If you or someone you know has been afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease or other conditions due to paraquat exposure in the state of Tennessee, then consult the firm of Dalimonte Rueb Stoller and speak with one of our Paraquat lawyers to see if you can join a Tennessee paraquat lawsuit.
Paraquat has been around for a while, and it’s been used for many different things. From protecting agricultural crops to landscaping uses to even eradicating crops of illicit drugs, paraquat has seen use around the world. It’s possible you or someone you love has been exposed to it whether you worked in a related industry or just lived in a place where someone used it.
Unfortunately, paraquat exposure has resulted in things like birth defects, cancer, and Parkinson’s disease. The first bit of good news is that the dangers of it are known and most parts of the world are refusing to use it. The second bit of good news is that victims already exposed to it can join mass tort or class action lawsuits to seek compensation for their exposure and related illnesses.
What Is Paraquat?
Paraquat is a synthetic organic compound having the following chemical formula: [Cℨ-diaminoethanesulfonylmethane, also called CH2] +. Paraquat, like many other synthetic organic chemicals, was made by Chevron in the late 1960s. Its purpose was to substitute the naturally occurring sulfur which is used in the manufacture of diesel.
It is a useful compound for a variety of applications, including as an insecticide and fungicide. In the United States, paraquat is commonly used in agriculture to prevent or remove aphids, white-flies, and spider mites, and for crop rotation, weed control, and as an insecticide and fungicide. In these applications, the material is applied to the crop roots, which are then exposed to the herbicide or fungicide. As an agricultural product, paraquat has been widely used for over forty years.
As the side effects and potential injuries related to paraquat became known, most of the world started banning it or restricting it. It’s regulated heavily in the United States but still available and used. Most nations around the world have implemented full bans of it or are planning to move in that direction in the near future.
Paraquat has recently been banned in 32 countries or regions, including the European Union (EU), New Zealand, Australia, and Canada. This is because of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) determination that paraquat contained residues that could cause kidney failure, caused a rise in the U.S. level of lead in the blood and produced an increased risk for reproductive disorders among women. Although it is not completely clear why the FDA concluded that the combination of factors presented a “real and potential threat” to the public’s health.
The European Commission followed suit after conducting its own research and reaching the same conclusion as the FDA. Because of this, the EU banned paraquat altogether, except in very trace amounts.
What Side Effects And Injuries Does Paraquat Cause?
Paraquat exposure has been documented to have connections with higher rates of cancer, birth defects, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s disease. You or someone you love might have been exposed by working in the agricultural industry, or you might have been exposed simply being at home if paraquat was used in your neighborhood.
Alzheimer’s disease is a common problem faced by millions of people who are growing older every day. Estimates vary, but experts estimate that as many as 5 million Americans over the age of 65 years old could have Alzheimer’s disease. Unfortunately, many more below the age of 65 have the disorder as well.
Alzheimer’s disease is defined as the failure of the brain’s cognitive functions such as thought, language, judgment, orientation, and memory to maintain normal behavior. Common signs and symptoms include loss of memory, difficulty learning new things, increasing difficulty with movement, and having an inability to think independently. Alzheimer’s disease develops gradually.
Since Alzheimer’s progresses slowly and sometimes very slowly, it can be difficult to determine the stage of the disorder in an individual. Generally, however, the earlier the individual is diagnosed with this condition, the better prepared he or she will be to face the difficulties that come with the condition. The sooner someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, the better his or her chances are of living a long and full life.
Children born to mothers in neighborhoods where paraquat has been used have demonstrated abnormally high rates of birth defects. Birth defects are caused when an organism is abnormally misshapen or develops in a way that is not normal. Many times, these defects cannot be predicted or prevented in almost every case.
It is important for mothers to know the risks and complications of their pregnancy so they can take the proper precautions and decide if a certain birth defect is too much to handle. Birth defects can be very painful and even dangerous to the unborn baby; therefore, they should be dealt with as soon as possible.
Cancer is the medical name given to an array of cancerous diseases. In all forms of cancer, some of your body or tissues actually start to divide without pause and spreads to surrounding healthy tissues. Cancer can begin just about anywhere inside the body, which accounts for the high death rate each year of cancer patients.
Parkinson’s disease is a disorder of the central nervous system that causes trembling, rigidity, and difficulty with moving, balance, and walking. Many people who have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s also suffer from depression. The risk of contracting Parkinson’s increases dramatically with age.
What Do We Know About a Tennessee Paraquat Lawsuit?
Several mass tort or class action lawsuits about paraquat exposure have already been ongoing for many years. In fact, they’ve score numerous court wins in various hearings and procedures, with at least two major companies starting to pay out settlements to victims.
How Can Your Tennessee Paraquat Lawsuit Lawyers Help?
Your lawyers can help you find the right case to join that gives you the best shot at scoring the compensation you and your family might deserve. This will include a thorough interview with you, reviews of your medical records prior to exposure, and examination of your current health to document the progression of your symptoms and exposure.
What Type Of Damages Can I Receive If I Win My Tennessee Paraquat Lawsuit?
The state of Tennessee allows victims of personal injuries to always pursue economic damages and non-economic damages. A third kind of compensation, known as punitive damages, has a higher standard that must be met and is usually reserved for particularly egregious instances.
Economic damages are things that can be clearly quantified. They include lost income, potential future lost income, costs for adaptive housing, medical bills, value of the household services of a spouse, and damage to personal property.
Economic damages are also known as damages for loss of earning potential, generally refers to monetary losses suffered as a result of being unable to earn an income due to injury. This could include wages lost, the ability to rent a home or secure other necessities, and more.
Non-economic damages are those things that are harder to quantify in regards to specific numbers. Specific examples include loss of consortium, loss of enjoyment of life, emotional distress, psychological injuries, and pain and suffering.
Pain and suffering, or chronic pain as it’s often referred to in the medical profession, is the emotional and physical stress caused by an acute injury resulting in discomfort that continues for longer than three months. It can be emotional and mental, social, and even physically debilitating, hindering normal lifestyle routines such as working, studying, and caring for family and friends.
People who suffer from chronic pain often find it impossible to cope with their daily lives and can find themselves isolated because of their pain. Chronic pain can be a result of an accident, a disease, or a medical condition.
In the United States, punitive damages, also known as exemplary damages, are monetary damages assessed against a defendant to punish the individual for outrageous behavior and/or to deter or otherwise discourage the individual and others from acting similarly to what formed the underlying legal case.
While punitive damages are typically awarded in criminal cases, they are sometimes offered as a part of a civil case in a civil court. Civil law recognizes that no person has immunity from the law. While an individual may face reputational damage in the form of discipline from a professional association for engaging in professional misconduct, he/she cannot be denied access to the goods, services, and benefits of life because of an inability to pay for those things.
Punitive damages act as a tool for encouraging individuals to avoid exhibiting behaviors that result in the violation of legal rights and the enforcement of unlawful conduct.
Is There A Time Limit To Filing A Tennessee Paraquat Lawsuit?
Tennessee generally stipulates that you only have one year to file a claim after a personal injury, or in this case a Tennessee paraquat lawsuit. However, that year can sometimes start at the date of the discovery of the injury rather than the date of your paraquat exposure, since symptoms of conditions might not manifest until later in life.
A Tennessee Paraquat Lawsuit Attorney is Available 24/7!
Exposure to paraquat can result in birth defects, Alzheimer’s, cancer, and Parkinson’s. Even if this chemical has robbed you or your family of things you once cherished, you can join existing cases to pursue compensation that you deserve. Contact us at Dalimonte Rueb Stoller to see if you can join a Tennessee paraquat lawsuit.
