Patricia H. – Wrongful Death from Paraquat Ingestion

Settlement Amount: $2.7 Million Injury Type: Fatal Organ Failure Background Patricia H., a 48-year-old farm manager in Texas, accidentally ingested Paraquat after it was stored in a repurposed soda bottle in a field shed. Within hours, she developed severe abdominal pain, vomiting, and difficulty breathing. Despite intensive care, she died 11 days later from multi-organ failure. Medical Devastation

• Hospital Course: Hemodialysis, ventilator dependence, failed liver transplant attempt.
• Family Loss: Left behind two teenage children.
• Financial Burden: Surviving spouse faced $250K in uncovered medical bills.

Defense Tactics

• Claimed ingestion was “intentional self-harm” to avoid liability.
• Argued worker training prohibited storage in food containers.
• Attempted to seal toxicology reports showing Paraquat levels.

Injurease’s Action

• Deposed coworkers confirming unsafe storage practices were widespread.
• Presented CDC poison center data on accidental Paraquat ingestions nationwide.
• Proved Syngenta resisted dye/safener additives despite EPA recommendations.

Legal Triumphs

• Established corporate negligence in refusing safer packaging.
• Forced unsealing of EPA letters urging stronger labeling decades earlier.
• Secured wrongful death damages for Patricia’s children.

Settlement Details $2.7M covering:

• $900K future education trust for her children
• $500K spousal loss of income support
• $1.3M wrongful death/pain and suffering

Patricia’s Family Today: “She didn’t choose this. Paraquat was put in a soda bottle with no warnings. Injurease made sure the truth came out.” [fluentform_modal form_id="13" btn_text="Click to Start Case Evaluation"]