Talcum Powder Lawsuit Attorney

March 20, 2019 - Talcum Powder Lawsuit Awarded $29 Million:

Johnson & Johnson, as well as other manufacturers of talc powder products, are facing several lawsuits, all claiming that the product leads to cancer with prolonged use. There have been reports that the company hid asbestos contamination in their talc beginning in the 1970s and lasting through the 2000s. Several thousand women have claimed that use of the baby powder on or around their genitals led to them developing ovarian cancer. Several other women have claimed that the inhalation of the baby powder led to them developing mesothelioma, a kind of cancer linked to asbestos. In one recent case regarding mesothelioma, a California jury agreed, as Fortune reports.

The lawsuit filed by Teresa Leavitt against pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson alleged that asbestos contamination in their baby powder led to her contracting the deadly cancer mesothelioma.

On March 14th, a jury in Oakland, California awarded Leavitt $29 million.

A spokesperson for Johnson & Johnson said that it plans to appeal the verdict.

This is not the first multimillion-dollar verdict that juries have handed down against the company. In 2018, a Missouri jury awarded a record $4.69 billion to 22 women who all claimed that they developed cancer as a result of lifetime use of the baby powder.

Johnson & Johnson also faces an additional 11,000 to 13,000 similar lawsuits. The lawsuits and reports of internal memos detailing knowledge of asbestos contamination have also prompted a government investigation. The United States Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Justice Department are investigating the company regarding disclosures that the company was aware of asbestos contamination.

Have you been injured due to the use of baby powder? We can help. Call today.

March 14, 2019 - Congress To Weigh In On Talc/Asbestos Debate:

Johnson & Johnson’s iconic baby powder has come under recent scrutiny as it faced hundreds of lawsuits last year with thousands more to come. While not all of the lawsuits have come out in the plaintiff’s favor, juries have handed down some astounding verdicts, such as a nearly $5 billion verdict to cover 22 women who claimed that the talc powder product caused them to develop ovarian cancer. The talc that makes baby powder, well, powdery, is mined nearby asbestos, which is a known carcinogen that causes cancers to develop. For their part, Johnson & Johnson maintains that their product contains no asbestos, but now Congress is going to weigh in as Vox reports.

Tuesday, March 12 marked the House Oversight Committee’s Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy’s first meeting. The subcommittee’s chair decided to focus the first meeting of 2019 on baby powder. Specifically, whether or not baby powder poses any health hazards and whether any federal oversight is necessary.

Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL), chairs the subcommittee. The decision to look into whether federal oversight is necessary was spurred by recent events. One of those events was reports in the media that giant Johnson & Johnson had hidden the fact that between 1970 and the 2000s, that some of its talc used in baby powder contained asbestos.

Speaking before the subcommittee included one expert witness who has testified on behalf of plaintiffs in numerous lawsuits, the vice president of Environmental Working Group (EWG), who promotes greater government scrutiny and regulation of cosmetic products, and Marvin Salter, whose mother, Jacqueline Fox, won a lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson totaling $72 million after dying of ovarian cancer.

For years now, the beauty product and cosmetics industry has been self-regulated, but the subcommittee hopes that with the testimony offered that there could be bi-partisan support towards enacting government regulation.

Have you been injured by talc powder? We can help. Call today.

February 28, 2019 - Experts Proving Key In Successful Talc Lawsuits:

When it comes to the talcum powder cases being litigated against companies like Johnson & Johnson, attorneys for the plaintiffs need to prove to a jury that lifetime use of baby powder and other talc products caused them to develop cancer. To this end, many lawyers are turning to experts for their testimony. When their testimony is allowed by judges, juries often hand down verdicts in the millions to the plaintiffs. Some judges, however, are not allowing their testimony. When a judge does allow their testimony, attorneys are paying these experts millions, as Forbes reports.

These experts include a New York scientist who entered witness protection after allegedly getting involved in money laundering for the mob. Without their testimony, lawyers and plaintiffs are finding that securing verdicts in their favor is difficult.

Earlier this month, Judge Kenneth Powell of the Philadephia Court of Common Pleas dismissed a case after he excluded similar witness testimony. The case involved Colgate, and the victim alleged that the company’s Cashmere Bouquet talcum powder contained trace asbestos fibers which could be inhaled, leading to cancer.

A California trial, however, shows the difference when a judge allows the testimony of these experts. The evidence that the judge allowed in the trial includes tests on decades-old bottles of talc purchased on eBay. These experts, who are testifying on behalf of Terry Leavitt, said that Johnson & Johnson baby powder contains asbestos.

Judges, however, are remaining inconsistent on whether or not they allow the testimony of these expert witnesses. However, when testimony is allowed, juries have handed down some spectacular verdicts, including one verdict of $4.7 billion to 22 women in New Jersey, which is Johnson & Johnson’s home state.

Have you been injured by talc powder? We can help. Call today.

February 22, 2019 - Two Federal Departments Now Investigating J&J For Asbestos Claims:

Johnson & Johnson has already been ordered to pay $4.69 billion to 22 women in a lawsuit where they allege that the use of the company’s baby powder product gave them cancer. While the company is planning on appealing the verdict, it is still facing thousands more similar lawsuits. Even more recently, it was reported that Johnson & Johnson’s partner company, Imersys, who is responsible for mining the talc in Johnson & Johnson’s talc products declared bankruptcy in the wake of the lawsuits. Talc is mined near asbestos and though Johnson & Johnson denies the claims, it has been reported that the baby powder contains trace amounts of asbestos. Now, as the New York Times reports, the Justice Department is investigating those claims.

On Wednesday, the Johnson & Johnson company announced that the Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission are investigating the company over the allegations that its baby powder and other talc-based products are contaminated with asbestos. The company said that it is cooperating with the agency in the production of documents that have been requested.

Both the New York Times and Reuters reported in December 2018 that internal documents within the company showed decades of knowledge of the risk that their products contained asbestos.

Upon reporting the investigation, the company’s stock fell more than 12%, losses that the company has yet to recoup.

Currently, Johnson & Johnson is facing more than 13,000 lawsuits regarding allegations that its baby powder products caused people to develop ovarian cancer or mesothelioma.

