If you were a pregnant farmworker exposed to the herbicide dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate (DCPA), commonly known as Dacthal, and your baby has suffered health issues, you might be entitled to compensation. Our Dacthal lawsuit lawyers are investigating cases for families affected by DCPA exposure, and our law firm is here to help you seek justice.
Attorney and shareholder Tracy A. Finken Magnotta is leading the practice area at Anapol Weiss. Over the course of her career, Tracy has been extensively involved in leadership roles in consolidated mass tort and multidistrict litigations in both state and federal court. She and her team have recovered more than $750 million dollars for clients through product liability and pharmaceutical liability claims.
If your baby was born with low birth weight, impairments in brain development or motor skills, or decreased I.Q. after you were exposed to DCPA during pregnancy, we want to talk to you.
At Anapol Weiss, we recognize how hard it can be for families to stand up to the major companies that manufacture herbicides, especially when dealing with the medical and financial burdens that result from hazardous chemical exposure during pregnancy. That’s why we handle all of the demands of the legal process for you, ensuring your family can receive fair compensation without the hassle. Contact us today to learn how we can assist your family with getting the results you deserve at no upfront cost.
Who Can File a DCPA Dacthal Lawsuit?
If you meet all of the following criteria, you could be eligible to receive compensation in a DCPA pesticide lawsuit:
- Women who, while pregnant, worked on a farm/nursery where the following vegetables were grown: broccoli, Brussels sprouts, bok choy, cabbage, cauliflower, or onion bulbs AND
- Used DCPA for weed control (this includes applicators as well as workers who weeded, transplanted, tied, thinned, or harvested broccoli, Brussel sprouts, bok choy, cabbage, cauliflower, onion bulbs; AND
- Whose child resulting from that pregnancy was born with any of the following: low birth weight, impaired brain development, decreased IQ, impaired motor skills, and/or decreased bone deposition.
The considerable risk that exposure to the herbicide Dacthal has been found to pose to unborn children prompted the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to take unprecedented emergency action in August 2024. The EPA suspended the registration of all Dacthal products on the U.S. herbicide market.
"EPA has taken this action because unborn babies whose pregnant mothers are exposed to DCPA, sometimes without even knowing the exposure has occurred, could experience changes to fetal thyroid hormone levels, and these changes are generally linked to low birth weight, impaired brain development, decreased IQ, and impaired motor skills later in life, some of which may be irreversible," the federal agency’s press release stated.
Further, “DCPA is so dangerous that it needs to be removed from the market immediately,” said Assistant Administrator for the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Michal Freedhoff.
For families affected by exposure to the herbicide Dacthal during pregnancy, it’s possible to hold the companies behind these chemicals accountable for the serious harm their products have caused. The impact that impairments in brain development and motor skills, among other consequences of Dacthal exposure during pregnancy, can have on a child is monumental. Anapol Weiss’s Dacthal pesticide lawsuit lawyers are fighting for families through the civil legal system. We’re working to secure maximum compensation for children harmed by exposure to this herbicide while in the womb.
What to Know About Dacthal (DCPA) Pesticide Pregnancy Exposure Lawsuits
Through a civil claim or lawsuit, the families of children injured by exposure to this herbicide while in the womb can recover financial compensation. Dacthal exposure injury claims are complex matters that require you to stand up to corporations and present compelling evidence in support of your arguments.
Having seasoned DCPA Dacthal injury attorneys on your side is critical for putting together a strong case and attaining the compensation you deserve.
What Is Dacthal, and Why Are Families Suing?
Dacthal is a name for the chemical herbicide dimethyl tetrachloroterephthalate (DCPA), also called chlorthal-dimethyl. Herbicides that contained DCPA included the following:
- Dacthal
- Dacthal Flowable Herbicide
- Dacthal 6F
- Dacthal W-75
- DCPA 6E
- DCPA 75 DF
- DCPA 75WDG
Prior to the EPA’s emergency order, the chemical was used to kill weeds in both agricultural and non-agricultural settings. Its primary uses, per the EPA, included weed control surrounding crops such as Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cabbage, and onions.
Where Is Dacthal Used?
The U.S. Geological Survey provides an interactive map that shows, year by year, where the Dacthal pesticide was used. The below map shows this data of widespread, high DCPA usage across the country in 2006.
