramoxone-paraquat-associated-with-parkinsons-disease