Mass tort lawsuit · Checked on November 3, 2026
Paraquat lawsuit: status November 2026 (MDL 3004)
The paraquat litigation is in a settlement process. About 6,635 cases were pending in federal MDL 3004 on November 2, 2026. Farmworkers and others allege that exposure to the herbicide paraquat caused Parkinson's disease. A Syngenta settlement program is reported, with terms not made public.
| Case | MDL 3004 |
|---|---|
| Court | U.S. District Court, Southern District of Illinois |
| Judge | Nancy J. Rosenstengel |
| Pending cases | 6,635 (as of November 2, 2026) |
| Stage | Settlement program in progress; terms not public |
| New cases | Settlement in progress; check with a lawyer |
| Next scheduled date | None announced in the records we checked |
| Last checked | November 3, 2026 |
What plaintiffs allege
Plaintiffs allege that Syngenta and Chevron knew paraquat exposure could cause Parkinson's disease and did not warn people who mixed or sprayed it. The companies deny the claims.
Where the case stands
- The cases are before Chief Judge Nancy J. Rosenstengel (verified, JPML report).
- A Syngenta settlement program is under way; terms are not public, and a June 2026 order required plaintiffs not settling to meet with a special master (reported).
- More than 2,000 claims are reported in Philadelphia state court.
Settlement status
A Syngenta settlement program is reported to be under way. Its terms, including amounts, have not been made public (reported). We do not estimate payments.
Updates
Newest first. Each entry says whether we read the record ourselves (verified) or it comes from coverage (reported).
- November 2026: The federal panel's report of November 2, 2026 listed 6,635 pending cases (verified, JPML report).
- October 2026: The federal panel's report of October 1, 2026 listed 6,602 pending cases (verified, JPML report).
- June 2026: An order required plaintiffs who are not settling to meet with a special master (reported).
What law firms commonly ask callers
Law firms reviewing these cases usually ask about the following. This is general information, not an assessment of any claim:
- the type and years of paraquat work (mixing, spraying, farm or landscaping work)
- the Parkinson's diagnosis date
Questions
Is the paraquat lawsuit real?
Yes. The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation listed 6,635 pending cases in MDL 3004 as of November 2, 2026 (verified). A pending case is a claim filed in court, not a finding that the claim is true.
When will the paraquat lawsuit settle?
Nobody can predict when or whether a mass tort will settle. What has been disclosed so far: A Syngenta settlement program is reported to be under way. Its terms, including amounts, have not been made public (reported). We do not estimate payments.
Can paraquat cause Parkinson's disease?
That is what the lawsuits allege, and the companies deny it. No court has made a final decision on that question. For medical questions, talk to your doctor.
Is paraquat still used in the U.S.?
Paraquat is a restricted-use pesticide in the U.S., which means only certified applicators may use it.
Sources
- JPML, Pending MDL Dockets by Actions Pending, November 2, 2026 verified
- The New Lede on the paraquat settlement process, July 2026 reported
Verified means we read the court, agency or company record ourselves on the check date. Reported means the fact comes from news or law firm coverage and could not be confirmed on a primary record.