2 min read
In recent news from the ongoing Paraquat litigation, an Illinois federal judge recently granted a request from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to temporarily halt discovery proceedings in a multi-district litigation against several makers of the allegedly poisonous weedkiller. The lawsuit centers around the main defendants, Syngenta and Chevron Phillips.[1]
The action comes after FDA warned in October that the weedkiller’s presence[2] in other products, such as wines, liquors, and spirits, posed “a serious health risk” to consumers. The FDA requested that the court pause the discovery process to allow it time to gather and assess the necessary safety data. There are currently, as of October 14, 2,009 active cases in the MDL.
FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb has noted that long-term exposure to Paraquat—which is used to kill weeds, grasses, and other crops—is known to be responsible for increased risks of Parkinson’s disease and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Gottlieb emphasized that public health and safety is the FDA’s top priority.
The motion for a pause in the discovery process came after dozens of lawsuits were brought against the manufacturers of the weedkiller. The cases were consolidated and are being heard in Illinois’s Northern District before U.S. District Judge Matthew F. Kennelly. Plaintiffs, who live in many states, allege damages for illnesses such as Parkinson’s caused by exposure to Paraquat.
Here at the Michael Brady Lynch firm, we are still taking paraquat cases. If you or a loved one have been injured by paraquat, and have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s, please give us a call at 888-585-5970.
[1] https://leadersinmasstorts.com/blog/paraquat-litigation-federal-judge-allows-claims-to-proceed/
[2] https://www.acsh.org/news/2021/10/11/paraquat-causes-parkinsons-new-review-creates-trouble-trial-lawyers-15859