Have you been injured through the use of baby powder or talc-based products? We can help. Call today.

February 19, 2019 - Talc Lawsuits To Triple In 2019:

In 2018, at least one jury found for the plaintiffs in a multi-billion dollar lawsuit claiming that Johnson & Johnson’s iconic Baby Powder caused ovarian cancer in more than 20 women. While the company is planning on appealing the verdict, the numerous lawsuits have already led to a partner company, who mines the talc for the product, Imersys, to declare bankruptcy in the United States. Talc is mined near asbestos and claims that Johnson & Johnson’s talc powder contain the cancer-causing material have led to hundreds of lawsuits being filed. According to Bloomberg, 2019 may be even worse for the company.

Last July, a jury ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $4.69 billion to 22 women who said that the talc product caused them to develop ovarian cancer. The likelihood of similar judgments helped drop the company’s market value $45 million, with their shares headed for their single biggest yearly loss in a decade.

In 2019, the health-care product giant is scheduled to face more than three times as many baby powder trials. Four of those trials will take place in St. Louis, the same place where the company lost the $4.69 billion-dollar lawsuit. One of those trials is on behalf of 38 women.

Since the lawsuits began going to trial in 2016, juries have cost the company more than $5 billion. Some of those verdicts have been tossed out on appeals.

To resolve the near 12,000 talc cases, Johnson & Johnson may have to pay out an estimated $20 billion in settlements. On a per case basis, this would result in a $1.67 million payout to each plaintiff.

Have you been injured by the use of talc? We can help. Call today.

February 15, 2019 - Talc Supplier Seeks Bankruptcy After Asbestos Lawsuits:

Johnson & Johnson and other manufacturers of baby powder produces are facing thousands of lawsuits over the fact that their product may have led to its users developing cancer. Numerous women and a few men have filed lawsuits alleging that lifetime use of the baby powder product for hygiene purposes led them to develop reproductive organ cancer as well as a rare and deadly cancer called mesothelioma. At least some of the lawsuits have been successful, and it’s affecting the talc supplier, Imersys, which has filed bankruptcy over the lawsuits, as Reuters reports.

Imersys Talc America, the U.S. unit of French parent group Imersys SA, said that the bankruptcy filing comes in the wake of thousands of lawsuits filed totaling billions of dollars.

While the company specified that it still believes that the lawsuits are without merit, the rising settlement and costs of defending the allegations are what led to the decision to declare bankruptcy.

Last July, a jury in Missouri ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay a record $4.9 billion to 22 women who said the use of the talc led to the development of ovarian cancer. Johnson & Johnson has said that it plans to appeal the verdict.

Prior to the trial in that lawsuit, Imersys settled for an undisclosed amount.

On December 14th, Reuters published a report detailing that between the 1970s and the early 2000s, Johnson & Johnson was aware that the talc product in its raw and finished form contained trace amounts of asbestos, a known carcinogen.

Both companies continue to deny that their products contain any asbestos.

Have you been injured by a talc product? We can help. Call today.

December 31, 2018 - Judge Upholds Multi-Billion Dollar Talc Verdict In Mississippi:

Johnson & Johnson are well known for their baby products and none more so than their iconic baby powder. Millions of people used the products on their children and millions also continued to use the product into adulthood for hygienic purposes. Recently, Johnson & Johnson and other manufacturers of baby powder or talc powder have found themselves facing thousands of lawsuits. The litigants claim that the talc, which is mined near asbestos, causes cancer to develop in men and women who have used the product over their lifetime. One recent court case rendered a judgment of $4.7 billion for 22 women.

Law.com reports on a judge upholding that verdict in a win for those litigants against Johnson & Johnson.

The verdict, which was reached on July 13th, awarded the $4.7 billion to 22 women who claim to have developed cancer through the use of Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder.

22nd Circuit Court Judge Rex Burlison refused to grant Johnson & Johnson’s motions for judgment notwithstanding the verdict. He also refused to grant new trials and new trials on damages. Burlison also concluded that the evidence was “substantial” in support of the $550 million in compensatory damages. He also upheld that the punitive damages, totaling more than $4 billion, were also constitutional.

Johnson and Johnson issued a statement indicating that the company intended to continue to appeal the verdict.

In another legal blow to Johnson & Johnson regarding litigation over their Baby Powder product, Hinds County Chancery Court Judge Dewayne Thomas refused to allow Johnson & Johnson’s request for summary judgment in the only case brought by an attorney general. The case was brought against Johnson & Johnson in 2014 by Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood under the state’s Consumer Protection Act.

Have you been injured by baby powder products? We can help. Call today.

December 12, 2018 - Judgment Denied In Talcum Powder Case:

The Johnson & Johnson company is facing thousands of lawsuits related to its baby and talc powder products. Some consumers and their lawyers claim that they contracted cancer from lifetime use of their baby powder. Many of the litigants are female and claim that they contracted cancer in their reproductive organs from using the powder regularly in their genital area as part of their hygienic routine. There is at least one male litigant who claimed that the talc, which is mined alongside asbestos, caused mesothelioma. Lawyers and plaintiffs argue that the powder contains trace amounts of asbestos, which is a known carcinogen linked to mesothelioma, a rare and often fatal cancer.

Legal Scoops reports on a motion for summary judgment being denied to Johnson & Johnson in a New York mesothelioma case.

Johnson and Johnson filed for a summary judgment in the case of Anna Zoas, who filed a lawsuit claiming that Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder caused her to contract mesothelioma.

The Supreme Court of New York County denied the motion, which means that a jury will hear Zoas’ complaint.

Zoas filed the lawsuit after contracting pleural mesothelioma at the age of 76.

Zoas claims that she has had no occupational exposure to asbestos in the workplace nor in her environment. The only exposure she has had is through the use of Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder, dating her use of the product back to 1945.

Johnson & Johnson has nearly 12,000 lawsuits pending that involve the company’s baby powder product. Most of the litigants have developed ovarian cancer or mesothelioma.

Talc is mined near asbestos and cross-contamination is known to have occurred.

Have you been injured by a talc-based product like baby powder? We can help. Call today.

