Latest Update — September 12, 2026: The Paraquat MDL remains in active settlement administration rather than a fully finalized global deal. As of August 3, 2026, the litigation had 6,665 pending lawsuits and 8,484 total cases filed since it began, with more than 2,000 additional claims pending in Philadelphia state court. Special Master Randi Ellis has identified 47 plaintiffs who failed to submit required Plaintiff Assessment Questionnaires despite repeated opportunities and has recommended their cases be dismissed without prejudice. Plaintiffs who rejected the settlement or filed later must still meet the documentation and Special Master meeting requirements set out in Judge Rosenstengel’s June 2026 order.
Last updated: September 2026
Paraquat lawsuit settlement amounts in 2026 are expected to range from $100,000 to over $500,000 per claimant, depending on the severity of the Parkinson’s disease diagnosis, the length of exposure, and the strength of individual evidence. This is not a class action with flat coupon payouts. This is a mass tort, and every case carries its own value.
The litigation against Syngenta and Chevron involves more than 40,000 plaintiffs as of early 2026. These are farm workers, agricultural laborers, and rural residents who breathed in or handled paraquat dichloride, the active ingredient in the weed killer Gramoxone.
If you or someone in your family was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and had documented contact with paraquat, this guide covers what settlements look like, who qualifies, and exactly what steps are needed right now.
What Are the Paraquat Lawsuit Settlement Amounts in 2026?
Paraquat lawsuit settlement amounts in 2026 are not yet finalized under a single global deal, but case valuations from bellwether preparations and plaintiff steering committee negotiations point to a range of $100,000 to $500,000 or more for qualifying claimants.
These are not guaranteed numbers. They reflect the trajectory of negotiations and comparable mass tort outcomes in similar litigation involving chemical exposure and Parkinson’s disease.
The amounts vary dramatically based on several key factors:
- Severity of Parkinson’s diagnosis (early stage vs. advanced stage)
- Duration and frequency of paraquat exposure
- Whether the plaintiff is living or deceased (wrongful death claims often carry different valuations)
- Strength of occupational exposure documentation
- Age at diagnosis and life expectancy impact
A claimant with a 20-year history of direct application exposure and a severe Parkinson’s diagnosis could realistically fall into the highest compensation tiers. Someone with indirect exposure and an early-stage diagnosis would likely land in a lower range.
| Compensation Factor | Impact on Amount |
|---|---|
| Severe Parkinson’s (advanced stages 3-5) | Higher tier ($300K to $500K+) |
| Mild to moderate Parkinson’s (stages 1-2) | Mid tier ($100K to $300K) |
| Long-term direct exposure (10+ years) | Increases base value |
| Minimal or indirect exposure | Reduces base value |
| Strong medical and employment records | Strengthens claim value |
| Wrongful death claim | Separate calculation, often higher |
How Much Is the Paraquat Settlement Amount Per Person?
The paraquat settlement amount per person is projected to fall somewhere between $100,000 and $500,000, though individual cases could land outside that range in either direction.
Think of it like a personal injury lawsuit rather than a coupon settlement. Each plaintiff gets evaluated individually. Your specific exposure history, your medical records, your age, your lost income, and the quality of your legal representation all feed into the final number.
Plaintiffs in the highest-value tier generally share a few things in common:
- They worked directly with paraquat as a primary job function
- They were diagnosed with Parkinson’s before age 60
- They have clear, documented medical records showing disease progression
- They have employer records, farm logs, or EPA pesticide application records confirming exposure
Attorneys who specialize in this litigation often assign a preliminary case value during the intake process. That number gets refined as discovery proceeds and as global settlement talks mature.
Key figure to know: In comparable mass torts involving neurotoxin exposure, such as the Camp Lejeune litigation, individual payouts for Parkinson’s-related claims reached into the hundreds of thousands. The paraquat litigation is drawing from a similar evidentiary and damages framework.
What Is the Average Paraquat Settlement Payout?
The average paraquat settlement payout, based on current mass tort valuation models and attorney estimates circulating in 2026, sits in the range of $150,000 to $250,000 for a mid-tier claimant.
This is an estimate grounded in how similar mass torts have resolved. It is not a court order or a finalized figure.
