Some consumers are holding manufacturers accountable for neglecting to warn of the potential health risks of using talcum powder, claiming there is a link between talc products and cancer diagnoses. Taking legal action in an attempt to get justice, people in all 50 states are pursuing talcum powder lawsuits.
In recent years, different researchers have theorized there is a link between talcum powder and ovarian cancer, mesothelioma, and other serious medical concerns. For example, in one major study, talc regularly used in the genital area was associated with a 33 percent overall increase in ovarian cancer risk.
When baby powder products containing talc are applied to the genital region, baby powder particles can travel through the female reproductive system to the ovaries and stay there for a long time, creating an inflammatory response and conditions that increase the likelihood of cancer growth.
In addition, talc and asbestos are naturally occurring minerals that are often mined alongside each other, according to Forbes. The outlet noted that In October 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) completed a year-long study of talc-containing cosmetic products in which asbestos was detected in several products. At that time, the FDA worked with manufacturers on recalls of some of the products containing traces of asbestos.
Since then, Johnson & Johnson has been named in thousands of lawsuits alleging a link between cancer diagnoses and the company’s talc-containing products. Although the company stated in August 2022 that it would pull all talcum powder products off the market internationally in 2023, replacing talc with cornstarch, many consumers may already have been impacted.
If you or a loved one used Johnson & Johnson’s talc products or other baby powder products and were diagnosed with ovarian cancer or mesothelioma, please don’t hesitate to contact us to discuss your legal options. There’s no fee to review your claim. The team at Phillips Law Group works on a contingency fee basis – you don’t pay us anything unless we win your case.
The defective product lawyers at Phillips Law Group are investigating all cases of ovarian cancer that may be linked to talcum powder. For nearly 30 years, our firm has secured over $1 billion on behalf of our clients, including a recovery of $15,100,000 for a defective product case. Founder Jeff Phillips has represented many individuals harmed by negligent manufacturers and their dangerous products.
If you have a valid case, there is no obligation to move forward. If you decide to move forward and want to file a talcum powder lawsuit, there are zero upfront fees for our services. We only get paid if you do.
Call 602-222-2222 to see how we may be able to help.
Who is At Risk?
People who used baby powder containing talc on their genital areas are at risk, as there is a chance particles traveled to their ovaries and allegedly led to the development of ovarian cancer.
In addition, medical conditions involving the lungs and mesothelioma may develop if talcum powder fibers containing asbestos are inhaled by a person of any sex and gender. In talc-cancer lawsuits for mesothelioma, the products can be either cosmetic, like baby powder, or include exposure to industrial-grade talc, including clay, paint, adhesive materials, supplements, and more.
Is There a Time Limit to File a Lawsuit?
Due to statute of limitations restrictions in each state, there are deadlines to file this type of lawsuit. An experienced lawyer like the ones at Phillips Law Group can determine the correct time frame and help you potentially build a case within that period.
How Much Does Talcum Powder Lawsuit Lawyer Cost?
Because we work on a contingency basis, you do not need to pay any money upfront. You will not owe any money unless we ultimately take on and win your case. Contact Phillips Law Group today to determine your legal options – we would be more than happy to speak with you!
Am I Eligible to File a Lawsuit?
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer after using talcum powder, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit. However, there are several factors we will need to take into consideration:
- How often and how long you have been using talcum powder
- Whether you used talcum powder as part of your feminine hygiene routine
- The date and details of your official ovarian cancer diagnosis
- Whether a biopsy showed evidence of talcum powder in your system
- Whether you have a genetic predisposition to developing ovarian cancer
- Types of cancer treatment you are receiving and its overall effectiveness
- Damages you have suffered from using talcum powder products
Defective product cases are complex. There is only so much time to take legal action. This is why it is important to contact a licensed lawyer as soon as possible. Our consultations are free of charge.
How Do I Prove that Talcum Powder Contributed to My Cancer Diagnosis?
Because of how complex modern medicine is, as well as how differently two unique people can respond to the same medical problem, courts will not just take a plaintiff’s word for it that exposure to a specific hazardous substance—even one as widely known to be dangerous as talcum powder is these days—is the primary reason for their cancer diagnosis. Instead, the court will require those plaintiffs to have support for their claims from qualified medical experts who can testify to the science behind your complaint.
Among other things, these experts will take the lead in explaining to the judge and/or jury why talcum powder use is linked to certain types of cancer, why that is more likely than not the cause of a particular plaintiff’s condition, and why a defendant company’s failure to warn patients about this particular risk was so dangerous. Legal counsel can play a key role in finding, enlisting, and making effective use of this type of testimony during a claim.
