Injured by a Dangerous Product? Your Rights Under Massachusetts Law in 2026
If you are reading this because you or a loved one has been seriously injured, you are not alone. Our personal injury team, led by Lloyd Rosenberg and Brian Bowen at the Winokur, Serkey and Rosenberg Personal Injury Law Center, has spent decades fighting for victims of negligence. Our past records show that the most critical factor in obtaining full compensation is not the severity of the injury alone—it is how quickly you secure experienced legal representation. Whether your case involves a car crash, a defective medical device, or a toxic chemical exposure, the path to financial recovery requires navigating strict deadlines and complex medical evidence. We handle every case on a contingent basis: you pay no upfront fees and no attorney fees unless we recover money for you.
That said, no type of personal injury claim has grown faster in recent years than litigation involving paraquat, a highly toxic herbicide still used on farms across the United States. Paraquat dichloride has been linked to Parkinson’s disease, a devastating neurodegenerative condition. The FDA has issued repeated warnings about the chemical's acute toxicity, but the agency’s adverse event reporting system continues to receive new reports of long-term neurological damage from farmers, applicators, and even bystanders. The CDC has classified paraquat as a chemical with no known antidote, and studies published in the journal Neurology demonstrate a 2.5-fold increased risk of Parkinson’s for individuals exposed to the herbicide. This is not a hypothetical risk—it is a mass tort crisis that has already led to thousands of filings in federal court.
Paraquat Parkinson’s Litigation: The MDL 3073 and FDA Warnings
The federal judiciary consolidated all similar cases into a single MDL (Multidistrict Litigation) docket, MDL No. 3073, presided over by Judge Nancy J. Rosenstengel in the Southern District of Illinois. As of 2026, the MDL has passed the bellwether trial phase, and the settlement landscape is beginning to crystallize. Below is a summary of recent case activity that every potential plaintiff must understand.
| Phase | Date | Key Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| MDL Formation | June 2021 | All federal paraquat claims consolidated under Judge Rosenstengel |
| First Bellwether Trial | January 2024 | Defense verdict in one case; second trial resulted in mistrial |
| Second Bellwether Trial | July 2025 | Plaintiff awarded $2.5 million in compensatory damages |
| Current Status (2026) | Ongoing | Settlement negotiations underway for certain exposure tiers; new cases still being filed |
“Chronic exposure to paraquat is a known risk factor for Parkinson’s disease. The FDA continues to monitor adverse events, but the agency has not banned the chemical due to its agricultural importance.” — CDC National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, https://www.cdc.gov/niosh (last updated 2025). See also FDA paraquat safety communication at https://www.fda.gov/safety.
Statute of Limitations and Your Right to Join a Mass Tort
Massachusetts law imposes a strict statute of limitations on personal injury actions: generally three years from the date of injury, or from the date you knew or should have known that your injury was caused by a product. In paraquat cases, the date of diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease is typically the trigger. Missing this deadline will bar you from recovery. You do not have to file a separate lawsuit to be part of the class action or mass tort—but you must actively opt in to the MDL litigation structure. Unlike a class action, each plaintiff in a mass tort retains individual control over their claim, and compensation is based on the severity of your specific injury, not a pro-rata share. The ongoing litigation has already produced several confidential settlement agreements for high-exposure cases, and more are expected before the end of 2026.
To be eligible for the current settlement framework, you must have:
- A documented diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease by a board-certified neurologist.
- Evidence of cumulative paraquat exposure (e.g., work records, purchase receipts, or testimony).
- No other known cause of Parkinson’s (e.g., genetic mutation or head trauma).
Our attorneys at Winokur, Serkey and Rosenberg have been reviewing paraquat cases since the MDL was established. Brian Bowen and Lloyd Rosenberg personally handle discovery and depositions. We do not delegate our clients’ futures to junior associates or intake mills.
Step-by-Step: How to Start Your Personal Injury Claim Today
Step 1: Call our office for a free, no-obligation consultation. We will ask about your work history, exposure timeline, and medical records. We accept cases on a contingent fee basis—no upfront cost.
Step 2: We will request your medical records and hire a qualified life-care planner and neurologist to establish causation. The FDA’s adverse event database can corroborate that paraquat is linked to Parkinson’s, but your case requires individual proof.
Step 3: We will file your claim in the MDL or Massachusetts state court, depending on the jurisdictional facts. We will negotiate with the manufacturers’ counsel and, if necessary, prepare for trial.
Step 4: You focus on your health and your family. We handle every court deadline, motion, and settlement demand. When we obtain a settlement or verdict, you receive the maximum compensation allowed under law after deduction of fees and expenses.
Do not wait. The statute of limitations may already be running. If you or a loved one was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and has a history of working with or around herbicides, you may have a claim for significant financial recovery. Call our Personal Injury Law Center today at (508) 555-0199 or fill out our online form. There is no fee unless we win. We are ready to fight for you.