The word “average” can be misleading here. A small number of plaintiffs with the most severe diagnoses and the cleanest exposure documentation will pull the average up significantly. Many claimants with less clear-cut cases may settle for less.
Here is how the distribution tends to look in mass torts of this scale:
| Plaintiff Category | Estimated Payout Range |
|---|---|
| Tier 1 (severe Parkinson’s, direct long-term exposure) | $350,000 to $500,000+ |
| Tier 2 (moderate Parkinson’s, clear exposure history) | $150,000 to $350,000 |
| Tier 3 (early Parkinson’s, less direct exposure evidence) | $75,000 to $150,000 |
| Wrongful death claimants | Evaluated case by case, often higher |
Attorney fees in mass torts typically run 33% to 40% of the settlement. That means a $200,000 gross settlement might net a plaintiff $120,000 to $134,000 after legal fees and case expenses.
How Much Is the Paraquat Settlement Worth Overall?
The total paraquat lawsuit settlement pool, if defendants reach a global resolution with all current plaintiffs, could reach $3 billion to $7 billion or more.
That estimate is based on the number of active plaintiffs, projected case values, and how Syngenta has historically approached large-scale litigation. Syngenta, now owned by ChemChina, has the financial resources to fund a large settlement and the legal motivation to avoid open-ended trial exposure.
For context, the Roundup (glyphosate) litigation settled for approximately $10.9 billion in 2020 to cover over 100,000 claims. The paraquat litigation currently has over 40,000 plaintiffs, but the individual case values are projected to be higher on average because Parkinson’s disease carries a heavier burden of ongoing care costs.
Quick Facts:
- Active plaintiffs as of early 2026: 40,000+
- Primary court: Southern District of Illinois, MDL 3004
- Presiding judge: Judge Nancy Rosenstengel
- Defendants: Syngenta AG and Chevron Phillips Chemical
- Primary injury: Parkinson’s disease
No global settlement has been announced as of the time of writing. However, the legal infrastructure for a resolution is being built.
Key Takeaway: Paraquat lawsuit settlement amounts in 2026 are estimated between $100,000 and $500,000 per person, with the total litigation potentially worth billions, but no global deal has been finalized yet.
Where Does the Paraquat MDL Settlement Stand in 2026?
The paraquat MDL settlement in 2026 is in active negotiation, with no signed global agreement publicly confirmed as of early 2026.
MDL 3004, officially titled “In Re: Paraquat Products Liability Litigation,” is centralized in the Southern District of Illinois. The MDL process groups thousands of individual federal lawsuits under one court for coordinated pretrial proceedings.
The MDL has progressed through several critical phases:
- 2021: MDL established, cases consolidated
- 2022-2023: Discovery period, expert witness battles
- 2024: Bellwether trial selections and preparation
- 2025: Settlement talks intensify following bellwether process results
- 2026: Ongoing negotiations, potential global resolution window
The fact that bellwether trials were prepared rather than fully litigated to verdict tells you something important. Both sides likely got enough information about how juries would react to begin serious dollar conversations.
| MDL Phase | Timeline |
|---|---|
| MDL Established | October 2021 |
| General Discovery | 2022 to 2023 |
| Expert Witness Proceedings | 2023 to 2024 |
| Bellwether Selection | 2024 |
| Settlement Negotiations | 2025 to Present |
| Global Resolution Window | 2026 (expected) |
Paraquat Lawsuit Update 2026: What Has Changed?
The biggest paraquat lawsuit update for 2026 is that settlement negotiations are the dominant story. The litigation has moved past the science-fighting stage and into the money-distribution planning stage.
In 2024 and 2025, Syngenta challenged the admissibility of plaintiffs’ expert witnesses under the Daubert standard, trying to exclude the scientific testimony linking paraquat to Parkinson’s disease. The court largely allowed those experts to testify, which was a significant win for plaintiffs.
That ruling changed the settlement math. Defendants without the ability to knock out the core science generally have more incentive to negotiate.
Recent developments entering 2026 include:
- Plaintiff steering committee pushing for a structured global settlement framework
- Discussions around a qualified settlement fund (QSF) to distribute payments
- Continued filing of new cases, with the plaintiff pool still growing
- State court cases running parallel to the federal MDL in California and other jurisdictions
New plaintiffs are still being accepted in early 2026, though the window for filing is narrowing as statute of limitations deadlines vary by state.
