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BELLEVILLE — A former crop duster is suing Chevron and others alleging his exposure to the herbicide paraquat led to his Parkinson's disease.
Michael Kearns and Jean Kearns filed a complaint Dec. 21 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Syngenta Crop Protection LLC, Syngenta AG, Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP, Chevron U.S.A., Inc., and Growmark Inc., alleging strict product liability, negligence, violation of the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, breach of implied warranty of merchantability and other claims.
The Kearns allege in their compliant that between 1969 and 1981 Michael Kearns worked as crop duster and was "repeatedly exposed" to the chemical paraquat. The plaintiffs allege Michael Kearns "inhaled, ingested or absorbed" paraquat that was sprayed on farm fields in the areas of Edgerton, Wisconsin and Danville, Ill.