December 6, 2018 - Canadian Health Agency Weighs In On Talcum Powder Cancer Risk:

Johnson & Johnson, as well as numerous other manufacturers of baby powder and talc powder, are facing numerous lawsuits. The lawsuits allege that the talcum powder has led people to be diagnosed with different kinds of cancer, namely ovarian and female reproductive cancers and mesothelioma. The plaintiffs claim that because talc is mined near asbestos and may contain trace amounts of the carcinogen, that the product caused their cancers to develop. While Johnson and Johnson and other manufacturers stringently deny these claims, Health Canada is reporting that baby powder and talcum powder may be linked with cancer, as Global News reports.

Health Canada made the determination that talc, a key ingredient in many products, including baby powder and cosmetics, may be harmful to health.

On Wednesday, the department announced that it was considering enacting measures that would restrict the use of talc in cosmetics, natural health products, and non-prescription drugs.

Getting more specific, the agency is warning that loose talc powders may be harmful to the lungs. The department also said that using loose talc powder or products containing talc in the female genital area may lead to ovarian cancer.

The assessment went further to say that it did not find that ingesting talc in food or drugs was harmful. They also said that using pressed powder products that contain talc-like blush or eyeshadow was likely not harmful.

This assessment was an initial draft and Health Canada is working on a final assessment. If the initial findings are confirmed, the agency will consider restricting the use of talc in products.

Have you been injured by the use of talc powder or products containing talc? We can help. Call today.

September 19, 2018 - Talc Supplier To Johnson & Johnson Settles Lawsuits:

Johnson & Johnson, the manufacturers of an iconic baby powder product has been facing several lawsuits from thousands of women. The women claim that the talc product caused them to develop certain cancers, including ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, and mesothelioma. Attorneys for the women claim that the talc is contaminated with asbestos because talc and asbestos are often found together. Imersys, who provides Johnson & Johnson with the talc, has also been named in the lawsuits. Recently, Imersys made the decision to reach a settlement with a plaintiff after juries awarded previous plaintiffs millions of dollars, as Bloomberg reports.

Just as another jury began to make deliberations, Imersys, who supplies Johnson & Johnson with their talc, decided not to take any chances.

They agreed to settle their part of a lawsuit brought by a California woman who claimed that using Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower to Shower products caused her to contract mesothelioma, a cancer linked to asbestos exposure. Attorneys for the plaintiff stated that the talc-products were contaminated with asbestos.

The decision to settle comes after a St. Louis jury ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay 22 women $4.69 billion.

Another previous case which Imersys did not settle resulted in a $117 million verdict against Imersys and Johnson & Johnson in New Jersey.

After Johnson & Johnson learned that Imersys had decided to settle, attorneys for the company asked Judge Margaret Olendorf to declare a mistrial. Olendorf declined to declare a mistrial and will allow jurors to weigh the evidence.

Have you been injured through the use of talc-based products? We can help. Call today.

August 28, 2018 - Verdict Upheld In $4.69 Billion Dollar Baby Powder Case:

Baby powder, a common item found in many homes around the world, may be responsible for multiple women and at least one man developing cancer. The women who developed ovarian and cervical cancers blamed the use of Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder on their genitals. One man who contracted mesothelioma also blamed Johnson & Johnson because talc is mined in areas that contain asbestos, which has been attributed to the development of mesothelioma. Several thousand women have filed lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson and other manufacturers of talc powder, and WALB reports that a judge recently upheld a verdict.

A Missouri judge’s decision to uphold a $4.69 billion verdict against Johnson & Johnson could lead to more lawsuits being filed.

Judge Rex Burlison of the Circuit Court of the County of St. Louis affirmed the decision of the jury to award 22 women and their families $25 million each.

The lawyer arguing for the plaintiffs, Mark Lanier, argued that asbestos found in the product led to the women developing ovarian cancer. This is the first time that Lanier has argued that the asbestos and not just the talc, was the reason the women developed cancer.

Regulatory authorities around the world recognize asbestos as carcinogenic. Even the FDA cannot guarantee that talc products do not contain asbestos, due to the fact that the two are mined together.

Johnson & Johnson continues to maintain that its talc products are safe. The company plans to continue to appeal the decision made in Missouri Courts.

An appellate court can reduce the $4.69 billion-dollar verdict. However, this could lead to worldwide settlements.

Have you used baby powder products? Did you develop ovarian or other cancers? We can help. Call today.

May 23, 2018 - Talcum Powder Lawsuits Approved In Canada:

Millions of men and women in the United States had baby powder applied to their genitals as babies. Some were even told by their parents, their grandparents, friends, and other relatives to continue that practice as a matter of hygiene. Now, some of those men and women are litigants in class action lawsuits that claim that Johnson & Johnson baby powder contained asbestos and has given them rare cancers like mesothelioma and ovarian cancer. Several lawsuits have been filed and decided in the United States, and now, as Drug Watch reports, approval to proceed in class action litigation has been approved in Canada.

In addition to financial compensation, the lawsuits are asking the company Johnson & Johnson to place a warning about the cancer link on their baby powder products. While several companies that manufacture baby powder and other talc powder products have taken steps, Johnson & Johnson have not.

Scientific studies are on the fence about the link between talc products and ovarian cancers. Some studies have shown a link while others have not. There is no known link between cornstarch-based powders and ovarian cancer. The lawsuits contend only with the talc-based products.

Another link between talc powder products and asbestos has been argued before a court. A man filed suit against Johnson & Johnson contending that lifetime use of their baby powder, which the suit alleges contains traces of asbestos, caused him to contract mesothelioma.

The Quebec Superior Court has authorized the class-action against Johnson and Johnson for their baby powder products to go ahead as of early May 2018. The lawsuit has been given the collective name of the Baby Powder Ovarian Cancer litigation.

Have you been diagnosed with cancer & believe it is related to the use of baby powder? We can help. Call today.

May 14, 2018 - Talcum Powder Cases Bring Up Mesothelioma Link:

Johnson & Johnson, the manufacturers of their iconic Baby Powder and their Shower to Shower talcum powder produces have been the subject of litigation that links their product to ovarian cancer. Several juries have already found for plaintiffs who claim that lifetime use of the talc led to their being diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Most recently, a jury found in favor of a plaintiff who is linking the talc powder to a cancer that is clearly linked to asbestos. Reuters reports on the story.

