Syngenta has reached a sweeping agreement to settle thousands of lawsuits linking its paraquat weedkiller to Parkinson’s disease, even as the company denies any wrongdoing.
Carey Gillam reports for The New Lede.
In short:
- Syngenta is moving to resolve more than 5,800 federal lawsuits — and potentially many more in state courts — through a new settlement agreement, though details remain undisclosed.
- Plaintiffs allege paraquat caused Parkinson’s, citing numerous studies and internal documents suggesting Syngenta knew of the risks but tried to suppress the science.
- Lawyers for plaintiffs excluded from settlement talks are frustrated, fearing delays and weakened legal standing for those who don’t accept the deal.
Key quote:
“These plaintiffs are dying every day.”
— Majed Nachawati, attorney for non-multidistrict litigation plaintiffs
Why this matters:
This story echoes the Roundup litigation playbook: corporate denial, buried science, and mounting health claims, raising fresh concerns about regulatory oversight and corporate accountability. Beyond the battles over corporate liability, this is about the human toll of industrial agriculture. While Syngenta cuts a deal, many plaintiffs — especially those left out of settlement talks — are still waiting, worried they’ll be forced to swallow a bitter compromise or lose their chance for justice entirely.
Read more: Move to consolidate US paraquat litigation as cases mount against Syngenta