What Makes My Talcum Powder Case Stronger?
The assistance of a qualified talcum powder lawyer will make a huge difference in a talcum powder case’s chances of success. However, the quantity and quality of evidence a plaintiff has to support this type of case will also be key to its success, particularly evidence like:
- Receipts, personal testimony, and other evidence establishing that the plaintiff used a particular talcum powder product in a specific way over a specific period of time
- Medical records detailing when the plaintiff was first diagnosed with cancer, what treatment they have already received, and what their long-term prospects are
- Testimony from family members and friends about the personal and psychological harm that a cancer diagnosis has caused for the plaintiff
- Bills, invoices, and other documents showing financial losses related to cancer treatment, including pay stubs and tax returns to illustrate lost working capacity
Compensation Available for Injured Victims
Ovarian cancer and its treatment have a considerable effect on the quality of life of victims diagnosed with the disease. Filing a lawsuit may be able to help you obtain compensation for the damages you have suffered and may continue to suffer in the future. Forms of compensation could include:
- Medical expenses related to your treatment
- Lost wages from missing work for treatment
- Loss of earning capacity if you cannot work
- Pain and suffering, both physical and mental
- Loss of companionship with a spouse/partner
- Loss of enjoyment of life due to your illness
Punitive damages may be also available. These damages are meant to punish product manufacturers for gross negligence and prevent others from engaging in the same or similar conduct in the future.
The value of your potential talcum powder lawsuit will be unique to your situation. This includes the nature and extent of your illness, the prognosis for ongoing treatment, the effects your illness has had on your daily life, and so on. Our firm is ready to seek the maximum compensation possible on your behalf.
What Is the Process for Filing a Talcum Powder Lawsuit?
The first step to filing any civil lawsuit, including one over a cancer diagnosis related to talcum powder use, is filing a formal complaint in court, ideally with assistance from an experienced legal professional. Once the named defendant files an answer to that complaint with the court, the case goes into “discovery,” at which point both sides will exchange key evidence with each other to ensure everyone is on the same page about the relevant facts.
After this, there may be multiple pre-trial motions—in other words, requests for a court to do something in relation to the claim—as well as hearings for those motions, and there will almost certainly be negotiations for a private settlement. In the rare scenario in which those negotiations are unsuccessful, the case will proceed to trial, during which both sides will present evidence and testimony in support of their case for a civil jury or judge to make a final ruling on.
What Happens If I Join a Class Action or Multidistrict Litigation (MDL) Case?
If someone joins a class action lawsuit over talcum powder injuries, every separate lawsuit pursued by a “class” member will be consolidated into one massive lawsuit seeking compensation to be split among all those class members. Multidistrict litigation is somewhat similar, but it entails federal authorities grouping several similar lawsuits together and placing them under the authority of a single federal court, which will issue a final verdict for all those cases at once. In both scenarios, the plaintiffs involved can share evidence and resources with each other in pursuit of collective recovery.
Can Family Members File a Talcum Powder Lawsuit on Behalf of a Loved One?
If cancer related to talcum powder use directly results in someone’s premature death, surviving family members of that person will likely have standing to file a “wrongful death” lawsuit and seek compensation for their own ensuing losses. Likewise, if someone is rendered physically and/or cognitively unable to effectively represent their own best interests in court by cancer related to talcum powder use, a family member can step in to file suit on their loved one’s behalf and seek restitution for their loved one’s losses.
Why Should I Hire a Lawyer to Represent Me?
Product manufacturers and their defense teams will do whatever it takes to protect themselves in a lawsuit. (In fact, Johnson & Johnson was criticized for moving its asbestos-related liabilities into a new company. The new company had to file for bankruptcy in October 2021, limiting the ability of talcum powder victims to recover compensation. Critics believe the move was meant to block about 38,000 lawsuits.)
Product manufacturers will also attempt to question your credibility to avoid paying compensation or paying the least amount possible. You need a lawyer with experience holding large corporations liable for their actions. Our firm has the knowledge, skills, and resources it takes to build solid defective product cases.
At Phillips Law Group, we are ready to handle all aspects of your case from beginning to end by:
- Evaluating your eligibility to file a lawsuit
- Advising on your available legal options
- Investigating your claim to help prove liability
- Gathering evidence to strengthen your case
- Representing you in all legal-related matters
- Negotiating for just and fair compensation
- Going to trial to argue your case if necessary
Get answers to your legal questions today. Ph: 602-222-2222
Studies Linking Talcum Powder to Ovarian Cancer
Talcum powder is a soft, white powder used to help keep skin dry, neutralize odors, and prevent rashes. It is made from talc, which is a naturally occurring mineral that contains magnesium, silicon, and oxygen.
