If you used talcum powder products and were later diagnosed with ovarian cancer or mesothelioma, you may be owed compensation. Read on to learn more about talcum powder lawsuits.
What is talcum powder?
Talcum powder is made from talc, which is a mineral made up mainly of magnesium, silicon, and oxygen. As a powder, it’s used in a variety of consumer products to absorb moisture. It’s commonly used in products such as baby powder, adult body powders, and makeup.
In its natural form, talc can contain asbestos, which is a known carcinogen. Consumer products containing talc have largely been asbestos-free since the 1970s, but researchers have noted even modern products containing talc may still have traces of asbestos, which increase the user’s risk of ovarian and mesothelioma cancer.
Some products that may contain talc include:
- Condoms
- Diaphragms
- Sanitary napkins
- Tampons
- Vaginal deodorants
Some popular name brand products that may contain talc include:
- Johnson’s Baby Powder®
- Shower to Shower®
- Cashmere Bouquet®
- Gold Bond Medicated Body Powder®
- Summer’s Eve Body Powder®
- Nivea Pure Talc®
Talcum powder and ovarian cancer
Research suggests that using talcum powder in the genital area may increase a woman’s risk of developing ovarian cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies the genital use of talc-based body powder as “possibly carcinogenic to humans.”
For years, companies like Johnson & Johnson marketed their talc products to women as genital antiperspirants. What’s more, even as thousands of lawsuits were filed linking cancer diagnoses to Johnson & Johnson asbestos-tainted talc products, the company denied any wrongdoing. Years later, internal documents revealed that in the 1970s, Johnson & Johnson had known their talc was contaminated with asbestos, but failed to inform federal regulators or the public. Now, innocent consumers who may have used these products decades ago are left to pay the price.
Talcum powder and mesothelioma
Asbestos is the only known cause of mesothelioma, a fatal form of cancer that attacks most of the body’s internal organs. Studies have shown that certain brands of cosmetic talcum powder still contain asbestos, and the application of talcum powder releases inhalable asbestos fibers. The results of one study suggests that regular use of talcum powder caused one deceased subject to accumulate asbestos fibers in her lungs until she developed mesothelioma.
Talcum powder lawsuits
Since 2006, thousands of talcum powder lawsuits have been filed against companies like Johnson & Johnson.
In 2017, a Los Angeles jury awarded 63-year-old Eva Echeverria $417 million after determining that Johnson & Johnson talc products were liable for her fatal ovarian cancer. Echeverria, unable to attend her own trial, testified in her video-recorded deposition that she used Johnson’s Baby Powder® for over 50 years.
In another case in 2018, Johnson & Johnson paid $4.14 billion in punitive damages to 22 women who claimed the asbestos in the company’s baby powder caused them to develop ovarian cancer.
In 2019, Terry Leavitt was awarded $29.4 million in a case claiming the asbestos in Johnson & Johnson talcum powder products caused her mesothelioma. Leavitt said she regularly used Johnson’s Baby Powder® and Shower to Shower® in the 1960s and 1970s, which the Oakland, California jury determined was a “substantial contributing factor” to her 2017 cancer diagnosis.
These are just a few of the lawsuits and settlements for talcum powder complications. Johnson & Johnson, along with companies like Colgate-Palmolive, Imerys Talc North America, Whittaker, Clark & Daniels, and Vanderbilt Minerals have all been successfully sued in talcum powder cancer lawsuits.
Get help with your talcum powder lawsuit
Though a settlement can’t reverse a diagnosis, innocent consumers shouldn’t have to continue getting sick because of the careless mistakes of big corporations.
If you used talcum powder and developed ovarian cancer or mesothelioma, you could be entitled to a talcum powder settlement for pain and suffering, lost wages, and medical bills. If you lost a loved one who used talcum powder and developed either of these forms of cancer, you could be entitled to compensation for the loss of that loved one. Contact us today for a free consultation, and we can connect you with an attorney who can evaluate your case and help you receive the settlement you deserve.
Talcum powder lawsuit
Johnson’s Baby Powder® and Shower to Shower® are registered trademarks of Johnson & Johnson; Cashmere Bouquet® was a registered trademark of Colgate-Palmolive®; Gold Bond Medicated Body Powder® is a registered trademark of Chattem, Inc.; Summer’s Eve Body Powder® is a registered trademark of C.B. Fleet Company, Inc.; and Nivea Pure Talc® is a registered trademark of Beiersdorf AG®. The trademarks listed are used here only for the purpose of identifying the products in question. Woods and Woods, LLC is not affiliated with, sponsored by or associated with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, Johnson & Johnson, Colgate-Palmolive, Chattem, Inc., C.B. Fleet Company, Inc., Beiersdorf AG, Imerys Talc North America, Whittaker Clark & Daniels, or Vanderbilt Minerals.
