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Paraquat Products Liability Litigation

Case No. 3:21-md-3004-njr                                  

Paraquat Quick Links
New Case Filing Instructions PACER Account Registration
Docket Report (PACER) Amended Administrative Order 322
Paraquat MDL Discovery Portal Media Access Agreement
Plaintiff's Assessment Questionnaire (PAQ) Media Inquiries
PAQ Authorizations Additional Media Information


Court Contacts

Chambers (618) 482-9172 ParaquatMDL@ilsd.uscourts.gov
Deana Brinkley
Courtroom Deputy		 (618) 482-9342 Deana_Brinkley@ilsd.uscourts.gov
Michele Parrish
Law Clerk		 (618) 482-9168 Michele_Parrish@ilsd.uscourts.gov
Stephanie Rennegarbe
Court Reporter		 (618) 482-9226 Stephanie_Rennegarbe@ilsd.uscourts.gov
Jessica Robertson
Docketing Assistance		 (618) 482-9434 Jessica_Robertson@ilsd.uscourts.gov

Court Orders

Date Posted Date Signed Description
10-15-2026 10-15-2026 Order re Status Conference as to Attorney R. Allen Smith's cases 
10-14-2026 10-14-2026 SECOND AMENDED ORDER re Hearing as to Attorney R. Allen Smith Jr.'s cases
10-10-2026 10-10-2026 VACATED 10-14-26: AMENDED ORDER re Hearing as to Attorney R. Allen Smith Jr.'s cases
10-6-2026 10-6-2026 VACATED 10-10-26: Order re Hearing as to Attorney R. Allen Smith Jr.'s cases
10-6-2026 10-6-2026 Order No. 26 - Relating to Non-Participating Smith Law Firm Cases
9-11-2026 9-11-2026 Order re Cancelling Hearing as to Attorney Mark DiCello's cases
9-4-2026 9-4-2026 Order re Hearing as to Attorney Mark DiCello's cases
8-24-2026 8-24-2026 Order Appearance of attorney Mark DiCello
6-12-2026 6-12-2026 Order No. 25 - Relating to Ongoing Litigation Against Defendants
6-12-2026 6-12-2026 Order No. 25 - Exhibit 1: Plaintiff's Fact Sheet
6-12-2026 6-12-2026 Order No. 25 - Exhibit 2: Summary of Pertinent Medical Records
6-12-2026 6-12-2026 Order No. 25 - Exhibit 3: Production Requirements for Recent Use Plaintiffs
6-12-2026 6-12-2026 Order No. 25 - Exhibit 4: Production Requirements for Intermediate Use Plaintiffs
6-12-2026 6-12-2026 Order No. 25 - Exhibit 5: Proof Requirements for Early Use Plaintiffs
6-10-2026 6-10-2026 Order Adopting Special Master's Report and Recommendations
6-3-2026 6-3-2026 Order Selecting Nachawati Law Group's Opt-Out Cases for Limited Discovery
6-2-2026 6-2-2026 Order Selecting Smith and Dicello Firms' Opt-Out Cases for Limited Discovery
4-8-2026 4-8-2026 Order No. 24 - Providing Special Master with Access to Information Concerning MDL Settlement
2-11-2026 2-11-2026 Order No. 23 - Relating to Voluntary Dismissals
12-30-2025 12-30-2025 Order Extending Stay and Canceling January 5, 2026, Status Conference
10-6-2025 10-6-2025 Order regarding Attorney Aimee Wagstaff
9-29-2025 9-29-2025 Order Extending Stay and Vacating Trial Date
4-10-2025 4-10-2025 Order Cancelling Status Conference for Friday, April 11, 2025
1-23-2025 1-23-2025 Order Selecting Plaintiffs for Further Case-Specific Discovery
12-10-2024 12-10-2024 Order No. 22 - Reappointing Plaintiffs' Leadership
10-31-2024 10-31-2024 Order Selecting Replacement Cases for Case-Specific Discovery
10-28-2024 10-28-2024 Order No. 21A - Relating to Additional Limited Discovery
8-06-2024 8-06-2024 Order Selecting Plaintiffs for Case-Specific Discovery
4-17-2024 4-17-2024 Order Relating to Dismissal of Cases
4-17-2024 4-17-2024 Order Relating to Dr. Wells
2-27-2024 2-26-2024 Order No. 21 - Relating to Limited Third-Party Discovery
1-22-2024 1-22-2024 Order No. 20 - Relating To Additional Limited Discovery
12-06-2023 12-04-2023 Order Relating to Dr. Dorsey
8-14-2023 8-14-2023 Order for Clarification Purposes, Hearing as to the pending Daubert Motions
8-08-2023 8-08-2023 Order re Hearing as to the pending Daubert Motions
8-04-2023 8-04-2023 Order Protocol for Daubert Hearing
7-28-2023 7-28-2023 Order No. 19 - Relating to Hearing on Daubert Motions
7-04-2023 7-04-2023 Order Staying Deadline
7-04-2023 5-15-2023 Order No. 18 - Relating to Deceased Plaintiffs' Submissions and Cases Based On Implausible Theories Of Proof
6-22-2023 6-22-2023 Order for Plaintiffs' Response to Motion for Docket Control Order
6-20-2023 6-20-2023 Order for Defendants' Response to Motion to Modify CMO 18
6-12-2023 6-12-2023 Order Granting in Part and Denying in Part Defendants' Supplemental Motion to Dismiss Public Nuisance Claims
4-21-2023 4-21-2023 Order No. 17 - Procedure for Daubert and Summary Judgment Motions
4-18-2023 4-18-2023 Order Cancelling Status Conference for Friday, April 21, 2023
4-05-2023 4-05-2023 Order re Public Nuisance Claims