Early in April, a New Jersey jury awarded plaintiff Stephen Lanzo $117 million in a lawsuit linking Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder and Imersys Talc America to his diagnosis of mesothelioma.

Lanzo said he had been using the iconic baby powder since his birth in 1972. Further, attorneys for Lanzo said that Johnson & Johnson and Imersys both were aware that the talc used in its Baby Powder was contaminated by asbestos during the mining process.

Lawyers intend to use the internal documentation stating that Johnson & Johnson was aware of the asbestos contamination and continued manufacturing their Baby Powder without warning their customers of the potential risks.

Attorneys for Johnson & Johnson call the link between the talc and asbestos and the rare cancer Mesothelioma “junk science.” They also disagree with the link between their talc powder and ovarian cancer.

The company is currently battling some 6,000 cases in courts nationwide claiming a link between the talc powder and ovarian cancer. This newest verdict may help pave the way for linking the talc to cases of mesothelioma.

Have you been diagnosed with cancer you believe is related to the use of baby powder? We can help. Call today.

May 7, 2018 - Almost 10,000 Lawsuits Filed Against Johnson & Johnson:

Ovarian cancer is a disease affecting thousands of newly diagnosed women each year, to the tune of 22,240 expected diagnoses of this disease this year along. Only 20% of these cases will be caught at an early stage and the disease is expected to claim 14,070 lives. Many women believe that a cause of their cancer is their use of baby powder, sprinkled in their underwear or dusted in their pelvic region for freshness. The talc in the powder has been linked to the cancer and several women have sued Johnson & Johnson as the Post and Courier reports.

Almost 10,000 lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson, many of them filed in New Jersey where the company headquarters is located, claim a link between the baby powder and ovarian cancer diagnoses.

Juries have agreed with the women on whose behalf these lawsuits have been filed. The first was awarded a $72 million-dollar verdict. Another $55 million-dollar verdict followed. The verdicts only grew from there, with verdicts ranging from $70 million to $417 million following.

All of these women contracted ovarian cancer. All also used Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder, and juries have become convinced that the product is lethal.

Despite these verdicts, the cases are far from resolved. Johnson & Johnson is fighting back, citing numerous independent studies that show no link between talcum powder and cancer. They have also managed to overturn several of the verdicts.

However, Dr. Daniel Cramer, a Harvard scientist, disagrees. He has been studying the link between talcum powder and cancer for 40 years.

In fact, pediatricians no longer recommend that parents use Johnson & Johnson for the treatment of diaper rash. Although it is unlikely that an infant would contract ovarian cancer from the use of talcum powder, plain cornstarch is just as effective in keeping babies dry and is not currently linked to cancer.

A number of lawsuits have also connected talc with the presence of asbestos, a known cancer-causing ingredient.

Have you been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and believe it is connected to baby powder? We can help. Call today.

April 16, 2018 - $30 Million Awarded In Baby Powder/Asbestos Case:

Johnson & Johnson, a company famous for its iconic baby powder, has come under scrutiny lately amid claims that their talc powder may be linked to cancer. Women who have used the powder for hygienic reasons have reported being diagnosed with various kinds of feminine cancers. Now, there are claims that their talc powders may contain amounts of asbestos, a compound that has been linked to the deadly cancer known as mesothelioma. Recently, a jury decided to give an unprecedented award to a man who says he was given the rare cancer through the use of Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder. Bloomberg reports on the trial and the decision.

Jurors in a state court in New Brunswick, New Jersey concluded on Thursday that Johnson & Johnson and the mining company Imersys SA hid the fact that their talc-based products, including Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder had amounts of asbestos. They also concluded it was these products that contributed to Stephen Lanzo III contracting mesothelioma.

The decision came from a courtroom less than 30 miles from the company’s headquarters. The jury awarded Lanzo $30 million for his pain and suffering. The seven-woman panel deliberated for half a day before reaching the verdict, which also included $7 million for Lanzo’s wife, Kendra for her pain and suffering.

Next week, the jury will decide if the company’s mishandling of the asbestos-containing talc warrants an award of punitive damages as well.

Imerys will appeal the verdict, claiming that the asbestos found in Lanzo’s childhood home and schools caused the cancer, not the talc. Johnson & Johnson stated that they were disappointed by the initial verdict but would withhold further comment until the jury had finished deliberations in the trial.

Have you been injured through the use of baby powder? We can help. Call today.

March 5, 2018 - Johnson & Johnson Worried About Asbestos, Documents Show:

Mesothelioma is a rare type of lung cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos. In times past, men and women who worked in industrial jobs and for the Navy and shipping industries were exposed to asbestos, which had been used as a fire retardant, and contracted the deadly form of cancer. Now, there may be a new culprit in an all too familiar form: baby powder. Salon reports on documents that may reveal Johnson & Johnson was aware that their talc powder may have contained 1% asbestos.

In the 1970’s, an official working for Johnson & Johnson posed a question that is coming back to haunt the company today, nearly 50 years later.

The question? “If Johnson and Johnson Baby Powder contained 1% asbestos, how much would an infant inhale while being dusted with the substance?”

In a memo response by an executive, that executive concluded that the exposure would be far less than the legal limits that miners are exposed to the cancer-causing substance.

However, the company has always contended that their product was asbestos-free.

Now, the company is facing mesothelioma lawsuits. It has already won a huge victory in the first of these lawsuits back in November. A Los Angeles jury found that Johnson & Johnson and a co-defendant Imerys Talc America were not responsible for the mesothelioma that was contracted by 61-year-old Tina Herford.

Johnson & Johnson is just one of several talc powder manufacturers who are facing lawsuits filed by people who have contracted mesothelioma.

These cases are separate from those seeking to find the companies liable for the possible link between ovarian cancer and females who use the talc powders for feminine hygiene.

Have you been diagnosed with mesothelioma? We can help. Call us today.

