Talcum Powder Lawsuit Attorneys
Were you or your loved one diagnosed with ovarian cancer due to your use of talcum powder? Spiros Law, P.C.‘s team of experienced defective drug/device attorneys, paralegals, legal nurse consultants, and support staff collaborates on each case, ensuring that everyone who hires our firm receives only the highest quality of legal services available.
Johnson & Johnson has identified itself as the world’s largest healthcare company. For years, many J&J customers used talcum powder products without knowing of any risks involved. In 1999, however, the American Cancer Society began recommending that women who regularly use baby powder in their genital area switch to cornstarch-based products.
On December 14, 2018, Reuters published an investigation into thousands of pages of company memos, internal reports, and other confidential documents released in a 1999 case. The news outlet found that Johnson & Johnson’s raw talc and finished powders tested positive for small amounts of asbestos from at least 1971 to the early 2000s. Johnson & Johnson never disclosed this information to regulators or the public.
The result has been thousands lawsuits throughout the U.S. filed against J&J by individuals who were diagnosed with ovarian cancer linked to talcum powder use. These actions are often based on the company’s failure to warn consumers about the dangers of talc; some lawsuits have already resulted in significant court awards.
In response to these lawsuits, in May 2020, Johnson & Johnson announced that the company will be discontinuing sales of it’s talc-based baby powder in North America. This was a significant concession by the company, which has sold the product for more than a century and has repeatedly insisted that it is safe for use, despite internal company discussions to the contrary.
According to the New York Times, the company announced that retailers can still sell existing bottles to consumers until the products run out. The company continues to sell cornstarch-based baby powder in North America, and the company continues to sell talc-based powder in other parts of the world.
This announcement came after the company was forced to pull 33,000 bottles of its baby powder from store shelves after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found chrysotile asbestos in a bottle purchased from an online retailer. The company denied that asbestos was found in the bottle based on its own tests, and has vowed to continue to defend the product in court, despite this most recent decision to discontinue sales in the U.S.
When a manufacturer develops, manufactures, and markets a product, it has a fundamental obligation to make sure that it is safe to use by those who purchase it. Spiros Law, P.C. believes Johnson & Johnson has neglected this duty by selling this product long after knowing the risks it causes.
The defective drug and medical device attorneys at Spiros Law, P.C. stand ready to hold a corporation responsible when it betrays the trust of the American consumer.
Call (815) 929-9292 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with a member of our team today.
Do I Need A Talcum Powder Lawyer?
Whether your overian cancer diagnosis is connected to talcum powder, Johnson & Johnson has invested large sums of money in defending itself against these claims. Like any massive corporate entity, it is prepared to vigorously deny or deflect liability, and it will be difficult for the average person to handle a legal faceoff of this magnitude on their own.
A seasoned attorney is equipped to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the relationship between an ovarian cancer diagnosis and talcum powder use to uncover important evidence in your case as it relates to Johnson & Johnson. A lawyer can then value your case appropriately and begin working toward recovering the compensation to which you are entitled.
Individuals with a talcum powder claim often group together in what’s known as a mass tort. This consolidation can result in a class-action lawsuit or multidistrict litigation (MDL). Any person injured by J&J’s talcum powder should seek the guidance of a defective drug attorney to determine the legal avenue that will be most beneficial.
A class-action lawsuit allows a handful of similarly affected individuals to seek compensation on behalf of a large group of consumers from the same corporate defendant in a single legal action.
In MDL, each plaintiff has control of their independent lawsuit, but one federal judge presides over all cases in a designated venue. A successful class action award gets split equally among all class members, while MDL awards can vary for each individual claim depending on the facts and circumstances of each case.
Why Choose Spiros Law, P.C. To Handle My Case?
Spiros Law, P.C. has been dedicated to aggressively protecting the rights of personal injury victims since 2005.
Firm founder James D. Spiros was named a Leading Lawyer by the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin in 2017 and 2018. He was also named a 2018 Super Lawyer, is a member of The Million Dollar Advocates Forum, and has served on the Board of Managers of the Illinois Trial Lawyers Association since 2008.
Spiros Law, P.C. handles each case on a contingency basis. There are no upfront legal fees; you do not pay us anything without first receiving a financial award.