3-16-2023 3-16-2023 Order Cancelling Status Conference for Friday, March 24, 2023
2-17-2023 2-17-2023 Order Cancelling Status Conference for Friday, February 24, 2023
1-24-2023 1-24-2023 Order directing Defendants to produce redacted Hoffman materials to Plaintiffs
12-15-2022 12-15-2022 Order Adopting Special Master's Report and Recommendations as to Chevron Company Witnesses Richard Cavalli and Sara McMillen and Certain Boxes Stored at Iron Mountain
12-12-2022 12-12-2022 Order No. 16 - Resetting Expert Deadlines, Dispositive Motion Deadlines, and Trial Date
12-12-2022 12-12-2022 Order Granting Plaintiffs' Motion for In Camera Review and to Compel Production of Hoffman Expert Materials
11-16-2022 11-16-2022 Order re Deposition of Plaintiffs' Expert Dr. Michael Siegel
10-24-2022 10-24-2022 Order Selecting Alternate Case for Limited Discovery
10-14-2022 10-14-2022 Order Extending Deadlines re: 20 Non-Bellwether Cases Selected for Limited Discovery
9-20-2022 9-20-2022 Order Resetting Status Conference for October
9-19-2022 9-19-2022 Order Selecting Alternate Case for Limited Discovery
9-12-2022 9-12-2022 Order Cancelling Status Conference for Friday, September 23, 2022
8-17-2022 8-17-2022 Order Selecting Additional Cases for Limited Discovery
8-17-2022 8-17-2022 Order No. 15 - Resetting Dispositive Motion Deadlines and Trial Date
8-16-2022 8-16-2022 Order No. 14 - Reappointing Plaintiff's Leadership
8-11-2022 8-11-2022 August 15, 2022 Status Conference
7-11-2022 7-11-2022 Order Cancelling Status Conference for Friday, July 15, 2022
6-17-2022 6-17-2022 Third Order Amending Discovery Schedule
5-18-2022 5-18-2022 Second Order Amending Discovery Schedule
5-03-2022 5-03-2022 Order Amending Discovery Schedule
4-13-2022 4-13-2022 Order Selecting Plaintiffs for Further Case-Specific Discovery
3-14-2022 3-14-2022 Order Dismissing Additional Claims
3-07-2022 3-07-2022 Amended Order for the Selection of Trial Cases
2-14-2022 2-14-2022 Order Granting in Part and Denying in Part Defendant's Motion to Dismiss
2-08-2022 2-08-2022 Order Directing Defendants to Produce Transcripts of Corporate Witness Depositions
1-18-2022 1-18-2022 Order Adopting Special Master's Report and Recommendations Regarding CMO No. 7
1-18-2022 1-18-2022 Exhibit 1: Plaintiff's Fact Sheet (PFS)
1-18-2022 1-18-2022 Exhibit 2: PFS Authorizations
1-07-2022 1-07-2022 Order Identifying Early Trial Selection Cases
12-15-2021 12-15-2021 Order No. 13 - Regarding Rule 502(d) and Privileged Materials
12-06-2021 12-06-2021 Order Adopting Special Master's Report and Recommendations Regarding CMO No. 12
12-03-2021 12-03-2021 Order No. 12 - Protocol for the Selection of Trial Cases
11-10-2021 11-10-2021 Order Directing Plaintiffs to Respond to Defendant's Motions to Dismiss
11-01-2021 11-01-2021 Order No. 11 - Dismissal of CP Chem, Phillips 66, Chevron Corporation, and cases against Chevron U.S.A. Inc. Alleging Exposures After 1990
10-29-2021 10-29-2021 Stipulation Regarding Proper Parties, Appendix A and Appendix B
10-27-2021 10-27-2021 Order No. 10 - Plaintiff Assessment Questionnaire (PAQ) Implementation
10-27-2021 10-27-2021 Order Regarding Preservation and Production of Documents and Electronically Stored Information
10-27-2021 10-27-2021 Appendix 1: Required Metadata Fields
10-27-2021 10-27-2021 Appendix 2: Privilege Log Content
10-26-2021 10-26-2021 Joint Coordination Order to Manage Fact Discovery between MDL and Other Paraquat Actions
10-19-2021 10-13-2021 Order Granting Plaintiffs Motion for Alternative Service of Process on Syngenta AG
10-13-2021 10-13-2021 Order No. 9 - Establishment of Common Benefit Fee and Expense Fund
10-13-2021 10-13-2021 Order No. 9 - Exhibit A Common Benefit Participation Agreement
9-10-2021 9-10-2021 Order No. 8 - Procedures Governing Briefing of Rule 12(b)(6) Motions to Dismiss
9-03-2021 9-03-2021 Order No. 7 - Implementation of Plaintiffs Assessment Questionnaire and Plaintiffs Fact Sheet
9-03-2021 9-03-2021 Order No. 7 - Exhibit 1: Assessment Questionnaire
9-03-2021 9-03-2021 Order No. 7 - Exhibit 2: Defendants Proposed PFS (trial cases)
9-03-2021 9-03-2021 Order No. 7 - Exhibit 3: PAQ Authorizations
9-03-2021 9-03-2021 Order No. 7 - Exhibit 4: PFS Authorizations
7-23-2021 7-23-2021 Order No. 5 - Deadlines Imposed
7-14-2021 7-14-2021 Order No. 4 - Appointment of Special Master
7-06-2021 7-06-2021 Order No. 3 - Proposing Appointment of Randi Ellis as Special Master
7-06-2021 7-06-2021 Order No. 2 - Appointing Plaintiffs' Leadership
6-10-2021 6-10-2021 Order No. 1 - Case Management Order
6-08-2021 6-08-2021 Initial Transfer Order

