Georgia Paraquat Lawyers

Paraquat is designed to kill broadleaf weeds and grasses before farmers plant fruits, vegetables, and other crops. Paraquat products are commonly sprayed multiple times a year in orchards or on farms with multiple crops. Paraquat has been linked to Parkinson’s Disease and is dangerous to human health. It is unfit to be marketed and sold without proper warnings and directions as to the dangers associated with its use. It’s alleged that the companies that produce, market, sell, and distribute Paraquat, which include Syngenta Crop Protection, LLC; Syngenta AG; and Chevron U.S.A., Inc; failed to warn consumers about the dangers associated with its use and instead consistently made false representations about its safety.

What is Paraquat?

Paraquat is a toxic chemical widely used as an herbicide by farmers. It helps them to control weeds and is also sometimes used to remove moisture from crops such as cotton, prior to harvest. It is manufactured by several different companies and sold under multiple brands but is most commonly marketed under the trade name Gramoxone. In the United States, Paraquat is available primarily as a liquid in various strengths, according to the CDC. The US Environmental Protection Agency classifies Paraquat as “restricted use.” This means that it can only be used by people who are licensed applicators.

What is Paraquat Used For?

Paraquat is one of the most used herbicides worldwide. It is used to treat a wide range of agricultural crops including, but not limited to the following crops and trees:

• Wheat
• Corn
• Soybean
• Cotton
• Peanuts
• Garlic
• Pears
• Grapes
• Citrus trees
• Strawberries
• Sweet potatoes

The Effects of Paraquat Exposure

Paraquat has been linked to Parkinson’s Disease. Parkinson’s Disease is a progressive disorder that affects the central nervous system.

Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s often starts with a tremor in one hand and can progress to whole body tremors. Other symptoms may include:

• Stiff muscles
• Difficulty walking
• Involuntary movements such as trembling
• Muscle rigidity
• Difficulty with body movements
• Problems with coordination
• Nightmares or other sleep disturbances
• Fatigue
• Dizziness
• Poor balance
• Confusion, amnesia, or dementia
• Speech issues such as voice box spasms
• Loss of smell
• Difficulty swallowing
• Anxiety

I Was Exposed to Paraquat, Do I Need a Lawyer?

If you have been exposed to Paraquat and have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease or have signs of developing Parkinson’s, it’s important you seek help from a skilled attorney who specializes in product liability and toxic exposure cases. A lawyer who has experience in these types of complex cases has the knowledge and resources necessary to help you navigate the legal process, prove your damages, and establish evidence that your damages are the direct result of your Paraquat exposure.  

The BBGA Difference

The product liability and toxic exposure attorneys at BBGA are experienced and have in-depth knowledge of the laws and concepts governing product liability cases. We have a strong national presence and a proven track record working on complex toxic substance cases. We utilize key strategies when dealing with manufacturers and providers of dangerous products, and we’re dedicated to obtaining the best possible settlement in your case. We will aggressively fight for your rights. 

If you live in the U.S. and have been injured by Paraquat or diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease after exposure to Paraquat, contact one of our skilled attorneys today. You can reach our office at (706) 354-4000 or fill out our case review form. We are happy to schedule a free case evaluation with one of our experienced attorneys. We have offices in Athens and Lake Oconee, and we handle product liability cases throughout the U.S.

Leadership Roles

Senior Firm Shareholder Henry Garrard serves as co-lead counsel for all the Transvaginal Mesh MDL mass accumulation of over 105,000 cases. He also serves on the National Executive Committee in Los Angeles, California for litigation involving talc exposure leading to ovarian cancer in women. He is co-lead counsel in the Physiomesh multi-district litigation pending in Atlanta. Additionally, he is currently appointed by the court as co-lead counsel in the consolidation of 6,000 hernia mesh cases in Massachusetts and court-appointed, co-lead counsel in Rhode Island for 10,000 cases pending against C.R. Bard.

Firm Shareholder Drew Hill, appointed by Governor Brian Kemp for a second term, serves on the Judicial Nominating Commission.

Firm Shareholder Jim Matthews is actively involved in the pelvic mesh and hernia mesh litigation. He is co-lead counsel in the C.R. Bard hernia mesh consolidated litigation in Rhode Island, was lead counsel in the Atrium C-Qur hernia mesh litigation in state court in New Hampshire and was state court liaison to the New Hampshire federal court C-Qur multi-district litigation. He had active roles during the discovery, deposition, and pre-trial stages of the Ethicon/Johnson & Johnson Physiomesh hernia mesh multi-district litigation in Atlanta (which was settled before trial) and the C.R. Bard pelvic mesh MDL in federal court in Charleston, West Virginia (which settled after a win for his client in the first bellwether trial).

Firm Shareholder Josh Wages was appointed by the MDL Court to the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee for the multi-district litigation involving seven transvaginal mesh manufacturers – which combined are the largest medical device product liability MDL in U.S. history. Josh has also been instrumental in the firm’s success at the forefront of the national litigation involving certain defective hernia mesh devices, including the Atrium C-QUR consolidated state court litigation in New Hampshire, the Ethicon Physiomesh MDL in the Northern District of Georgia, and the Covidien hernia mesh litigation which is consolidated in Massachusetts State Court.