Bellwether Trials Set for Paraquat Cases
Lawsuits involving claims that paraquat herbicide is responsible for causing Parkinson’s Disease, or increasing the risk of developing Parkinson’s, will be making their way to trial in 2025 as courts have selected representative cases for bellwether trials. Paraquat is a non-selective herbicide that has been in use since the 1960s, and today is often used as a pre-emergent or defoliant in a number of crops. In the U.S., it is classified as “restricted use” due to its acute human toxicity. The cases are similar to the Roundup (glyphosate) cancer lawsuits and allege that paraquat manufacturers failed to warn users of the risks and dangers of using the herbicide, as well as negligent testing, breach of warranty, and other related claims. Although not as large as the Roundup cancer litigation, there are over 6,000 federal cases in a consolidated multi-district proceeding and thousands more pending in state courts.
Bellwether trials are essentially “test” trials that are selected from the pool of cases to go to trial and jury verdict. These trials give both sides critical information and data on probable outcomes regarding issues of liability, causation, and damages. They also allow the courts and parties to address contentious and core issues which can streamline future cases. The results of bellwether trials can provide strong motivation for the sides to settle the remaining cases.
The federal court overseeing the multidistrict litigation has set the first bellwether trials for October of this year. Additionally, some state cases are also set to begin, with the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, where over 1,000 cases are pending, scheduled to hold bellwether trials as early as this month.
Global Vegetable Seed Market Growing
A recently released comprehensive study of the global vegetable seed market by Coherent Market Insights indicates that the segment is poised to grow significantly in 5 to 7 years. The report covers specific crop classes, market channels, consumption trends, and key players in the market. The value of the seed market is forecast to increase from around $8.35 billion in 2025 to $11.6 billion by 2032. More information about the report and how to access it can be found here.