Lead Counsel and Plaintiffs' Executive Committee

CO-LEAD PLANTIFF'S COUNSEL
Khaldoun A. Baghdadi
Walkup, Melodia, Kelly & Schoenberger
650 California Street, 26th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94108
415-981-7210
kbaghdadi@WalkupLawOffice.com
Sarah Shoemake Doles (Co-Lead and MDL Plaintiffs’ Liaison)
Levin, Papantonio, Rafferty, Proctor, Buchanan, O'Brien, Barr & Mougey, P.A.
316 S. Baylen Street, Suite 600
Pensacola, FL 32502
850-495-5010
sdoles@levinlaw.com
Peter Flowers
Meyers & Flowers, LLC
225 West Wacker Drive, Suite 1515
Chicago, IL 60606
630-232-6333
pjf@meyers-flowers.com
PLAINTIFFS’ EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
David Cates (PEC and State Court Liaison for Illinois)
The Cates Law Firm
216 W Pointe Drive, Suite A
Swansea, IL 62226
618-277-3644
dcates@cateslaw.com
Amy Eskin (PEC and State Court Liaison for California)
Schneider Wallace Cottrell Konecky LLP
2000 Powell Street, Suite 1400
Emeryville, CA 94608
415-421-7100
aeskin@schneiderwallace.com
Chad Finley
TorHoerman Law
210 Main Street
Edwardsville, IL 62025
618-223-5657
cfinley@thlawyer.com
Marlene J. Goldenberg
GoldenbergLaw, PLLC
800 LaSalle Avenue, Suite 2150
Minneapolis, MN 55402
612-436-5028
mjgoldenberg@goldenberglaw.com
R. Eric Kennedy
Weisman, Kennedy & Berris Co., L.P.A.
101 W Prospect Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44115
216-781-1111
ekennedy@weismanlaw.com
Leslie LaMacchia
LaMacchia Law, PC
P.O. Box 131812
Houston, TX 77219
(713) 703-8065
lamacchialaw@outlook.com
Roopal P. Luhana
Chaffin Luhana LLP
600 Third Avenue, 12 Floor
New York, NY 10016
888-480-1123
luhana@chaffinluhana.com
LaRuby May
Levin, Papantonio, Rafferty, Proctor, Buchanan, O’Brien, Barr & Mougey, P.A.
316 Baylen Street, Suite 600
Pensacola, FL 32502
850-435-7000
lmay@levinlaw.com
Julia A. Merritt
Beasley Allen
2839 Paces Ferry Road SE, Suite 400
Atlanta, GA 30339
404-751-1162
Julia.Merritt@BeasleyAllen.com
Alicia O’Neill
Watts Guerra LLP
5726 W. Hausman Road, Suite 119
San Antonio, TX 78249
281-782-5995
aoneill@wattsguerra.com
Amanda Williamson
Heninger Garrison Davis, LLC
2224 1st Avenue North
Birmingham, AL 35203
205-326-3336
amanda@hgdlawfirm.com
Diandra “Fu” Debrosse Zimmermann
Dicello Levitt Gutzler
420 20th Street North, Suite 2525
Birmingham, AL 35203
205-855-5700
fu@dicellolevitt.com
DEFENSE COUNSEL
Syngenta Crop Protection, LLC
Michael J. Nester
Donovan Rose Nester, P.C.
15 North First Street, Suite A
Belleville, IL 62220
618-212-6500
mnester@drnpc.com
Syngenta Crop Protection, LLC
Leslie M. Smith
Kirkland & Ellis LLP - Chicago
300 N. LaSalle Street
Chicago, IL 60654
312-862-2000
Fax: 312-862-2200
lsmith@kirkland.com
Syngenta Crop Protection, LLC
Bradley H. Weidenhammer
Kirkland & Ellis LLP - Chicago
300 North LaSalle
Chicago, IL 60654
312-862-3218
bradley.weidenhammer@kirkland.com
Syngenta Crop Protection, LLC
Rebecca C. Fitzpatrick
Kirkland & Ellis LLP - Chicago
300 North LaSalle
Chicago, IL 60654
312-862-2690
rebecca.fitzpatrick@kirkland.com
Ragan Naresh
Kirkland & Ellis
1301 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W.
Washington, DC 20004
202-389-5000
ragan.naresh@kirkland.com
Chevron USA, Inc.
Joseph C. Orlet
Husch Blackwell LLP
190 Carondelet Plaza
Suite 600
St. Louis, MO 63105
314-480-1500
joseph.orlet@huschblackwell.com
HUSCH BLACKWELL LLP
Megan Scheiderer
4801 Main Street
Suite 1000
Kansas City, MO 64112
816-983-8080
L. Bryan Hopkins
Husch Blackwell LLP
190 Carondelet Plaza
Suite 600
St. Louis, MO 63105
314-480-1500
bryan.hopkins@huschblackwell.com
Leon F. DeJulius , Jr.
Jones Day
250 Vesey Street
New York, NY 10281
212-326-3830
lfdejulius@jonesday.com
Jihan E. Walker
Jones Day
77 West Wacker Drive
Suite 3500
Chicago, IL 60601
312-782-3939
jihanwalker@jonesday.com
Steven N. Geise
Jones Day
4655 Executive Drive
Suite 1500
San Diego, CA 92121
858-314-1200
sngeise@jonesday.com
Traci L. Lovitt
Jones Day
250 Vesey Street
New York, NY 10281
212-326-3939
tlovitt@jonesday.com