August 23, 2017 - $417 Million Awarded in New Talc Decision:

When it comes to scientific research, it is not uncommon for two studies to have two completely different results. In the case of the possible carcinogenic nature of Johnson & Johnson’s talc products, two studies are divided. The International Agency for Research on Cancer says it is carcinogenic. However, the National Cancer Institute’s Physician Data Query Editorial Board stands by the safety of Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder. CNN reports that juries are still awarding millions to women who claim use of Johnson & Johnson’s talc gave them ovarian cancer.

On Monday, a jury awarded Eva Echevarria $417 million because she used Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder for decades and developed ovarian cancer due to that use. The award includes $70 million in compensatory damages and $347 million in punitive damages.

63-year-old Echevarria said that she had used Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder as part of her feminine hygiene routine since she was 11 years old. She discontinued the product after reading a news story in 2016 about a woman who developed ovarian cancer as a result of her use of the talc product.

This is just the first of hundreds of similar cases that will be tried in California. Juries in other parts of the country have returned verdicts against Johnson & Johnson while another case in New Jersey was dismissed.

Johnson & Johnson is under no legal obligation to place a warning on its product. Because baby powder is considered a cosmetic, it does not have to undergo review by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration the same way a drug would be required to do.

Some other manufacturers of talc powder do place warnings on their product mentioning the possibility of developing ovarian cancer through frequent application to the feminine genital area.

Johnson & Johnson has said that it will appeal the verdict in the California case.

Have you been diagnosed with ovarian cancer after long-term use of a talc product? Let the attorneys at the law offices of John Foy & Associates fight to get you the compensation that you deserve! Call us today.

August 21, 2017 - Talc Trial Underway in California:

Johnson & Johnson has been the center of several trials that have alleged that their talc powder product, Shower to Shower, causes ovarian cancer. After several losses in the litigation-friendly Missouri, the first California trial is set to open. Bloomberg reports on the first California Talc Powder trial headed to jury.

They have lost four out of five trials that went to jury in Missouri. Now, Johnson and Johnson is wrapping up the first such case to go to a jury outside Missouri. It is also one of 300 similar cases pending in California.

Back in June, the U.S. Supreme Court made a ruling that made it harder for consumer lawyers to try cases in what have been litigation-friendly venues like Missouri and other states.

The jury will have to decide if Johnson & Johnson, the world’s largest health care company, failed to warn 62-year-old Eva Echeverria, about the supposed cancer risks linked to its talc products. Echeverria had been using such products since she was 11 years old. She was diagnosed with cancer in 2007.

So far, there are about 4,800 claims total pending in United States courts. The cases claim that Johnson & Johnson ignored studies linking its baby powder and Shower to Shower talc powder to ovarian cancer. The suits further allege that Johnson & Johnson failed to warn consumers about the risk.

Most of the cases are in Missouri, New Jersey, and California. In June, a U.S. Supreme Court decision limited out-of-state plaintiffs joining lawsuits in state courts. Until that point, juries in Missouri trials had been awarding plaintiffs up to $110 million. The New Brunswick, New Jersey company is appealing these verdicts.

Have you been diagnosed with ovarian cancer following use of a Johnson & Johnson talc product? Let the attorneys at the law offices of John Foy & Associates fight for you! Our experienced attorneys may be able to get you the compensation you deserve. Call today.

May 8, 2017 - Another Major Win For Women Against J&J:

Another major victory for consumers has been handed down against Johnson & Johnson for concealing the dangers of baby powder. A jury in Missouri has awarded a New Jersey woman $110 million dollars for contracting ovarian cancer from the dangerous substance. USA Today shared the story.

The 62-year-old woman claimed that J&J hid information about the dangers of talc powder from consumers. The case took three weeks and the jury took just 10 hours to render a decision. This is just the latest in a string of high-value lawsuits that have been successful against the company. There are also multiple pending class-action lawsuits against the company.

J&J has sold talcum powder products for decades to control moisture and odor. However, evidence shows that long-term use of talcum powder can cause cancers. J&J denies the allegations and plans to appeal this case and others that it has lost. In other lawsuits regarding talc, J&J has been successful in fending off claims by claiming a lack of scientific evidence.

The fight continues. If you use talcum powder regularly and later developed cancer, you have a right to fight for damages. As this case demonstrates, it is possible to win. If you wish to join the fight, call John Foy & Associates today for a free consultation. We can help you.

December 27, 2016 - Another Talcum Powder Suit Filed in West Virginia:

Class action lawsuits start the same way, a few brave people coming forward and challenging a much stronger opponent. Their stories validate the experiences of other people and give them the courage to come forward with their own. Over time, a clear trend is established.

This is what is happening with talcum powder lawsuits. We have news of another person who has filed a lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson about the link between ovarian cancer and talcum powder usage. For decades, the company has said the product was safe for feminine needs. But a woman in West Virginia may have died as a result of using the product over many years.

The mother of the plaintiff used talcum powder as advertized by Johnson & Johnson from 1965 until her death this year due to ovarian cancer. She is seeking compensatory and punitive damages, claiming that the company failed to warn people about the dangers of the product and failed to adequately test the product over time, among many other claims.

If you are a woman or know a woman and have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, were you a long-term user of talcum powder? If so, you may be eligible for compensation. Contact the law firm of John Foy & Associates for a free consultation. We need to continue to put pressure on Johnson & Johnson about this matter before more women die unnecessarily. Call today.

November 23, 2016 - Talcum Lawsuits Going International:

Johnson & Johnson was been under fire recently in 3 legal cases relating to their talcum powder and cancer. The most recent case resulted in a $70 million dollar judgement to a California woman who claims her daily use of the powder resulted in her being diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

Attorneys for the 62-year-old woman, identified as Deborah Giannecchini said that despite extensive treatment, she only has a 20% chance of survival.

Carol Goodrich, a spokeswoman for Johnson & Johnson says the company intends to appeal the verdict.

Pointing to two cases that were dismissed in New Jersey earlier this year, the spokeswoman claimed there is a lack of credible scientific evidence behind the accusations.

Johnson & Johnson is facing nearly 1,700 lawsuits in the United States over allegations it ignored scientific studies that linked ovarian cancer to use of the company’s baby powder. The lawsuits claim that the company also failed to warn the public of the risk.

