Talc Cancer Verdicts & Baby Powder Lawsuits
Toxic Tort Attorney and product liability lawyer reviewing recent talc cancer verdicts and asbestos litigation for plaintiffs nationwide
A jury in California found Johnson & Johnson and Colgate-Palmolive talcum products liable for a woman’s mesothelioma cancer and awarded $12 million in damages. The jury cited three toxic products, including Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder, J&J’s Shower to Shower product, as well as Colgate’s Cashmere Bouquet.
Plaintiffs claimed the products contained asbestos, and the companies failed to warn consumers of the hazards of talcum products. The jury found the companies guilty of negligence, though the jury did not agree on a fraud charge which would have resulted in a larger verdict.
The asbestos talc lawsuit is the fourth of the talc asbestos verdicts leveled against Johnson & Johnson. There are over 13,000 similar talc cancer cases pending. Asbestos has been found in numerous cosmetics products, raising concerns among plaintiffs and consumer safety lawyers. The use of baby powder and other talc-based cosmetics continues and cancer risks are still present.
Recent settlements by J&J suggest the company is changing its approach to the talc cancer lawsuits. It may not be possible for the company to try each individual case so they may be considering a large settlement for all ovarian cancer plaintiffs.
Joe Lyon is a highly-rated Ohio product liability and consumer safety attorney investigating talc asbestos cancer and mesothelioma cases nationwide.
The Lyon Firm files product liability lawsuits on behalf of injured plaintiffs. If you have been diagnosed with cancer after using talc products for many years, contact Joe Lyon for a free consultation.
Baby Powder Asbestos & Talc Cancer Lawsuits
Colgate discontinued the sale of their Cashmere Bouquet product in 1995, though has not admitted they knew of asbestos contained in the product. Johnson & Johnson has continually appealed rulings and talc cancer verdicts that have gone against them. The companies claim there is no supporting clinical evidence to reasonably blame them for cancer cases.
Contradictory studies have found talc to be contaminated with asbestos, however, and asbestos is a known human carcinogen, recognized to be toxic by almost every international health and safety organization.
The National Cancer Institute has stated that talc used for feminine hygiene may be absorbed by the reproductive system and lead to inflammation in the ovaries. The first talc ovarian cancer lawsuit in 2013 found Johnson & Johnson negligent but did not award damages to the plaintiff. Other talc cancer verdicts have involved sizable damages, including a $417 million verdict in California.
Talc Asbestos Studies & Corporate Negligence
In December 2019, Reuters reported that Johnson & Johnson knew its baby powder products occasionally tested positive for asbestos since 1971 and worked to cover up the findings. An examination of internal company and court documents determined that Johnson & Johnson knew about the dangers and elected not to share the information with those outside of the company.
As a matter of fact, a new criminal investigation questions whether J&J lied to the public for many years and withheld ovarian cancer risk data that may have been known.
If you or a loved one has suffered cancer after using talcum, baby powder or talcum cosmetics, and have questions about the legal remedies available to improve quality of life and medical care, contact The Lyon Firm (800) 513-2403. You will speak directly with Mr. Lyon, and he will help you answer critical questions regarding talc asbestos lawsuits.