Talcum Powder Lawsuits – Ron Bell Injury Lawyers
Ron Bell Injury Lawyers are currently accepting new cases related to complications caused by talcum powder products. If you have used or been exposed to talcum powder and developed ovarian cancer, mesothelioma, or experienced other dangerous side effects, our lawyers will review your case free of charge and advise you on your legal options. We are a trusted law firm, committed to providing passionate representation and outstanding results to people who were wronged due to defective products. Our lawyers are experienced in litigation against big companies and will not shy away from taking on challenging cases. Contact us to schedule a free case review today.
Talcum Powder and Its Uses
Talcum powder is a white powder made of a naturally occurring mineral called talc. The powder is a key ingredient in many cosmetics and hygiene products such as baby powder, face powder, foot powder or intimate hygiene products. Talc is also used in the production of makeup and paint. Products containing talc are manufactured by a number of different brands and makers. While some of them include a warning label of potentially dangerous and undesirable health effects on the packaging, most do not. Therefore, many people who have used talcum powder for years or decades assumed that these were completely safe products.
Talcum Powder Complications
A growing body of evidence suggests that regular talcum powder use may indeed cause dangerous side-effects. Scientists identified three side-effects that can be linked to talcum powder – ovarian cancer, mesothelioma, and respiratory problems.
A number of scientific studies have repeatedly shown a link between talcum powder and ovarian cancer. While the exact mechanism has not been yet discovered, research suggests that repeated use of talcum powder in the genital area may be related to a substantially higher risk of developing ovarian cancer. It has been suggested that talc particles may travel to the uterus and the ovaries and cause inflammation which has often been often to the development of certain types of cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), an agency that forms a part of the World Health Organization (WHO), classifies talcum powder as “possibly carcinogenic to humans”.
Mesothelioma is a kind of cancer that develops in the lining that covers the organs and usually affects lungs, abdomen, or the heart. Its main cause is direct asbestos exposure. While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not allow the use of asbestos in talc-based products, the agency cannot guarantee that all talcum powder products or their derivatives available at the U.S. market are completely asbestos-free.
Talcum Powder Lawsuits
Various manufacturers of talc-based products have been targeted with lawsuits in recent years. The lawsuits claim that talcum powder use caused ovarian cancer and mesothelioma.
Currently, there are 6,993 lawsuits consolidated into a multidistrict litigation (MDL) in a court in New Jersey against manufacturer Johnson & Johnson, and Imerys Talc, a talc supplier. Similar cases are also pending in the courts in Missouri and California. By the end of 2017, juries awarded a total of $700 million to plaintiffs in various talcum powder lawsuits.
In April 2018, a jury in New Jersey awarded a plaintiff named Stephen Lanzo III and his wife $117 million following a lawsuit that claimed Lanzo developed mesothelioma after using Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder and Shower to Shower. Another high profile case involved Vanderbilt Minerals – an industrial talcum powder products manufacturer – and a plaintiff named Robert Lord who claimed he developed mesothelioma after using Vanderbilt products at a tile company. The parties reached a confidential settlement.
Get a Free Case Review
If you feel you may have a basis for a lawsuit against a talc-based product manufacturer in relation to ovarian cancer, mesothelioma, or other dangerous side- effects attributed to talcum powder use, please contact our lawyers without delay at 505-898-2355. Your initial case review is always free and you won’t owe us any legal fees unless we win compensation on your behalf.