Dacthal Pesticide’s Risks to Unborn Children
When a pregnant worker is exposed to Dacthal in an occupational capacity, the developing baby could suffer from changes to fetal thyroid hormones. The potential consequences of DCPA exposure in the womb include:
- Low birth weight
- Impaired motor skills
- Impaired brain development
- Decreased IQ
- Decreased bone deposition (the process of bone formation)
These consequences of Dacthal exposure can be irreversible, life-altering, and, in some instances, life-threatening. Children born with developmental challenges resulting from DCPA herbicide exposure may require a lifetime of medical care and assistance with basic tasks. They may struggle to live independently or provide for themselves financially once they reach adulthood.
The pain, suffering, loss of quality of life, and financial burden on affected children and their families are considerable, and these losses warrant full compensation.
Who Is at Risk for Injuries to Unborn Children Due to Dacthal Exposure?
Primarily at risk are the children of pregnant farm workers whose exposure to Dacthal occurs in an occupational capacity. These workers’ unborn babies can be affected by exposure in the womb even when proper personal protective equipment and engineering controls are used in herbicide application.
Occupational exposure may occur when a pregnant farm worker is involved in:
- Applying Dacthal herbicides
- Weeding crops treated with Dacthal herbicides
- Harvesting crops treated with Dacthal herbicides
- Transplanting crops treated with DCPA
- Otherwise working in areas treated with DCPA
Although the labels on Dacthal herbicides urge users to restrict entry into treated fields for 12 hours, this waiting period may not be anywhere near long enough. In fact, the EPA reported that DCPA levels in treated fields can remain unsafe for 25 days or potentially even longer.
In addition to expecting farm workers, pregnant workers may also suffer from occupational exposure if their jobs require them to spend considerable time in DCPA-treated athletic fields or golf courses. The EPA also acknowledges the risk that spray drift could pose to unborn children of pregnant individuals living near environments treated with Dacthal herbicides.
How Anapol Weiss Can Help
The Dacthal pesticide lawsuit lawyers at Anapol Weiss assist families in fighting for the compensation they deserve. We recognize the irreversible impact that the harm your child suffered due to herbicide exposure can have on their future and your entire family, and we’re prepared to advocate tirelessly for you.
Pursuing Full Compensation for Your Losses
Your child’s future depends on the outcome of a DCPA pesticide injury claim. We take seriously the responsibility of securing your family the maximum amount of compensation available, including compensation for:
- Medical expenses, such as diagnostic testing, rehabilitative therapies, medications, medical equipment, and other interventions
- Any loss of income resulting from the extra care the child needs, as well as decreases in the child’s future earning capacity
- Any home modifications required to accommodate your child’s needs
- Non-economic damages, such as the pain, suffering, and decrease in quality of life that results from the harm associated with DCPA exposure in the womb
We’re committed to developing a strong case and painstakingly documenting all of your family’s damages to achieve the maximum possible payout for your child.
Taking a Thorough Approach to Every Case We Handle
Getting maximum results for your claim requires a well-prepared case backed by scientific evidence and extensive documentation of the damages. We undertake each case with diligence, a commitment to advocacy, and a comprehensive background in product liability law. From the initial case evaluation through the investigation, documentation of damages, case preparation, and resolution of your claim, we’re thorough in handling every aspect of your case.
Why Choose Anapol Weiss?
When you’re looking for knowledgeable DCPA Dacthal injury attorneys to advocate for you, count on Anapol Weiss.
A History of Leading Litigation Against Manufacturers of Dangerous Products
With a significant track record representing clients in mass tort and multidistrict litigation (MDL) cases, our DCPA Dacthal injury attorneys are prepared for the challenges of the legal process. We have cultivated a reputation as national leaders in matters of injury law and have a track record of success in handling other types of toxic exposure and product liability matters.
Our Longstanding Commitment to Giving Victims a Voice
At Anapol Weiss, we fight for the injured. Giving victims a much-needed voice in the legal system is what we do. Our team puts your family’s needs first, advocating for accountability for the full range of damages your child suffered.
Representation by a Prestigious Law Firm at No Upfront Cost
If you’re concerned about the cost of retaining Dacthal pesticide lawsuit lawyers to fight for you, our contingency-based representation ensures you can afford the legal guidance you need. Anapol Weiss assists clients at no upfront cost, starting with a free, no-obligation consultation.
Contact the Dacthal Pesticide Lawsuit Lawyers at Anapol Weiss Today for a Free Case Review
With compassion for what your family has been through and our dedication to securing a payout that fully compensates your child for the harm they suffered due to toxic exposure, our firm is the clear choice for handling an herbicide exposure claim.
For help from our DCPA Dacthal injury attorneys, contact Anapol Weiss online or call 215-608-9645 today.