Syngenta Concedes: Paraquat Settlement Signals Big Win for Plaintiffs, but the Fight Isn’t Over

May 2, 2025

Call it what you want—strategic retreat, calculated deal, or corporate damage control—but on April 17, 2025, Syngenta and Chevron signed a confidential settlement agreement to resolve thousands of lawsuits alleging their herbicide Paraquat causes Parkinson’s disease. Unfortunately, specific details, such as the total settlement amount and individual compensation figures, have not been publicly disclosed. The move could resolve a majority of claims in the sprawling mass tort—but it’s far from the end of the story.

The litigation, consolidated in MDL No. 3004 before Chief Judge Nancy J. Rosenstengel in the Southern District of Illinois, has grown to more than 5,800 plaintiffs. Another 450-plus cases are pending in California. Since its creation in June 2021, the MDL has centered on claims that long-term exposure to Paraquat—a chemical banned in over 50 countries but still legal in the U.S.—can trigger Parkinson’s disease.

The pressure intensified with the first bellwether trial set for October 14, 2025. Additionally, Paraquat lawsuits continue in various state courts, with the first state trial slated for April 2025 in Philadelphia's Court of Common Pleas. Discovery had already revealed internal Syngenta emails showing the company knew Paraquat could cross the blood-brain barrier decades ago. Others showed efforts to ghostwrite studies, downplay risks, and prop up a front-facing “Paraquat Information Center” that presented as neutral but was quietly backed by the company. So, why settle now? Timing. Evidence. Optics. And the looming risk of a high-profile trial exposing Syngenta’s internal communications to the public and a jury.

As for how much this is costing them—officially, no one’s talking. While Syngenta and Chevron aren’t talking numbers, others are. Legal analysis sites like Lawsuit Information Center and plaintiff firms including TorHoerman Law have publicly projected that individual settlements could range from $100,000 to over $1 million, depending on factors like severity of Parkinson’s symptoms, work history, and proof of exposure. These aren’t guarantees, of course—but they’re grounded in patterns seen across other major toxic torts, including Roundup and asbestos.

The defense, meanwhile, is sticking to its script. Syngenta insists the deal “does not imply Paraquat causes Parkinson’s or that Syngenta has done anything wrong.” The company still points to over 1,200 studies and a 2024 EPA reauthorization stating Parkinson’s is “not an expected health outcome” from Paraquat use. Chevron has echoed the same position: no admission, no wrongdoing.

Now comes the real test: will enough plaintiffs opt in to make the deal stick? Will non-MDL claimants hold out for trials? And will the court find the settlement fair? Whatever happens next, this case is a warning shot to corporate defendants: science, strategy, and internal emails can collide in ways that force even the most powerful players to the table. The Paraquat litigation shows what’s possible when plaintiffs unite behind real science, credible experts, and a sharp legal team.

Syngenta may not have admitted fault—but it did cut a check. And that, in this business, says plenty.

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