July 17, 2025 — Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Judge Joshua Roberts firmly rejected a motion by Syngenta and Chevron to dismiss hundreds of Paraquat lawsuits, calling the defendants’ argument “a daft suggestion” in a ruling issued on July 15, 2025. The decision ensures that 1,193 cases alleging that exposure to the herbicide Paraquat caused Parkinson’s disease will proceed in Philadelphia’s mass tort program, a venue known for plaintiff-friendly outcomes.
The defendants argued that Pennsylvania’s “consent by registration” statute, which allows out-of-state plaintiffs to sue companies registered to do business in the state, was unconstitutional and that most plaintiffs, not being Pennsylvania residents, should have their cases dismissed. Syngenta, a Switzerland-based company, and Chevron, which distributed Paraquat in the U.S. until 1986, contended that the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling in Mallory v. Norfolk Southern did not fully support the statute’s application. Judge Roberts dismissed this, citing the Supreme Court’s clear affirmation of the statute, stating, “To suggest otherwise is to ignore settled law.”
The Paraquat litigation, centered on claims that the herbicide causes Parkinson’s disease, has grown significantly, with Philadelphia’s caseload surging from 500 in early 2024 to 1,193 by June 2025. The plaintiffs, primarily farmers and agricultural workers, allege that Syngenta and Chevron failed to warn users of Paraquat’s neurological risks, despite studies linking it to a two- to five-fold increased risk of Parkinson’s. The herbicide, banned in over 60 countries, remains legal in the U.S. for certified applicators.
Philadelphia’s mass tort program has become a focal point for Paraquat lawsuits, partly due to its history of higher jury awards compared to federal courts. The first bellwether trial, initially set for April 2025, has been rescheduled to August 2025 to accommodate oral arguments on evidentiary motions, including challenges to expert testimony, set for July 9, 2025. Fidelma Fitzpatrick, co-lead counsel from Motley Rice, emphasized the ruling’s significance, noting, “This keeps the pressure on the defendants to address these serious claims.”
The decision contrasts with setbacks in the federal Paraquat multidistrict litigation (MDL) in Illinois, where Judge Nancy Rosenstengel dismissed four bellwether cases in April 2024 after excluding key plaintiff expert Martin Wells for unreliable methodology. Philadelphia’s cases, however, rely on different experts, and attorneys remain confident. “The science linking Paraquat to Parkinson’s is robust, and Philadelphia juries will see that,” said Mike Daly, liaison counsel for the Pennsylvania mass tort.
Settlement talks are ongoing, with a tentative framework announced in the MDL to resolve over 6,000 federal cases, though details remain confidential until June 2025. Philadelphia plaintiffs, however, may command higher payouts due to the venue’s reputation, with estimates suggesting settlements could range from tens of thousands to over $1 million for severe cases.
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