Johnson & Johnson faces over 13,000 claims involving their talcum powder, which is associated with a high risk of mesothelioma and ovarian cancer.
A series of claims against Johnson & Johnson revealed decade-old internal memos from the company's scientists expressing fears that the talc was "a severe health hazard" and could lead to legal liability.
As a result, on 19 July, federal authorities launched a criminal probe to discover whether the manufacturer kept the public in the dark about the possible cancer danger of their talcum powder.
According to a report by Bloomberg News, a grand jury in Washington, D.C., is looking at documents that suggest Johnson & Johnson knew for decades that its talc supply contained asbestos, a highly carcinogenic mineral that often contaminates talc. As a result of the numerous lawsuits filed against it, the stock of Johnson & Johnson dropped under 4%.
In December 2018, Reuters published a special report indicating that Johnson & Johnson's internal documents show that during at least three different laboratory tests from 1972 to 1975, the company found asbestos in its talc but never reported its findings to the FDA.
The laboratory tests are mentioned in a lawsuit from 1997 filed against Johnson & Johnson. Lab reports dating back to 1957 and 1958 found evidence of asbestos in talc; therefore, it appears that the manufacturer was aware of the problems beforehand. This evidence is now the focus of the criminal probe that Johnson & Johnson faces, as well as a regulatory investigation.
"Johnson's Baby Powder does not contain asbestos or cause cancer, as supported by decades of independent clinical evidence. Therefore, the implication that there has been a new development in this matter is flatly wrong," Ernie Knewitz, a J&J spokesman, said.
However, asbestos fibers were found in women who used talcum powder in ovarian cancer tumors.
At the same time, mesothelioma is caused only by asbestos exposure. Despite denying the risk of cancer, Johnson & Johnson stated that they would continue cooperating with the Department of Justice investigation.
The manufacturer issued another statement,"The key documents on this issue have been publicly available for months on our website. The documents establish that Johnson's Baby Powder does not contain asbestos or cause cancer."
So far, over $5 billion have been awarded to people who came to suffer from ovarian cancer or mesothelioma following the use of Johnson's Baby Powder or Shower to Shower, the two products of the company which contain talc.
One of the most recent cases involves Teresa Leavitt, who developed mesothelioma after applying the talcum powder in question. In Oakland, California, a Superior Court jury awarded her $29.4 million.
If you've been diagnosed with mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure, you have an excellent chance of achieving substantial monetary damages, either from a manufacturer or from an insurance company or asbestos victims' trust fund that has assumed liability for the company.
Atraxia Law provides information about your eligibility for mesothelioma claims. We can ensure you have the most up-to-date information on your rights. To have our team of experts help you find out if you qualify for a claim, contact us today.
If you or a loved one has developed ovarian cancer after prolonged, regular use of talcum powder products, Atraxia Law can help.
We are currently investigating the eligibility of claims of women or the families of women with ovarian cancer linked to talcum powder use.
Our goal is to provide answers and guidance to those dealing with debilitating circumstances.