Talc is a naturally occurring mineral that can be found in the earth near asbestos deposits, making contamination inevitable. Consequently, the use of talcum powder can lead to diseases such as mesothelioma and ovarian cancer. When talc enters the body, the particles will embed themselves in the lining of the organs, slowly causing inflammation and tissue scarring, symptoms which will eventually give way to disease. A study revealed that women who use talcum powder as a feminine hygiene product are 30% more likely to develop ovarian cancer.
Johnson & Johnson has been the primary talcum powder manufacturer, against which over 9,000 lawsuits have been filed within recent years. While the company has been aware of the connection between talcum powder and the risk of disease for 40 years, they continued to manufacture their products, which are the following:
If you suffered a personal injury following the use of talcum powder, Atraxia Law will help you recover the money you deserve. We will examine your medical records in only 10 minutes to determine if you qualify for filing a claim against the manufacturer. The following conditions entitle you to file a claim:
The first talcum powder trial was held in 2013 and in the years since, several sizable verdicts have been awarded to plaintiffs claiming injuries from talcum powder products, including a $417 million verdict handed down in Los Angeles County Superior Court in 2017. In the 2013 case, Diane Berg, a physician's assistant from South Dakota who sprinkled Johnson’s Baby Powder on her underwear for most of her life to control odors, sued Johnson & Johnson after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer at age 49. The company offered the woman an out-of-court settlement of $1.3 million, but when she heard that the settlement came with a confidentiality clause, she refused, deciding that she would rather warn women around the world about how dangerous the talcum powder was. When her case went to trial, the jury sided with her but awarded her no monetary compensation.
In July 2018, the company was ordered to pay $4.69 billion in damages to 22 women and their families in the first case focusing on asbestos in the powder. The plaintiffs in that case, six of whom died of ovarian cancer before the conclusion of the trial, alleged that exposure to asbestos in the company’s talc-based baby and body powder products contributed to their ovarian cancer. The landmark verdict included $4.14 billion in punitive damages designed to punish Johnson & Johnson for failing to warn consumers about the cancer risks allegedly associated with its talcum powder products.
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