BELLEVILLE – A widow claims her husband developed Parkinson's disease from exposure to pesticides, which allegedly resulted in his death.
Plaintiffs Deborah K. Gorman, acting as trustee for the Thomas E. Grandcolas Revocable Trust and representative of his estate, and Nancy C. Grandcolas filed a lawsuit in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Syngenta Crop Protection, LLC, Syngenta AG and St. Clair Service Company, citing negligence and carelessness in violation of the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act.
According to the lawsuit, the defendants are responsible for developing and manufacturing a synthetic chemical compound known as Paraquat, which has been in use since the mid-1960's as an ingredient in pesticides. The plaintiffs state that Thomas and Nancy Grandcolas owned a residence that was adjacent to another property where Paraquat products were used for many years and, as a result of decades of exposure, they both developed Parkinson's disease. Thomas allegedly died of Parkinson's on Jan. 5, 2021.
The plaintiffs allege scientific studies have shown a relationship between Paraquat exposure and Parkinson's disease and that the defendants knew or should have known that exposure to Paraquat was hazardous. The defendants allegedly failed to take proper measures to protect the Grandcolas from exposure or notify them of the danger. They instead actively and fraudulently concealed this information, violating the Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act, the suit states.
The plaintiffs allege that as a result of the defendants' negligence and carelessness Thomas and Nancy Grandcolas developed Parkinson's Disease, which caused them to experience pain, suffering and disability, loss of income and impact their ability to lead normal lives. Thomas ultimately lost his life to Parkinson's. Nancy lost her husband, has incurred medical costs and will continue to require medical care.
The plaintiffs are seeking damages in excess of $100,000, plus court costs and any other relief the court deems proper. They are represented in this case by attorneys Christopher Cueto of The Law Office of Chrisopher Cueto, LTD in Belleville as well as the attorneys of Carey Danis & Lowe in St. Louis.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 22LA1055