Although talc is a natural substance, experts believe it contains cancer-causing properties that are intensified when it is processed for use in health care products. This belief is strongly supported by decades of scientific research.
In a landmark study published in The Lancet medical journal in 1971, scientists discovered small particles of talc embedded deep inside the cells of numerous ovarian tumors. In a 1982 study, scientists determined that women who use talcum powder for feminine hygiene while ovulating have a 92 percent higher chance of developing ovarian cancer.
In 2013, a scientific analysis of eight case studies revealed women who use talcum powder for feminine hygiene have a 30 percent higher risk of contracting ovarian cancer, regardless of their ovulation cycle.
A 2016 study in Epidemiology analyzed data collected on talc use and ovarian cancer over a 16-year period. Ovarian cancer was found to be one-third higher among women who regularly use talcum powder. Most women in the study reported using Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder or Shower to Shower.
To date, the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified talc as a possible carcinogen for women. The Cancer Prevention Coalition has even petitioned the FDA to have cancer warning labels placed on talc-based products to warn users of the potential dangers.
Did Johnson & Johnson Know Its Talcum Powder Was Dangerous?
It is possible. Johnson & Johnson has vehemently denied allegations that they have known for decades that the raw ingredients used in its talcum powder are cancer-causing.
Although the company continues to defend its talcum powder products as being safe and effective to use, Johnson & Johnson has stopped selling its talc-based Baby Powder in the U.S. and Canada. The company claims that demand for the product had been declining largely due to changes in consumer habits as well as misinformation about the safety of the product.
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Have Any Lawsuits Been Filed or Verdicts Reached?
Johnson & Johnson is facing over 35,000 talcum powder lawsuits in a multidistrict litigation (MDL) in New Jersey. An MDL combines similar lawsuits into one legal action to speed up the process.
These lawsuits have been filed by women diagnosed with ovarian cancer or families who have lost loved ones to the disease. The lawsuits claim the use of talcum powder products can cause ovarian cancer. The lawsuits also claim that the company failed to warn users about the cancer risks.
Billions of dollars have already been awarded to victims. This includes $4.7 billion awarded to 22 women and their families ($550 million in compensatory damages and $4.14 billion in punitive damages).
There are also hundreds of lawsuits in state courts. According to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission in January of 2021, Johnson & Johnson set aside $4 billion for talc lawsuits and settlements.
Other notable verdicts that have been reached include:
$417 Million Dollar Verdict
A Los Angeles jury awarded $417 million to a woman who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2007 after using Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder for more than 40 years. The award included $70 million in compensatory damages and $347 million in punitive damages.
$110 Million Dollar Verdict
In 2017, a jury in St. Louis awarded $5 million in compensatory damages and $105 million in punitive damages to a Virginia woman who regularly used Baby Powder and Shower to Shower for several decades and developed ovarian cancer. At the time of her trial, the cancer had also spread to her liver.
$72 Million Dollar Verdict
A Missouri jury ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $72 million to the family of an Alabama woman who passed away from ovarian cancer after using talc-based products for feminine hygiene for 35 years. The award included $10 million in compensatory damages and $62 million in punitive damages.
Verdicts And Settlements
$ 23,000,000
Product Liability -Vioxx
$ 15,100,000
Product Liability -Yaz, Yasmin, Ocella
$ 9,600,000
Product Liability -Exposure Causing Cancer and Death
$ 5,300,000
Product Liability -Avandia Cases
$ 4,300,000
Product Liability -Bextra, Celebrex
$ 2,205,675
Product Liability -Depuy Hip Cases
$ 1,160,000
Product Liability -Tire Blowout Crash
$ 338,000
Product Liability -Broken Neck, Ribs, Shoulder, Collarbone
Call to Discuss a Potential Talcum Powder Lawsuit
At Phillips Law Group, we understand the devastating impact a cancer diagnosis has on victims and their families. We believe that all companies that produce and sell defective, cancer-causing products should be held accountable for their actions and the damages victims suffer.
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer after using talcum powder, do not hesitate to contact our firm for qualified legal representation. We have the experience and resources necessary and a proven track record of recovering millions in compensation for our clients.
Contact us today to learn if you may be eligible to file a talcum powder lawsuit. The initial consultation comes at no cost or obligation to you. We also charge nothing upfront to retain our services.
Call Phillips Law Group at 602-222-2222 for trusted legal help today.