The two aforementioned trials resulted in verdicts for the plaintiffs of $72 million and $55 million respectively.

Now a Dublin lawyer, Bryan Fox, is representing up to 20 women – some of whom have already passed away. The women claim their use of talcum powder contributed to their diagnoses of ovarian cancer.

Depending on the outcome of the appeals in the U.S. litigation, Fox plans to bring the cases forward in Ireland.

In Ireland, the statute of limitations in person injury litigation requires women affected by the talcum powder to bring proceedings within two years.

If you have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and believe it might be linked to the use of talcum powder, you may be entitled to compensation. Let the “Strong Arm” attorneys at the law offices of John Foy & Associates represent you. Call us today.

November 16, 2016 - Alternatives to Talcum Powder:

With Johnson & Johnson and their baby powder being linked to ovarian cancer, one might wonder what they can use in place of the classic baby powder.

Though Johnson & Johnson is insisting a correlation between their baby powder and ovarian cancer, a Missouri court ordered the company to pay $72 million to the family of a woman who died of ovarian cancer. It was decided that her 50-year habit of applying the powder daily contributed to her death.

So, if you use baby powder religiously and are concerned for your health, are there any alternatives? You bet!

Cornstarch

Find it in the baking aisle at your local grocery store. Cornstarch has the same consistency, or grain, as baby powder, and it does a fine job of absorbing wetness.

Arrowroot starch or tapioca starch

If you’ve done or doing the paleo diet, you’re familiar with both of these. They are all-natural starches that are an alternative to talc powder. Both are used as alternatives to flour and cornstarch.

Baking Soda

Commonly used as a deodorizer in fridges, pantries, and bathrooms across the country, baking soda is a ready alternative to talc. It helps to absorb wetness, but it also deodorizes.

Oat Flour

Slightly coarser than the alternatives above, oat flour also works as an alternative.

Commercial Alternatives

Commercial products combine one or more of the above with essential oils, providing for a pleasant smell and soothing application.

Try Burt’s Bees Baby Dusting Powder, Honeybee Gardens Deodorant Powder, and Nature’s Baby Dusting Powder to name a few.

If you have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and believe it may be related to the use of talc or baby powder, you may be entitled to compensation. Call the “Strong Arm” attorneys at the law offices of John Foy & Associates. We can help you get the compensation you deserve. Contact us today.

October 26, 2016 - Another Ovarian Cancer Lawsuit Linked to Talcum Powder:

Millions of people utilize talcum powder daily for odor and moisture control. These millions believe that it is a safe product to be used continually. However, links have been discovered between talcum powder and certain types of cancer.

Wendy Schwartz filed a lawsuit on September 28th in Saint Clair County Circuit Court. The action was filed against Johnson & Johnson, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Co. Inc., Imersys Talc America, Inc., and Walgreen Co. The lawsuit alleges that the companies failed to inform customers of the product’s known health hazards.

The plaintiff alleges that she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The cancer is a direct and proximate result of Schwartz’s use of the defendant’s talc-based products. In the action, the plaintiff claims she has had previous surgery and will require further surgeries as a result of her condition.

As a part of her complaint, Schwartz alleges that all of the companies advertised and marketed their product as safe for human use. They also failed to provide sufficient warnings regarding health hazards. The complaint also maintains that the companies failed to adequately test their products.

Schwartz is seeking a trial by jury in the litigation. She seeks a judgment against each defendant for a reasonable amount to exceed $50,000. Schwartz is also seeking punitive damages, costs of the lawsuit, and any other relief deemed by the court as just.

If you have been diagnosed with cancer as a direct or indirect result of using talc-based products, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact the law offices of John Foy & Associates. The “Strong Arm” attorneys may be able to help you. Call us today.

May 12, 2016 - Another Victory Against Johnson & Johnson:

Some items we use daily can be hazardous to our health. When it comes to talcum powder, a lawsuit has affirmed that it could be linked to cancer. This comes after a multi-million dollar verdict awarded to a woman against Johnson & Johnson.

A St. Louis jury awarded Gloria Ritstesund $55 million in a lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson. Ristesund used Johnson & Johnson’s talcum powder for more than 35 years before she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2011.

Attorneys for Ristesund argued that Johnson & Johnson was aware of the possible health risks related to using their talcum powder, but failed to warn consumers.

The Onder law firm, who represented Ristesund, made a statement: “Internal documents from Johnson & Johnson show that it knew of studies connecting talc use and ovarian cancer, but, to this day, it continues to market it as safe – neglecting any warning.”

Johnson & Johnson plans to appeal the verdict.

In a statement, the company said, “Multiple scientific and regulatory reviews have determined that talc is safe for use in cosmetic products and the labeling on Johnson’s Baby Powder is appropriate.”

This is not the first time that a jury has found in favor of a plaintiff in a lawsuit regarding the connection between talcum powder and ovarian cancer. In February, a jury awarded $72 million to the family of Jackie Fox. Fox passed away from ovarian cancer in 2015.

The American Cancer Society says that it is not clear if the use of talcum powder leads to increased risk of cancer.

If you have been diagnosed with cancer and believe that it may be associated with the use of talcum powder, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact the law offices of John Foy & Associates. The “Strong Arm” attorneys will help you get the compensation you deserve.

April 17, 2016 - Talcum Plaintiff Refuses Settlement Deal:

The first plaintiff who filed a federal lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson, Diane Berg, accused the company of being responsible for her developing ovarian cancer. Recently Berg refused a $1.3 million settlement deal offered by J&J before the trial is set to begin.

Berg said in an interview, “It was never about the money.” She also explained during the interview that she did not want to sign a confidentiality clause that would have essentially prevented her from warning others about the dangers associated with the use of talcum or baby powder.

Earlier, a jury confirmed that the J&J contributed to an ovarian cancer she was diagnosed with in 2016; however she was not awarded any compensation in the case. The surviving family members of another woman who died of the same type of cancer that Berg now has was awarded some $72 million in a jury verdict render in October of last year. That same St. Louis jury also held J&J responsible for negligence, conspiracy and a failure to warn women about their increased risk for cancer when using Johnson& Johnson talcum powder in their genital areas.