What Is the Current Paraquat Lawsuit Status in 2026?
The current paraquat lawsuit status in 2026 is active and moving toward resolution, but no verdict has been issued and no global settlement has been publicly announced.
The MDL is one of the largest active mass torts in the federal court system right now. Judge Nancy Rosenstengel has been managing an enormous caseload with rigorous scheduling orders.
The case broke into public attention around 2021 when a wave of farm workers and agricultural employees began filing after research connecting paraquat to Parkinson’s reached mainstream media.
State courts are also active. California, in particular, has seen significant paraquat litigation activity because of its large agricultural workforce and its more plaintiff-friendly discovery rules.
Status summary for 2026:
- MDL: Active, settlement negotiations ongoing
- Bellwether process: Completed, informed settlement talks
- New case filings: Still being accepted (with deadline caution)
- Global settlement: Expected but not yet announced
- State court cases: Active, running parallel to federal MDL
What Did the Paraquat Bellwether Trials Reveal?
The paraquat bellwether trials revealed that plaintiffs have strong science on their side and that jury exposure would likely be damaging for defendants.
Bellwether trials are test cases. Think of them as a legal focus group. Courts select a handful of representative cases, let them go through the full trial process or get close to it, and use the results to estimate how the other 40,000-plus cases might play out.
In the paraquat MDL, bellwether cases were selected, prepared, and moved toward trial. The key revelations from that process:
- Plaintiffs’ expert testimony on the paraquat-Parkinson’s link survived Daubert challenges
- Evidence of what defendants knew, and when they knew it, created a significant document problem for Syngenta
- Jury simulations and mock trial results reportedly favored plaintiffs substantially
- The bellwether process pushed both sides closer to serious financial settlement discussions
This is almost exactly what happened in the Roundup litigation before Bayer ultimately settled. The bellwether process doesn’t need to produce a verdict to be effective. The pressure alone reshapes the negotiation.
| Bellwether Outcome | What It Means for Your Case |
|---|---|
| Expert science survived challenges | Core liability theory is intact |
| Defense documents showed prior knowledge | Punitive damages are possible |
| Mock juries reportedly favored plaintiffs | Settlement incentive increases for defendants |
| No catastrophic plaintiff verdicts at trial | Defendants have not been forced to overpay yet |
Key Takeaway: The bellwether process in the paraquat MDL strengthened plaintiff leverage, kept the Parkinson’s-paraquat science alive in court, and accelerated settlement negotiations heading into 2026.
The Paraquat Lawsuit Against Syngenta and Chevron Explained
The paraquat lawsuit targets two primary defendants: Syngenta AG, which currently manufactures and sells paraquat under the Gramoxone brand, and Chevron Phillips Chemical, which manufactured paraquat in the United States for decades before the product changed hands.
These are not minor players. Syngenta is one of the largest agrochemical companies in the world, now a subsidiary of Chinese state-backed ChemChina. Chevron Phillips Chemical is a major petrochemical manufacturer.
The core allegations against both companies are serious:
- They knew or should have known that paraquat exposure was linked to Parkinson’s disease
- They failed to warn users adequately about the neurological risks
- They continued marketing and selling the product despite internal awareness of the danger
- They actively suppressed or downplayed scientific research linking paraquat to brain damage
Internal documents uncovered during discovery reportedly show that both companies had access to research suggesting a paraquat-Parkinson’s link years before lawsuits began. That evidence is central to punitive damages arguments.
Syngenta has argued that paraquat is safe when used as directed and that regulatory approvals support its safety profile. The EPA still permits paraquat use in the United States with restrictions, a fact Syngenta has leaned on heavily in its defense.
The Link Between Paraquat Exposure and Parkinson’s Disease
Scientific research establishes that paraquat exposure significantly increases the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, particularly in people with prolonged or repeated contact.
Paraquat dichloride is a highly toxic herbicide. It kills plants by generating reactive oxygen species, essentially chemical reactions that destroy cellular tissue. In the human brain, that same oxidative stress mechanism damages dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra, the part of the brain responsible for motor control.
When those neurons die, the result is Parkinson’s disease.
