The 13th Report on Carcinogens lists 243 agents considered cancer hazards to humans.
Cancer-causing substances are in everything from pollution to processed meats. But when a company knows that their products might be linked to cancer, they have a duty to report it. It’s this duty to report that underlies the talcum power lawsuit.
Women across the US have been using Johnson & Johnson products for many years. Some believe that they developed cancer as a result. As such, they have the legal right to bring the company to court to pay for their suffering.
Keep reading to learn more about the Johnson & Johnson talcum powder lawsuit. It could be the next mass tort lead you’ve been looking for.
What is the Talcum Powder Lawsuit?
The first talcum powder lawsuit was filed by Deanne Berg. She claimed that regularly using Johnson & Johnson baby powder caused her ovarian cancer. Failing to sign the confidentiality agreement, she turned down $1.3 million so that others knew about the hazards of this household staple.
Today, there are nearly 12,000 lawsuits related to talcum products produced by Johnson & Johnson. The majority of these involve women who claim to have developed ovarian cancer from the regular use of the companies talc products. Under product liability law, these women are entitled to damages for a product that’s considered defective.
Is There a Link Between Talcum Power and Cancer?
There are over 40 scientific papers exploring the link between talcum powder and cancer. This research dates back over 50 years.
Scientists believe that the link between talc and cancer has to do with asbestos. Talc is a natural mineral and, where talc is mined, asbestos is often present as well. When the talc isn’t properly purified, trace amounts of asbestos can remain in the talc – and asbestos is a human carcinogen.
Despite the overwhelming amount of research on the topic, the link between talcum powder and cancer is highly disputed. In fact, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers cosmetic-grade talc to be safe for human use.
But recently it’s come to light that Johnson & Johnson not only knew about the link between their products and cancer, but they actively worked to suppress the evidence. It’s believed that they withheld laboratory reports that found asbestos fibers in their products. There’s also reports that they engaged in manipulation of FDA testing requirements.
What Products Are Involved in the Talcum Powder Lawsuit?
As one of the oldest and most reputable companies producing talc products, the largest talcum powder lawsuits to date involve Johnson & Johnson. There are two specific products involved in the majority of these lawsuits: Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower-to Shower Body Powder.
Johnson’s Baby Powder has been around for over 100 years. It’s marketed as a treatment for both diaper rash as well as vaginal odors. Similarly, Shower-to-Shower Body Powder has been around for 50 years and is typically marketed as a treatment for vaginal odors.
Lawsuits have been brought against other companies producing talc-based products as well. These include talcum powder lawsuits against Whittaker, Clark & Daniels, as well as Colgate-Palmolive.
Help Clients Get Justice
The talcum powder lawsuit has nearly 12,000 current cases for good reason. Recent evidence suggests that they both knew about the link between their products and cancer and actively tried to cover it up. As more internal reports are discovered and more lawsuits are brought before the courts, the opportunity to help clients receive justice grows.
And for more potential leads for your lawsuit, check out our practice areas.