What is Talcum Powder?
Talcum powder, also known as body powder, is a cosmetic product produced and distributed under various brand names by Johnson & Johnson, its subsidiaries and other companies. It is marketed as “Body Powder,” Shower-to-Shower and other brand names.
It is made from talc, a mineral comprised primarily of magnesium, silicon and oxygen. When ground into powder, talc can absorb moisture and reduce friction and it’s widely used to help keep skin dry and prevent rashes. Among its many uses, it is often employed to thicken makeup and other cosmetics, prevent chaffing, and freshen clothes and other clothing accessories. Many women also use it for personal or feminine hygiene.
Talcum Powder Risks
According to many claims, baby powder and the other talc-based products may lead to an increased risk of ovarian cancer, a serious and potentially deadly disease. When used as a feminine hygiene product, minuscule specks of talc can potentially enter the body through the vagina and travel into the ovaries where they remain trapped for years. These particles can lead to inflammation of the ovaries and are alleged to lead to the growth of ovarian cancer cells.
Because this tumor often goes undetected until it has spread beyond the ovaries and into the pelvis and surrounding areas (metastasis), it can be difficult to treat. If not detected early enough, the disease is frequently fatal.
Lauren A. on May 16, 2016
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Why You Should File a Baby Powder Lawsuit?
According to court documents, some studies have suggested a relationship between talc and ovarian cancer dating back to as early as 1971. Despite additional claims that Johnson & Johnson was put on notice of a “conclusive” link between talc and ovarian cancer in a letter sent from the Cancer Prevention Coalition to their former CEO, the company still maintains that their products are safe for consumer use.
Litigations filed against the manufacturer alleged that the public was not adequately warned of the risks associated with long-term use of baby powder products. A talcum powder lawsuit could be an option for women who developed ovarian cancer. The victims and their families may be able to seek compensation for their injuries with the help of a product liability attorney.
If you need more information or want to be sure whether you’re eligible for a large monetary reward, contact Attorney Group today. We will assist you with a confidential and free, consultation without any obligation on your part.
Have you experienced other side effects after using the product?
Has There Been a Talcum Powder Recall?
Although talc is used in over 4,200 different cosmetic products, and despite studies suggesting its potential dangers, a full recall has never been issued. Nevertheless, many talcum-free alternatives are currently available on the market. These products are made with cornstarch or other natural substances that fully emulate their mineral counterpart without exposing the user to any kind of risk.
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Current Status of the Legal Proceedings
A talcum powder class action lawsuit was filed but dismissed in 2015. In that case, the lead plaintiff had not developed ovarian cancer, but instead claimed that she and other women who had purchased baby powder would not have done so had they known of the risks.
The claims in the class action were distinct from those being filed in the various mass torts. As of January 2017, there are reportedly more than 4,000 individual suits still pending against Johnson & Johnson, its subsidiaries and Colgate-Palmolive nationwide.
Many of these cases have been centralized in various multidistrict litigations (MDL) in the Missouri and California courts. The purpose is to consolidate similar lawsuits and speed up the legal process.
In addition to these trials set for a St. Louis court, an order was issued in October 2016 to centralize other litigations in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey for coordinated discovery and pretrial proceedings.
Have There Been Talcum Powder Settlements?
In a federal case tried against Johnson & Johnson in 2013, a jury found that the company failed to warn about the risks associated with talcum powder products, although it awarded no damages to the plaintiff.
Since then, three multimillion-dollar verdicts have been awarded and may give parties involved an idea of how juries will respond to these cases. In February, May and October 2016, juries in St. Louis, Missouri, awarded a total of almost $200 million to women and their families after they claimed that regular use of talcum powder led them to develop ovarian cancer.
By the end of 2017, several courts had awarded a total of over $700 million to the many victims of talcum powder damages. The number of new lawsuits filed in the talc litigation spiked up in less than a year, growing up from less than a hundred to several thousand.
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Have You Seen a Talcum Powder Commercial?
Many people acknowledge the risks associated with these products only after seeing a talcum powder lawsuit commercial on television. You might be one of these, and this article was written for this purpose. We’re here to provide you with additional information so that you have a better understanding of your legal options. If you are eligible to pursue a claim against the manufacturers, do not delay. There’s a time limit enforced by the respective Statute of Limitations, and the further you wait, the higher the risk of losing your sole chance to receive a financial reward.
Talcum Powder News & Case Updates
- May 2017A jury in Missouri awards over $110 million to a Virginia woman who claimed that she developed ovarian cancer after decades of using Johnson & Johnson's talc-based products for feminine hygiene.
- December 2016State court judge in Missouri denies requests to delay additional trials, allowing the next bellwether trial to move forward in January 2017.
- October 2016A $70 million verdict was awarded to a victim of the baby powder dangers.
- October 2016Multidistrict Litigation transfer order centralizes pending talcum powder cases in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.
- May 2016A $55 million verdict was handed down against Johnson & Johnson to a woman who developed ovarian cancer after using the above-mentioned talc-based products. The verdict included a $50 million award of punitive damages against the company. A similar verdict was reached on February of the same year, providing another victim with a $72 million reward.
- February 2014Online reports state that a Harvard professor of medicine has estimated that talcum powder might account for 10% of all ovarian cancer cases in the US, or about 2,000 cases per year.
- June 2013June 2013, a study published in the medical journal Cancer Prevention Research suggested that “genital powder use is a modifiable exposure associated with small-to-moderate increases in risk of most histologic subtypes of epithelial ovarian cancer.”
- 2007The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) described talc as “possibly carcinogenic to humans.”
- 1971A study of ovarian cancer patients revealed talc particles in their ovarian tissues.
How a Lawsuit Can Help with Your Talcum Powder and Ovarian Cancer
Companies must provide the public with safe and fully-tested products. If there are studies that associate their use with any risks of harm, they must provide adequate warnings or recall them from the market. Whenever a company fails to fulfill this duty, it could be held liable for any damage or injuries that may result – especially if they willfully hide those dangers.
People injured by the fault of others may be eligible to recover money for:
- Medical Expenses
- Lost Wages
- Pain and Suffering
The families of those who lost their lives may also request financial compensation for funeral expenses and the pain that comes with losing a loved one.
Affected women and their relatives are encouraged to seek the advice of a skilled lawyer to learn more about their rights and remedies.