Minutes of Proceedings

Date Posted Date Signed Description
10-14-2026 10-14-2026 Minute Entry
8-27-2026 8-27-2026 Minute Entry
10-14-2025 10-14-2025 Minute Entry
1-29-2025 1-29-2025 Minute Entry
12-19-2024 12-19-2024 Minute Entry
8-24-2023 8-24-2023 Minute Entry
8-23-2023 8-23-2023 Minute Entry
8-22-2023 8-22-2023 Minute Entry
8-21-2023 8-21-2023 Minute Entry
5-11-2023 5-11-2023 Minute Entry
1-20-2023 1-20-2023 Minute Entry
12-09-2022 12-09-2022 Minute Entry
10-28-2022 10-28-2022 Minute Entry
8-15-2022 8-15-2022 Minute Entry
6-10-2022 6-10-2022 Minute Entry
5-13-2022 5-13-2022 Minute Entry
4-01-2022 4-01-2022 Minute Entry
3-04-2022 3-04-2022 Minute Entry
1-07-2022 1-07-2022 Minute Entry
12-03-2021 12-03-2021 Minute Entry
10-29-2021 10-29-2021 Minute Entry
9-24-2021 9-24-2021 Minute Entry
8-27-2021 8-27-2021 Minute Entry
7-23-2021 7-23-2021 Minute Entry
6-23-2021 6-23-2021 Minute Entry

Special Master

Randi Ellis
225-803-1413
randi@randiellis.com
www.randiellis.com

Upcoming Court Proceedings

Date of Proceeding Proceeding Type Description
11-5-2026 Status Conference A status conference as to Attorney R. Allen Smith's cases is SET for Thursday, November 5, 2026, at 9:30 AM (Central) before Judge Nancy J. Rosenstengel. Mr. Smith and Leadership Counsel SHALL appear in person for this hearing at the East St. Louis Courthouse. Access to this hearing will be available to the public by calling toll free 571-353-2301, when prompted enter Call ID: 459732554.

Upcoming Deadlines

There are no upcoming deadlines at this time.