Washington, D.C. Paraquat Lawyer

Paraquat is one of the most commonly used herbicides on farmlands throughout the United States. Despite its widespread use, it is very dangerous. As such, Paraquat exposure is linked to people developing Parkinson’s disease, among other health complications. The manufacturer, Syngenta, should have known about these potential risks and warned their consumers about them.

If you or a loved one worked with or was otherwise exposed to Paraquat, you could have grounds to sue Syngenta for its negligence. A Washington, D.C. Paraquat lawyer with the Parrish Law Firm, PLLC can be your legal advocate. While you’re in treatment, they will create an evidence file, negotiate a fair settlement, and champion your case from beginning to end. Our legal assistance comes at no upfront cost to you.

A Closer Look Into Paraquat and Its Use

Paraquat is used on farmlands to help control weed and grass growth. It’s so effective that according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), more than 10 million pounds of Paraquat were used in 2018.

The product is commonly used on:

Wheat
Soybeans
Potatoes
Corn
Coffee
Cotton
Hay
Cotton

Because the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) categorizes it as a restricted use pesticide, only licensed applicators are permitted to use Paraquat. In that case, homeowners cannot use it on their land.

People Exposed to Paraquat May Suffer from Health Complications

Any kind of exposure to Paraquat, including in small amounts, can result in serious health conditions over time. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences found that those who inhale or ingest Paraquat are twice as likely to develop Parkinson’s disease than people who have had no encounter.

According to Mayo Clinic, Parkinson’s disease is a neurological disorder that affects the patient’s mobility and gets progressively worse over time. You may have Parkinson’s disease if you’ve been experiencing:

Poor posture
Bad balance
Shaking or tremoring
Rigid or slowed movements
Changes in speech or writing

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) observed that not all those are exposed to Paraquat suffer from Parkinson’s disease. Other associated complications, especially when ingested in a large amount, include:

Kidney, heart, respiratory, and liver failure
Lung scarring
Heart injuries
Seizures
Pulmonary edema
And more

Who Could Be Exposed to Paraquat in Washington, D.C.

Your diagnosis stemming from Paraquat exposure may give you reason to take action against the liable party. Groups who may qualify to begin legal pursuits may be:

Licensed Paraquat applicators
Farmers
Other agricultural workers
Employees at Paraquat manufacturing plants
Employees who work with Paraquat elements
People who lived in areas where Paraquat was used

Holding the Liable Party Accountable for Your Damages Related to Paraquat

If you were injured or developed an illness after inhaling or ingesting Paraquat, you may qualify to join a mass tort lawsuit against Syngenta. This legal route is different than class action, which is when a group of plaintiffs file one lawsuit against the defendant and divide the total winnings among themselves.

A mass tort, on the other hand, occurs when plaintiffs who suffer from similar injuries due to the same product file separate lawsuits against the defendant. The lawsuits are later consolidated into one case (multidistrict litigation (MDL)) to make the process simpler for the federal courts.

Steps of Filing a Mass Tort Lawsuit

The way a mass tort lawsuit typically goes is:

Retaining legal help
Having your lawyer go over your medical records
Your lawyer researching other lawsuits against Syngenta to see if your health conditions and circumstances are similar
Submitting a lawsuit to the federal court
Taking your case to the bellwether trials – these trials test the most serious cases of the group to help gauge the outcomes of the remaining lawsuits
Settling your case – whether that takes weeks, months, or years

You may not have to go through each one of these stages, as you may obtain a settlement at any time.

Damages You Can Recoup from a Washington, D.C. Paraquat Lawsuit

None of the Paraquat lawsuits against Syngenta have settled yet, so the average amount of compensation plaintiffs have received has yet to be determined. However, you may be able to claim the following damages in your lawsuit:

Past and anticipated medical costs: Bills for diagnostic tests, medication, surgery, physical therapy, ongoing doctor’s appointments
Incomes losses: For the salary or hourly pay, bonuses, commissions, promotions, opportunities, and other benefits you missed due to your absence from work
Diminished earning capacity: For the money you won’t be able to earn if you can’t go back to your previous job or work altogether
“Pain and suffering” and inconvenience: For the discomfort and stress your illness, injury, and/or treatment has caused you
Mental anguish: For the mental struggles you’ve had to endure since receiving your diagnosis
Disfigurement: For your compromised mobility due to Parkinson’s disease

If your loved one passed away from complications related to Paraquat exposure, you and your family can pursue wrongful death damages. Recoverable losses may include:

End-of-life medical expenses
Loss of financial support
Funeral and burial costs
Loss of consortium or companionship
Loss of household services
Loss of parental guidance

A Paraquat lawyer from the Parrish Law Firm, PLLC can review your losses and quantify them to help ensure you recover a fair settlement from the insurer.

What Our Lawyer Serving Washington, D.C. Can Do to Manage Your Paraquat Case

After learning that Syngenta hired a team of corporate attorneys to represent it, tackling a lawsuit against them may be daunting. You don’t have to take on the tasks that come with handling a case on your own. When you have the Parrish Law Firm, PLLC on your side, you can rest easy knowing that you’re in good hands. While you’re getting treatment, our attorney will:

Review your medical history
Seek medical expert testimony from your doctors
Connect your diagnosis to Paraquat exposure
Use residential records to show that Paraquat was used near your community
Gather different forms of evidence
Speak to all involved parties on your behalf
Manage settlement negotiations
Argue your case in a trial

You can expect frequent case updates from your lawyer. If you still have questions or concerns, never hesitate to contact them. We want you to always be in the know throughout the entire course of your case.

The Parrish Law Firm, PLLC Takes All Injury Cases Based on Contingency

Whether or not you can afford to hire our law firm should not be a concern to you – you can. At the Parrish Law Firm, PLLC, we take product liability cases in exchange for a contingency fee. This payment model involves:

Our team financing your lawsuit, so you don’t have to worry about court filing fees and other legal costs
No upfront, out-of-pocket, or hourly charges
No fees for retaining our help

If your lawyer settles your case or wins a court award, their fee will come from that. In the event they cannot achieve such an outcome, no payment is due. That way, your financial risk is greatly considered and overall reduced.

Time Constraints Washington, D.C. Imposes for Product Liability Lawsuits

You are only given a certain amount of time to sue Syngenta for its negligence. Washington, D.C.’s statute of limitations is codified in Code of the District of Columbia § 12-301. In most cases, you have three years from the date of discovery to file a lawsuit.

This time frame is shortened if you lost a loved one to Parkinson’s disease or another health complication resulting from Paraquat exposure. Code of the District of Columbia § 16-2702 dictates that you are generally allowed two years to file a wrongful death lawsuit.

Two or three years may seem like plenty of time to take action, but time can go quickly. We must gather evidence while it’s still accessible, all while complying with the deadline. If we are too late to file, your right to collect damages may be at risk. If you get our law firm involved soon enough, we can work to ensure that everything is turned in on time.

Leave Your Washington, D.C. Paraquat Case to the Parrish Law Firm, PLLC

Despite the hundreds of lawsuits alleging Syngenta’s negligence and failure to put the safety of its consumers first, the manufacturing company still denies these accusations. At the Parrish Law Firm, PLLC, our team will join the fight to hold Syngenta to account for your damages. We can interview your medical providers and research other mass tort cases against Syngenta to determine your eligibility to join one.

We are also prepared to help you file your own product liability lawsuit or start your own mass tort case. To learn more about how we can help you in our nation’s capital, reach out to us today at (571) 229-1800. Your first consultation will be free of charge and come at no obligation.