Published February 25, 2026 · Parkinson's Lawsuit Help
Large mass tort settlements typically resolve through qualified settlement funds (QSFs). The paraquat litigation is no exception. Understanding how QSFs work is the difference between accepting a gross number and understanding what you will actually net.
What a QSF is
A qualified settlement fund is a court-supervised account that receives settlement money from defendants and disburses it to individual claimants under a court-approved allocation plan. QSFs separate the defendants' obligation to fund the settlement from the more complicated work of allocating money among thousands of claimants.
Points-based allocation
In paraquat, allocation is generally points-based. Factors include: documented exposure history (years and intensity), age at Parkinson's onset (younger plaintiffs typically score higher), severity of Parkinson's symptoms (Hoehn and Yahr or MDS-UPDRS staging), comorbid conditions that complicate causation, and economic losses including lost income and medical costs.
Common law liens
Medical bills paid by health insurers, Medicare, Medicaid, and VA benefits can become liens against your recovery. A skilled lien resolution team can negotiate these down — often substantially — but they are real and they come off the top.
Medicare set-asides
Future Medicare-covered care related to your Parkinson's may need to be funded through a Medicare set-aside arrangement. Set-asides are technical, and getting them wrong can affect Medicare eligibility down the road.
Attorney fees and case expenses
Most paraquat claims are handled on contingency — typically one-third of gross recovery — plus case expenses. Make sure your retainer is clear on whether expenses come off the top or off the net, and whether the contingency rate changes if the case goes to trial.
The net number is the real number
Two settlements with the same gross dollar figure can produce very different net checks depending on liens, fees, expenses, and tax treatment. Ask your lawyer for a net-recovery estimate, not just a gross figure.
Get a free case review
If you or a family member were exposed to paraquat and have been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, request a free case review. It takes 15 to 30 minutes by phone, costs nothing, and locks in your place while settlement options remain open. Check eligibility or call (717) 724-7503.