Background: Wayne Gionet, who worked at Agriculture Canada, was exposed to herbicides containing paraquat, produced by Syngenta. He developed Parkinson’s disease, which led to the lawsuit. The case was pursued under the Class Proceedings Act, representing individuals in Canada (excluding Québec) who were similarly affected.

Legal Arguments/Issues:

• Negligence: The plaintiffs argued that Syngenta negligently designed the herbicides and failed to warn users of the risks, including the potential for developing Parkinson’s disease.
• Negligent Design: It was claimed that Syngenta could have created a safer product, but failed to do so.
• Failure to Warn: The plaintiffs asserted that Syngenta did not adequately warn users about the risks associated with the product, particularly the link to Parkinson’s disease.
• Battery: The plaintiffs alleged that Syngenta’s actions constituted battery, as the harmful contact with the herbicide was intentional and without proper consent.
• Unjust Enrichment: The plaintiffs sought to recover amounts paid for the product, but this claim was rejected.

Outcome: The court certified the class action, allowing it to proceed. There was no mention of specific damages or costs awarded at this stage of the proceedings.