Key research findings supporting this link:
- A 2011 National Institutes of Health study (Freya Kamel et al.) found that paraquat use doubled the risk of Parkinson’s disease
- The Parkinson’s Disease Foundation and the Michael J. Fox Foundation have both publicly supported research into pesticide exposure as a major environmental risk factor
- Studies across multiple countries, including France, the UK, and the United States, have produced consistent findings
- The European Union banned paraquat in 2007 specifically over neurological risk concerns
| Research Milestone | Year | Finding |
|---|---|---|
| NIH study on farm workers | 2011 | Paraquat use linked to 2x higher Parkinson’s risk |
| EU ban on paraquat | 2007 | Banned over human health concerns including neurological risk |
| California Department of Public Health study | 2009 | Proximity to paraquat application areas increased Parkinson’s risk |
| Multiple epidemiological meta-analyses | 2015-2023 | Consistently showed dose-response relationship |
Paraquat Parkinson’s Lawsuit Compensation: What Damages Are Available?
Paraquat Parkinson’s lawsuit compensation covers both economic and non-economic damages, and in cases where defendants’ conduct was particularly egregious, punitive damages may be pursued.
Economic damages are the calculable financial losses. Non-economic damages cover the human cost that has no price tag but gets one anyway in civil courts.
Economic damages can include:
- Past and future medical expenses related to Parkinson’s disease treatment
- Lost wages and lost earning capacity
- Cost of in-home care, assisted living, or nursing facility care
- Medical equipment, therapy, and medication costs
Non-economic damages can include:
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of quality of life
- Loss of consortium (impact on spouse and family relationships)
- Emotional distress
Punitive damages are not available in every case, but where plaintiffs can show that defendants knew about the risk and concealed it, courts can award additional penalties designed to punish the defendant. In mass torts, punitive damages often get consolidated or capped but they significantly affect settlement pressure.
Key Takeaway: Paraquat Parkinson’s compensation can cover medical bills, lost income, care costs, pain and suffering, and potentially punitive damages, making total recovery amounts substantial for well-documented cases.
Who Qualifies for the Paraquat Lawsuit?
People who qualify for the paraquat lawsuit are individuals diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease who had documented or verifiable exposure to paraquat herbicide at some point in their lives.
The largest group of plaintiffs is agricultural workers. Farm hands, crop dusters, pesticide applicators, and people who lived near fields where paraquat was regularly sprayed have all filed claims.
You may qualify if:
- You were diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease
- You have a history of working with or near paraquat (Gramoxone or other brand names)
- Your exposure occurred in the United States
- Your Parkinson’s diagnosis came after your exposure period
- You are within the statute of limitations period for your state
You may also qualify as a family member if:
- Your spouse or parent was diagnosed with Parkinson’s and has since passed away (wrongful death claim)
- You are the legal representative of their estate
You do not need to have been a professional pesticide applicator. Residential exposure near agricultural areas has been included in some claims.
Paraquat Lawsuit Eligibility Requirements: The Full List
The specific paraquat lawsuit eligibility requirements include a diagnosis, exposure evidence, a causal timeline, and a filing within the legal window.
Every mass tort has a gatekeeping function. Not every person with Parkinson’s disease qualifies. The exposure link must be present and demonstrable.
Full eligibility checklist:
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Parkinson’s disease diagnosis | Confirmed by a licensed physician or neurologist |
| Paraquat exposure history | Work records, farm records, pesticide application logs, witness testimony |
| Exposure location | United States, on property where paraquat was used |
| Causal timeline | Exposure preceded the Parkinson’s diagnosis |
| Statute of limitations | Claim must be filed within the legal window for your state |
| Medical documentation | Diagnosis records, treatment history, neurologist reports |
Cases with stronger documentation are generally worth more and face fewer procedural challenges. Weak documentation does not automatically disqualify a claim, but it affects case value.
Farm employees who worked with Gramoxone between 1960 and the present are the core plaintiff population. The product has been on the market in the U.S. since the 1960s, and exposure claims stretch back decades.
Paraquat Lawsuit Statute of Limitations: Do Not Miss Your Window
The paraquat lawsuit statute of limitations varies by state, but most states give plaintiffs 2 to 3 years from the date of diagnosis or from the date they reasonably knew about the paraquat-Parkinson’s connection.
