Paraquat Parkinson's Lawsuit in Illinois

What Illinois residents should know

Illinois residents are not necessarily limited to filing only in Illinois state court. Many mass tort claims may be evaluated by national firms, filed in federal court, coordinated through MDL proceedings, or handled through another legal process.

State law may still matter for deadlines, damages, claim evaluation, and certain procedural issues.

What stands out about Paraquat litigation in Illinois?

Illinois is uniquely the host state for the federal paraquat MDL. MDL-3004 (In re: Paraquat Products Liability Litigation) sits in the Southern District of Illinois (East St. Louis division), before Chief Judge Nancy J. Rosenstengel. Illinois plaintiffs file in their home federal district and stay in-state for coordinated proceedings; out-of-state plaintiffs are transferred in by the JPML.

Illinois is also one of the largest documented paraquat-use environments in the country. The USDA NASS 2018 chemical-use surveys ranked Illinois second nationally in both corn (about 11.0 million acres) and soybean (about 10.8 million acres) planted acreage, both crops with widespread paraquat use as a burndown herbicide.

As of mid-2026, a review of Illinois Attorney General announcements did not surface a state-level paraquat action against Syngenta or Chevron; this is an absence-of-evidence statement rather than a guarantee.

Sources: USDA NASS 2018 Corn Chemical Use Highlights (Illinois ~11.0M acres); USDA NASS 2018 Soybean Chemical Use Highlights (Illinois ~10.8M acres); Illinois Attorney General — press releases; JPML — pending MDL dockets.

Possible eligibility factors

Illinois residents may want to speak with a lawyer if they used or were exposed to Paraquat herbicide products and later experienced Parkinson's disease.

• Use, prescription, employment, service, or exposure history.
• Medical diagnosis and treatment records.
• Approximate dates of use, exposure, diagnosis, and treatment.
• Information about prior conditions, alternative exposures, or other facts a lawyer may need to evaluate.

What records support Paraquat claims in Illinois?

• Farm, applicator, co-op, employer, crop, purchase, spray-log, or pesticide-license records showing paraquat exposure.
• Records showing mixing, loading, spraying, equipment cleaning, drift exposure, or work near treated fields.
• Neurology records, movement-disorder specialist notes, medication history, and Parkinson's diagnosis records.
• Co-worker names, witness statements, photos, calendars, safety training, and documents tying exposure to a product and season.

What exposure and legal context matter in Illinois?

State residents may have encountered paraquat through farms, crop handling, pesticide application, agricultural work, mixing, loading, or nearby work activities.

Where are Illinois Paraquat cases handled?

Living in Illinois does not necessarily mean the case will be filed only in Illinois. Claims may be evaluated by national firms, filed in federal court, coordinated through MDL proceedings, or handled through another legal process.

Federal courts in Illinois

• Northern District of Illinois
• Central District of Illinois
• Southern District of Illinois

What is the filing deadline for Paraquat lawsuits in Illinois?

For a Illinois resident researching Paraquat claims, the starting point is usually Illinois's general personal injury period: 2 years under 735 ILCS 5/13-202. That is only a starting point, not a final legal deadline for every person.

The real filing deadline can depend on diagnosis date, when the injury and possible cause were discovered, exposure location, wrongful-death issues, prior claim paperwork, and whether the case is filed directly, transferred to an MDL, or handled through another process.

Discovery-rule note: Illinois courts apply a discovery rule in many injury cases, so the clock may run from when the injury and its likely cause were or should have been discovered.

How long do Illinois residents have to file?

Illinois's personal injury statute of limitations applicable to product liability claims is 2 years (735 ILCS 5/13-202). Accrual timing, tolling, and repose periods can still change the real deadline in an individual case.

• Filing period: 2 years — 735 ILCS 5/13-202.
• Discovery rule: Illinois courts apply a discovery rule in many injury cases, so the clock may run from when the injury and its likely cause were or should have been discovered.
• Statute of repose: Product liability actions are also subject to statutory repose periods (735 ILCS 5/13-213).

Because the controlling deadline depends on diagnosis date, discovery facts, exposure history, wrongful-death rules, and how the claim is filed, only a licensed attorney can confirm the deadline that applies to a specific situation. This page is general legal information, not legal advice.

What should Illinois residents ask a lawyer?

• What proof do you need to connect my farm, applicator, or bystander exposure specifically to paraquat?
• How do Parkinson's diagnosis date, symptom history, and neurology records affect review?
• Does the confidential settlement program affect whether my claim can be evaluated?
• How do state filing deadlines affect my exposure and diagnosis timeline?
• Would my claim be handled locally, nationally, or through the MDL?
• Are there upfront costs?