Talcum powder lawsuits claim manufacturers knew their talc was contaminated by asbestos and could cause mesothelioma and ovarian cancer, but they did nothing to warn consumers about the risk of their products. Thousands of people are now filing mesothelioma and ovarian cancer lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson and other talcum powder manufacturers.THIS IS AN ACTIVE LAWSUITSEE IF YOU CAN FILE
A bombshell report by Reuters news agency in late 2018 revealed that Johnson & Johnson knew for decades that its baby powder products were contaminated by asbestos, a mineral known to cause cancer, but the company failed to publicly disclose that information.
According to the Reuters story, Johnson & Johnson’s raw talc and talcum powder tested positive for trace amounts of asbestos on several occasions between 1971 and 2003. The article cited numerous internal company memos, reports and other documents disclosed during talc lawsuits that suggest the company knew of the danger.
Johnson & Johnson vigorously denied the allegations in a statement on its website and called the story an “absurd conspiracy theory.” The company continues to defend its baby powder as “safe and asbestos-free.”
On Oct. 18, 2019, Johnson & Johnson issued a voluntary recall for one lot of Johnson’s Baby Powder after a U.S. Food and Drug Administration test found trace levels of chrysotile asbestos contamination.
In May 2020, Johnson & Johnson announced that it would no longer sell Johnson’s Baby Powder in both the United States and Canada. The company stated in the press release that demand for the product had been declining due to “changes in consumer habits” and was “fueled by misinformation around the safety of the product and a constant barrage of litigation advertising.”
Companies named in lawsuits include Johnson & Johnson, Vanderbilt Minerals, Colgate-Palmolive and Imerys Talc America. Johnson & Johnson faces the largest number of talc cancer claims.
Although the defendants have won some cases, juries have returned billions of dollars in verdicts for plaintiffs, and lawsuits continue to pour in. Most settlements so far have been with individual plaintiffs for undisclosed amounts.
“Thousands of companies used cosmetic talc in their products over the last hundred years. The entire population could claim exposure, especially to defendants that sold personal care products that could be ingested, inhaled or exposed via air-borne contact.” Source: American Bar Association
As of Feb. 17, 2021, Johnson & Johnson faces more than 27,000 cases consolidated in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. Hundreds more are pending in state courts. In it’s SEC filing for Jan. 2, 2021, the health care giant said it set aside nearly $4 billion in talc lawsuit and settlement reserves.
Who Is Eligible to File a Lawsuit?
People who used a cosmetic or commercial talcum powder product and developed ovarian cancer or mesothelioma may be eligible to file a talcum powder lawsuit.
In the case of ovarian cancer lawsuits, women must have used talc-containing products around the genital area daily or almost daily before developing ovarian cancer. It is important to note that women who used baby powders made from cornstarch are not eligible for these lawsuits because cornstarch-based powders don’t contain talc.
Talc Products Implicated in Ovarian Cancer Lawsuits
- Johnson’s Baby Powder
- Shower to Shower
- Gold Bond No Mess Power Spray
- Gold Bond Body Powder
- Gold Bond Extra Strength Body Powder
People who used talc-containing products and developed mesothelioma are also eligible to file a lawsuit. These products can be cosmetic, such as baby powder, or industrial, such as clay, chalk, paper, crayons, pottery, joint compounds and adhesives.
Only a lawyer can properly evaluate your claim. If you’ve developed ovarian cancer or mesothelioma after using talc-containing products, contact a lawyer immediately to preserve your legal rights.