This is one of the most misunderstood aspects of mass tort litigation. The clock does not necessarily start ticking from the date of your exposure. It often starts from the date of your Parkinson’s diagnosis or from the date you discovered (or should have discovered) that paraquat caused your illness.
That “discovery rule” is critical for older cases. Someone diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2015 may still have a valid claim in 2026 if they only recently connected their illness to paraquat exposure.
State-specific statute of limitations examples:
| State | General Statute of Limitations |
|---|---|
| California | 2 years from discovery |
| Illinois | 2 years from discovery |
| Texas | 2 years from discovery |
| Florida | 4 years from discovery |
| Georgia | 4 years from discovery |
| North Carolina | 3 years from discovery |
These windows can be affected by specific legal theories, fraudulent concealment arguments, and individual case facts. The general rule is simple: do not wait.
How to File a Paraquat Lawsuit Claim in 2026
Filing a paraquat lawsuit claim in 2026 starts with finding a mass tort attorney who handles paraquat cases, completing a case evaluation, and gathering your medical and exposure records.
This is not like filing a small claims court dispute. These cases involve federal litigation, expert witnesses, and years of legal process. You need representation.
Step-by-step filing process:
- Find a mass tort attorney with paraquat litigation experience
- Complete a free case evaluation (most paraquat attorneys take these on contingency, meaning no upfront fees)
- Gather your medical records showing the Parkinson’s diagnosis, date of diagnosis, and treating physician information
- Document your exposure history with employment records, farm logs, employer contacts, or any records showing paraquat use at your workplace or near your residence
- Sign a retainer agreement with your attorney
- Your case is filed in the appropriate court and linked to MDL 3004 if it qualifies as a federal claim
- Discovery proceeds and your case is evaluated for bellwether selection or settlement negotiation
- Settlement or trial occurs, and if a global resolution is reached, your case participates in the distribution process
Contingency fee structures mean you pay nothing unless you recover. Attorney fees typically range from 33% to 40% of the final settlement amount.
Key Takeaway: Filing a paraquat claim in 2026 requires a Parkinson’s diagnosis, documented exposure history, and a mass tort attorney working on contingency. The filing process is attorney-driven once you complete the initial intake.
What Is the Paraquat Lawsuit Filing Deadline in 2026?
The paraquat lawsuit filing deadline in 2026 depends on your state’s statute of limitations, but many potential claimants are approaching or past their windows without realizing it.
There is no single universal federal deadline that applies to every plaintiff. The federal MDL still accepts new cases, but each case must also satisfy the state law deadline for wherever the exposure occurred and wherever the plaintiff lives.
Why 2026 is a critical year:
- Plaintiffs diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2023 or 2024 in most states have until 2025 to 2026 to file under a 2-year discovery rule
- The MDL is expected to move toward global settlement in 2026, and late-filed cases may not participate in the same distribution pool as earlier-filed claims
- Settlement agreements often include cutoff dates for eligible plaintiffs to join the fund
The practical reality is that waiting carries risk. Even if the statute of limitations has not technically expired, late-filed cases in a mass tort receive less favorable positioning in settlement negotiations.
If you are unsure of your deadline, the answer is to contact an attorney immediately. Every month of delay is a month closer to a closed window.
How Long Does the Paraquat Lawsuit Take to Resolve?
The paraquat lawsuit will likely take 2 to 4 more years to fully resolve from early 2026, with some individual cases settling sooner if a global framework is established.
Mass torts operate on a different timeline than individual lawsuits. The MDL was established in 2021. Even if a global settlement is announced in 2026, distribution of funds can take another 1 to 2 years as the qualified settlement fund processes claims, verifies documentation, and issues payments.
Here is a realistic timeline for a plaintiff filing in early 2026:
| Phase | Estimated Timeline |
|---|---|
| Case intake and filing | 1 to 3 months |
| MDL registration and linkage | 2 to 4 months |
| Discovery and case development | 6 to 18 months |
| Global settlement announcement | 2026 to 2027 (projected) |
| Claim verification and processing | 6 to 12 months post-announcement |
| Payment distribution | 1 to 2 years after settlement |
| Total timeline from filing | 2 to 4 years |
For plaintiffs already in the MDL with active cases, the timeline is shorter. They are closer to the front of the line.
