Victims of talcum powder-related injuries won another landmark victory
recently. Early this month, a St. Louis Circuit Court awarded a massive
$110.5 million verdict to a victim who had sustained ovarian cancer as
a result of their use of talcum powder products.
Lois Slemp of Wise, VA claimed she used Johnson & Johnson’s Shower-to-Shower
talcum powder for more than four decades. She was diagnosed with ovarian
cancer in 2012, which has since spread to her liver. Medical tests found
the presence of both talc particles as well as asbestos inside her cancer.
Johnson & Johnson plans to appeal the verdict. In a statement following
the delivery of the verdict, they stated “We deeply sympathize with
the women and families impacted by ovarian cancer. We will begin the appeals
process following today’s verdict and believe a jury decision in
our favor in St. Louis in March and the dismissal of two cases in New
Jersey in September 2016 by a state court judge who ruled that plaintiffs’
scientific experts could not adequately support their theories that talcum
powder causes ovarian cancer, further highlight the lack of credible scientific
evidence behind plaintiffs’ allegations. We are preparing for additional
trials this year and we will continue to defend the safety of Johnson’s
Baby Powder.”
The St. Louis Court may have ruled in favor of Johnson & Johnson before,
including a case in April, but this isn’t the first victory a plaintiff
has won against them here either. Last year alone, three jury verdicts
awarded $197 million to the plaintiffs. In total, more than 2,000 lawsuits
against the health and beauty mega-giant are still pending, including
several class-action suits.
The Impact on Class Action Suits
Talcum powder has been used for decades thanks to its moisture-absorbent
tendencies. Talc is a commonly-found ingredient in eye shadow, blush,
and even some chewing gums. While talc naturally contains some asbestos
fibers, asbestos has been removed from all household talcum products since
the 1970s.
Since that time, several studies have linked talc-containing products to
ovarian cancer, and many people who have used talc-based products for
many years are now being diagnosed with ovarian cancer. In fact, a clear
connection was established in the early 1980s.
As a result, thousands of lawsuits have been filed against Johnson &
Johnson, alleging that the company failed to warn consumers of the dangers
of using talcum powder products near the vagina. Despite numerous years
of knowing this danger, Johnson & Johnson still has not properly labeled
or made the risk of using talcum powder products clear to consumers.
This has led to several class-action suits as well as thousands of individual
lawsuits. If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer
after repeated use of talc-based products, you should not hesitate to
speak with a Philadelphia class action attorney about your case as soon
as possible. While some cases receive massive settlements, such as the
one mentioned here, many other cases are rejected based on not having
enough evidence to support the connection between the talc-based product
and a cancer diagnosis. A lawyer can help you effectively present your
case before a jury and create and effective strategy
If you or a loved one need legal representation after being diagnosed with
ovarian cancer, Call Golomb & Honik, P.C. today at 215.278.4449 to
set up a no-obligation consultation. Let our attorneys help you decide
the best course of action for a successful result to your case!