The use of products containing talc has shown a direct link to some forms of cancer. Most people use these products and are completely unaware of the risks and by the time they find out. If they had been warned, they may have used corn starch based products instead and not have endangered their health.

If you or someone you love has developed ovarian cancer or has died after having used talc products, we are deeply sorry and want to help in every way we can.

Contact the law offices of John Foy & Associates to find out now we can help you recover medical costs and even file a wrongful death suit against those responsible. You may reach us at (404)400-4000. Your consultation is free and you do not pay until you win you case.

April 11, 2016 - Old Studies on Talc Show Cancer Link:

While there are those that claim the connection between the regular use of talc and ovarian cancer in women is small, the evidence is mounting against that claim. Both studies and the courts are asserting that the regular use of talcum powder is at least in partially to blame for the development of ovarian cancer in women who use it.

According to Dr. Daniel Cramer, professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive biology at Harvard Medical School and director of the OB/GYN Epidemiology Center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, a recent study published in 1982, the findings in the report suggest a strong link between genital talc use in women and cancer of the ovaries.

Cramer and his team have conducted two-dozen additional epidemiological studies and have found strong evidence that suggests that regular talc use may increase a woman’s overall risk of ovarian cancer by about 30 percent. The studies have also suggested this most recently in premenopausal women, especially those who are nonsmokers and women who are heavier. It has also shown up in post-menopausal women who used hormone replacement therapies.

According to Cramer, a woman’s risk for ovarian cancer appears to increase the longer she uses talc on her genitals or the more often she applies the powder over time. It has been difficult, according to Cramer, to ascertain just how much talc a woman uses for each application and how to determine how much of it actually gets into the vagina.

Talc is known to contain an inflammatory agent in it. Inflammation on a constant basis may cause a predisposition to cancer. The ovarian tissue of cancer patients examined under a microscope has shown talc present within the tissue. Even if a woman has not developed ovarian cancer, talc can be found in tissue taken from lymph nodes of women who have used in the genital area. When talc is used on the genitals, said Cramer, it can work its way into the vagina and eventually migrate to the ovaries located in the upper genital tract. It is there where talc causes potential inflammatory responses to the substance and potentially disrupts the immune system’s response. It is not exactly known just how that it happens, however.

It is a reasonable expectation that if a product causes harm illness or death of consumers using those products in good faith, then the company that manufactures the product should be held accountable.

Here at John Foy & Associates, your Talcum Powder Lawsuit Attorney, we take these things very seriously. Consider joining a class action lawsuit or filing a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit if you or someone you have loved has suffered as a result of using talc products. Contact us today for a free consultation to find out how you can potentially recover from damages caused by these products.

April 11, 2016 - $72 Million Payment Awarded to Plaintiffs in Talcum Case:

Concerns around talcum powder have been steadily increasing after a jury in St. Louis ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $72 million to the surviving family members of a woman who died of ovarian cancer and its potential link to the company’s baby powder.

The family of Jacqueline Fox, of Birmingham, Alabama was awarded the sum following testimony that Johnson & Johnson were aware of concerns about a potential link between talcum powder and various cancers that had been raised by health care professionals. In spite of the company’s knowledge of the concerns, the company decided to step up marketing Johnson’s Baby Powder to Hispanic and black consumers anyway.

Before her death, Fox indicated in a deposition that she had been raised on Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder and had used it for years in order to “stay fresh and clean.”

Johnson & Johnson announced that the company does plan to appeal the verdict and insists their product is safe.

A class action lawsuit brought against Johnson & Johnson in 2014 sought damages on behalf of women who did not have cancer but said they should have been informed about the alleged potential health risks surrounding the product. 

Also named in the lawsuit but cleared of liability in the matter was Imerys Talc America. Both Johnson & Johnson and Imerys Tal America insist that the product is safe.

While talc which is used in talcum powder is a naturally occurring mineral, comprised of magnesium, silicon, and oxygen and is used to absorb both moisture and odors, it has also been found to at times contain asbestos which has been shown to have a direct link to lung cancer when it is inhaled. Talc is used in a number of products on the market such as cosmetics, paint, paper and products made of rubber. It is most well-known being used in baby powder which is used to treat diaper rash in infants.

There have been numerous legal cases that allege a link between talc and cancer; however Fox’s case is believed to have been the first that has awarded a large cash award for damages. Other cases include that of a woman in South Dakota whose cancer was believed to have been caused at least in part by her use of talcum powder. The jury in that case in 2013 also indicated that Johnson & Johnson should inform consumers of the potential risk of cancer.

While the American Cancer society has indicated that any risks surrounding the use of talcum powder are likely “very small”, consumers may want to either discontinue or avoid using products containing talc until more is known. An alternative to using talc-based powders are those made of corn starch instead. The American Cancer Society also said that cornstarch powders are believed safe and there is no evidence currently that indicate any link between them and any form of cancer.

No one likes to consider that a product that has been as trusted as baby powder has been over the past century could now pose a risk to their health and that of their loved ones. If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer or mesothelioma due to their use of talcum powder, contact the law offices of John Foy & Associates.

February 24, 2016 - Jury Rules Against Johnson & Johnson in $72 Million Judgment:

Rumors that talcum powder can cause cancer have been around for decades, but the first case in which a ruling has been made against a talcum powder company has finally been achieved. A Missouri jury ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $72 million to the family of a woman whose ovarian cancer was linked to their products. $10 million of that was in actual damages and the remainder were punitive.

This is the first U.S. jury to award damages over claims that talcum powder use can cause cancer. This is just the tip of the iceberg though. About 1,000 other cases in Missouri alone have been filed, and another 200 in New Jersey. In this case, Johnson & Johnson was found liable for fraud, negligence, and conspiracy. It is believed that they suppressed evidence that the use of talcum powder over a long period of time can cause cancers. The woman who died in this case used talcum powder for feminine hygiene for more than 35 years.

A case in 2013 in South Dakota found that the same product was a factor in another woman’s ovarian cancer, but no damages were awarded in that case.

This may be the tipping point for thousands of other cases. Talcum powder has been used by millions for decades. The possibility of a class action suit is likely. If you believe that talcum powder may have been a factor in your cancer, speak with an experienced attorney today. John Foy & Associates is ready to help you in your case.

