Thousands of lawsuits have been filed against talc manufacturers under claims that their products have allegedly caused mesothelioma and ovarian cancer. Here, the mesothelioma and product liability attorneys at The Law Offices of Peter Angelos provide updates on lawsuits filed against Johnson & Johnson and other manufacturers regarding claims that talc exposure led to diagnoses of mesothelioma, ovarian cancer and more.
Talcum Powder Linked to Mesothelioma and Ovarian Cancer
Due to allegations that talcum powder exposure may be linked to serious health conditions such as mesothelioma and ovarian cancer, thousands of lawsuits have been filed against major manufacturers such as Johnson & Johnson, Imerys Talc America and Colgate-Palmolive in recent years over claims that the corporations were aware of the risk of developing cancer as a result of talc exposure but failed to provide adequate warning to the public. Products like Johnson & Johnson’s Shower to Shower, in addition to other talc-containing cosmetic products, have been implicated in talcum powder cancer claims, with plaintiffs asserting that they have developed mesothelioma due to inhalation of talc-containing products or ovarian cancer due to genital use of talc-containing products.
A Reuters Report Claims Johnson & Johnson Products are Tainted with Asbestos
A Reuters news agency investigative article found and stated that Johnson & Johnson was aware of traces of asbestos in their baby powder for decades. The report, which came out in late 2018, also found that Johnson & Johnson’s raw talc powder had tested positive for trace amounts of asbestos on many occasions between 1971 to 2003, yet the company intentionally concealed the information from consumers. After the Reuters report was published, Johnson & Johnson denied the allegations and continues to defend the safety of their products.
Recent 2018 Lawsuits Awarded Billions of Dollars in Cancer Verdicts
A jury awarded $117 million in a mesothelioma verdict and a $4.69 billion ovarian cancer verdict in 2018. The multi-billion dollar ovarian cancer verdict, which was the highest amount to date, was awarded to 22 women who claimed that Johnson & Johnson’s talc-containing products led to the development of their ovarian cancer. In addition, Johnson & Johnson and its talc supplier, Imerys Talc America, agreed to pay $1.5 million in damages to settle a mesothelioma lawsuit in December of 2018. These lawsuits claimed that Johnson & Johnson purposefully concealed the potential dangers of using products containing talcum powder.
Other companies implicated in talcum powder litigation include Vanderbilt Minerals and Colgate-Palmolive, and according to an October 2018 report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Johnson & Johnson faces 11,700 talc-related lawsuits mostly pending in New Jersey, Missouri and California courts.
Consult with a Product Liability Attorney at The Law Offices of Peter Angelos Today
So far, billions of dollars have been awarded to plaintiffs and the number of lawsuits filed against talc manufacturers continues to steadily rise. If you have developed cancer such as mesothelioma or ovarian cancer, and you have used talc-containing products manufactured by Johnson & Johnson, Imerys Talc America or another talc product manufacturer, do not hesitate to contact our dedicated team of attorneys at The Law Offices of Peter Angelos today.