Patience is essential in mass tort litigation. The Roundup settlement was announced in 2020, but many claimants did not receive payment until 2022 or 2023.
Paraquat Lawsuit Payout Amounts by Case Tier: A Breakdown
Paraquat lawsuit payout amounts are structured by case tier, with the highest compensation going to plaintiffs with the most severe Parkinson’s progression and the strongest exposure documentation.
This tier system is not yet formally codified in a court order, because no global settlement agreement has been finalized. However, the tier framework is how plaintiff attorneys and defendants structure negotiations in every major mass tort, and paraquat is following the same pattern.
Detailed tier breakdown:
| Tier | Criteria | Estimated Gross Payout |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 – Severe | Parkinson’s stages 3 to 5, wheelchair-bound or requiring full-time care, 10+ years direct exposure, strong documentation | $350,000 to $500,000+ |
| Tier 2 – Moderate | Parkinson’s stages 2 to 3, significant motor impairment, clear exposure history, good documentation | $150,000 to $350,000 |
| Tier 3 – Mild | Parkinson’s stage 1 to 2, functional with medication, indirect or shorter exposure, moderate documentation | $75,000 to $150,000 |
| Wrongful Death | Deceased plaintiff, family filed estate claim, strong case facts | Varies, often Tier 1 equivalent or higher |
| Early Diagnosis / Younger Plaintiff | Diagnosed before age 50, decades of potential life impact | Increased multiplier applied |
After attorney fees of 33% to 40% and case expenses, net recovery for a Tier 2 plaintiff might fall between $90,000 and $210,000 depending on the gross settlement.
These are estimates. The actual amounts depend on how Syngenta and Chevron negotiate and what the court approves.
Key Takeaway: Case tier determines payout range, with Tier 1 claimants projected to receive $350,000 or more and Tier 3 claimants receiving $75,000 to $150,000, all before attorney fees are deducted.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much money can I get from the paraquat lawsuit settlement?
Most qualifying claimants can expect between $100,000 and $500,000 depending on their Parkinson’s severity and exposure history.
Tier 1 cases with advanced Parkinson’s and strong documentation sit at the higher end of that range.
Attorney fees of 33% to 40% are deducted from the gross settlement before you receive your net payment.
Who qualifies for a paraquat lawsuit settlement in 2026?
People who qualify are those diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease who had documented exposure to paraquat herbicide in the United States.
This includes farm workers, pesticide applicators, agricultural employees, and people who lived near fields where paraquat was regularly used.
A Parkinson’s diagnosis and verifiable exposure history are the two core requirements.
Has Syngenta agreed to a paraquat settlement yet?
As of early 2026, Syngenta has not publicly announced a finalized global settlement agreement.
Negotiations are actively ongoing following the bellwether process, and a resolution is expected within 2026 or 2027.
Both sides have financial and legal motivation to reach a deal rather than litigate 40,000-plus cases individually.
How long does it take to receive payment from a paraquat lawsuit settlement?
After a global settlement is announced, payment typically takes 1 to 2 additional years to distribute.
The qualified settlement fund must process, verify, and approve each individual claim before issuing payments.
Plaintiffs who filed early and have complete documentation tend to receive payments faster than those who file late or have incomplete records.
What is the paraquat lawsuit filing deadline in 2026?
There is no single universal deadline, but most states give plaintiffs 2 to 3 years from their Parkinson’s diagnosis or from the date they discovered the paraquat connection.
Plaintiffs diagnosed in 2023 or 2024 in 2-year statute of limitations states may be approaching their cutoff now.
The safest approach is to contact a mass tort attorney immediately to confirm your state-specific deadline.
Where Things Stand and What to Do Right Now
The paraquat lawsuit is one of the largest active mass torts in the country. Settlement amounts in the range of $100,000 to $500,000 per person are realistic for qualifying claimants, and the litigation is moving toward a resolution in 2026 or 2027.
If you or a family member has Parkinson’s disease and any history of paraquat exposure, the window for filing is open but narrowing. Late filings can mean reduced settlement participation.
Start by gathering your medical records and any employment or farm records showing exposure. Then connect with a mass tort attorney who handles paraquat cases. Most offer free evaluations and work on contingency, meaning you pay nothing upfront.