February 6, 2016 - More Pending Cases About the Baby Powder/Cancer Connection:

There are pending cases in New York, New Jersey, and South Dakota involving plaintiffs who have brought suit against the manufacturers of talc products and mining companies. They are alleging charges ranging from putting unsafe, cancer-causing products on the market to fraud, conspiracy and destroying evidence in an attempt to avoid prosecution.

In the New Jersey lawsuit, evidence has been allegedly uncovered that shows that BASF and their legal counsel lied to victims about carcinogenic substances found in talk products made by BASF. Further, the company gathered any evidence of asbestos being found in its products containing talc in order to protect itself from plaintiffs who were victims of asbestos-induced diseases such as mesothelioma and certain forms of cancer.

Ultimately, if a company causes harm, illness or death because a person used their products in good faith, that company should be held responsible. That a company had prior knowledge of even the potential of harm and then attempted to cover it up is inexcusable.

Here at John Foy & Associates, your Talcum Powder Lawsuit Attorney, we take these things very seriously. Consider joining a class action lawsuit if you or someone you have loved has suffered as a result of using these talc-containing products.

As with any lawsuit that involves a personal injury, there is a window of time available for filing a claim. Contact us today for a free consultation to find out how you can potentially recover from damages caused by these products. Contact the law offices of John Foy & Associates at (404) 400-4000 today for a free consultation.

February 6, 2016 - Johnson & Johnson Found Liable in Talcum-Cancer Case:

Last fall, a jury in Sioux Falls, South Dakota rendered a decision that Johnson and Johnson Company was negligent and failed to warn a woman, Deane Berg, who developed ovarian cancer after using their baby powder product. The jury also found that the company was the cause of the plaintiff’s cancer.

But even though the jury found that the company was negligent, it failed to award damages in the case. This has led to Berg’s attorney, R. Allen Smith, to file a post-motion asking for a new trial since the law says that damages must be awarded in a case where a defendant is found to be liable in such a case. The new trial would be conducted strictly for damages.

Over the past few decades, there have been numerous studies conducted on the link between talcum powder-based products and various types of cancers. Although the American Cancer Association does not list talc on its list of potential substances causing cancer, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), re-evaluated its position and described talc as “possibly carcinogenic to humans,” in 2007.

The evidence is growing that the use of products containing talc that are used in common every day cosmetic and even food products is linked to some forms of cancer. Most people use these products and are completely unaware of the risks and by the time they find out, it is almost always too late.

If you or someone you love has developed ovarian cancer or has died after having used talc products, we are deeply sorry and want to help in every way we can.

Contact the law offices of John Foy & Associates to find out now we can help you recover medical costs and even file a wrongful death suit against those responsible. You may reach us at (404)400-4000. Your consultation is free and you do not pay until you win you case.

February 6, 2016 - Baby Powder Found to Contain Asbestos:

Many people use talcum or baby powder on their bodies and those of their children without even thinking that there could be potential risks involved. It is hard to imagine that something that is used in cosmetics and as filler in capsules or even in some cases as a food additive could cause a serious health risk.

Recent tests, however, have found that there are risks in using something as seemingly innocuous as talcum powder – made from the soft mineral talc, because it can contain stray asbestos particles. Concerns over the use of talc has gotten the attention from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration long ago due to concerns over asbestos contamination, but unfortunately, the federal agency has left it up to the industry to monitor itself.

Only the purest grades of talc are supposed to be used by manufacturers, and many make the claim that there is no detectable asbestos I their products.

But are they looking close enough?

According to some industry experts, such as Luzenac, a leading talc supplier said in an email to the FDA, that the answer is ‘No’.

“I think we all recognize’’ that the standard methods still in use today “are simply not sensitive enough to provide complete assurance that the talc is free of detectable asbestos.”

A recent landmark case against Colgate-Palmolive found the company 95% liable and maliciously negligent in the asbestos-caused illness from a woman who had used their Cashmere Bouquet powder for a number of years. The jury found unanimously in the plaintiff’s favor. An additional 23 cases related talc-asbestos issues are still pending against the company.

Rest assured that companies that are facing such litigation on the part of those suffering from talc-related cases will fight vigorously to defend their product and their bottom line. If you or someone you care about has suffered from illnesses caused by these products, then you need an attorney will fight just as hard for you.

Contact the “Strong Arm” attorneys, the law offices of John Foy & Associates, today to find out how we can help you receive compensation as part of a class action lawsuit or personal injury suit. Contact us at (404)400-4000 today.

February 6, 2016 - Colgate-Palmolive Hit with Huge Asbestos Verdict:

A verdict that was rendered in April of last year by a jury in a Los Angeles Superior Court could have repercussions that are felt on a wide scale for any current or potential mesothelioma plaintiffs.

In the case, the court determined that Colgate-Palmolive had a 95% liability in the $13 million asbestos verdict that the jury handed down.

The plaintiff in the case, Judith Winkel, regularly used Colgate-Palmolive’s product, Cashmere Bouquet talcum powder. In January of last year, Winkel was diagnosed with asbestosis mesothelioma, a fatal lung disease that takes a long period of time to manifest and once it is diagnosed, will claim the life of those diagnosed with the disease within 2 years.

Winkel’s complaint alleged that the company should have been aware of the dangers of asbestos from as early as the 1930s but failed to alert the public of those potential dangers.

The jury took two hours before reaching a unanimous verdict awarding the plaintiff and her husband John with $13 million. There were five counts that were awarded in the verdict: consumer expectations, risk-benefit, manufacturing defect, failure to warn and negligence. The jury also found that Colgate-Palmolive acted with malice.

No one should have to suffer because of using any product that is on the market. It is unconscionable that a company would know of potential dangers and say nothing. When it happens to you or someone you love, that’s the time to consider becoming part of a class action lawsuit.

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or ovarian cancer due to the use of talcum powder, contact the law offices of John Foy & Associates. John Foy is committed to helping those who have been injured through the negligence of manufacturers. Contact us today at (404) 400-4000 for a free consultation and find out how we can help.