Types of Talcum Powder Cases We Handle
According to the American Cancer Society, the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrances Association (CTFA), the trade association representing the industry, and voluntary issued guidelines recommending that all talc used in cosmetic products be free from detectable amounts of asbestos.
Raw talc contains asbestos, a known carcinogen. Cosmetic talc is usually refined to remove impurities, but there is no federal oversight of such processes.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) conducted studies in 2009 and 2010, one examining 34 different talc cosmetic products and another examining earlier powders in the 1960s and 1970s, but found no evidence of asbestos.
After a Missouri jury in July 2018 ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $4.7 billion to 22 women who claimed the company’s baby powder caused ovarian cancer, however, Business Insider reported that U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission subsequently launched an investigation into J&J’s baby powder.
Some of the most common health issues associated with talcum powder cases include:
- Respiratory problems in infants
- General respiratory problems
- Asthma
- Pneumonia
- Ovarian cancer
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Talcum Powder
At Spiros Law, P.C., we are dedicated to aggressively advocating for talcum powder users subsequently diagnosed with ovarian cancer or other serious illnesses. With that commitment in mind, we have provided answers to some of the questions commonly raised by our clients. Call us at (815) 929-9292 to discuss your situation in more detail.
What products contain talcum powder?
Talc may be found in baby powders and lotions, household cleaning supplies, adult lotions, conditioner, deodorants, shampoo, female hygiene products, female cosmetic products such as foundation and eyeshadow, and other shower products.
Some of the name-brand products that contain talc include Summer’s Eve Body Powder, Johnson’s Baby Powder, Estee Lauder Body Powder, Shower to Shower Body Powder, Nivea Pure Talc, and Gold Bond Body Powder.
A list of specific products containing talc is also available in the household products database compiled by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
What are common symptoms of ovarian cancer?
Ovarian cancer symptoms include a frequent need to urinate, abdominal bloating or swelling, changes in bowel habits such as constipation, quickly feeling full when eating, discomfort in the pelvic area, and weight loss.
What is the success rate of talcum powder lawsuits so far?
Many talcum powder lawsuits have already resulted in significant awards. USA Today reported in February 2016 that a St. Louis jury ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $72 million to the family of an Alabama woman who died from ovarian cancer caused by using the company’s baby powder.
CNBC reported in October 2016 that a St. Louis jury awarded a California woman over $70 million in her lawsuit alleging that years of using Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder caused her ovarian cancer.
NBC News reported in May 2017 that another St. Louis jury awarded a Virginia woman $110.5 million after her use of Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder caused ovarian cancer. The verdict has since been overturned by the state appellate court.
The Los Angeles Times reported in August 2017 that a Los Angeles jury awarded a woman diagnosed with ovarian cancer $417 million after finding Johnson & Johnson liable for failure to warn the woman about the risks of using its talcum products.
Reuters reported in July 2018 that a jury in the Circuit Court of the City of St. Louis ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $4.69 billion, including $550 million in compensatory damages and $4.14 billion in punitive damages, to 22 women alleging the company’s talc-based products caused them to develop ovarian cancer.
CNBC reported in May 2018 that Johnson & Johnson was ordered to pay $300 million in punitive damages to a woman who blamed her asbestos-related ovarian cancer on the company’s talc products and had been awarded $25 million in compensatory damages earlier that month.
An Oakland jury awarded Teresa Leavitt $29.5 million in compensatory damages in March 2019.
In May of 2019, a New York state jury awarded Donna Olson and her husband $25 million dollars in compensatory damages and $300 million in punitive damages.
Bloomberg reported in September of 2019 that a jury ordered the company to pay plaintiffs $32.7 million in compensatory damages after developing mesothelioma from asbestos allegedly present in Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower-to-Shower talcum powder products.
A jury in Los Angeles also awarded an Idaho plaintiff and her spouse $40.3 million in compensatory damages in September 2019.
In February of 2020, a jury in New Jersey awarded four plaintiffs $750 million in damages, according to MarketWatch.
Contact a Talcum Powder Attorney Today
If you or your loved one have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer stemming from the use of talcum powder, you could be entitled to compensation for the harm you’ve suffered.
Spiros Law, P.C. will work tirelessly to bring Johnson & Johnson to justice. Call (815) 929-9292 or contact us online to set up a free consultation. In the last ten years, we have recovered $100 million in money damages for our personal injury clients.
