Ovarian cancer is a silent and deadly cancer. Since the early 1980’s, scientists have suspected a link between talcum powder and ovarian cancer. Only recently, however, has that link become public. And for many women, it may be too late.
New evidence suggests that there may also be a link between talcum powder and mesothelioma and fallopian tube cancer as well.
Talcum itself isn’t dangerous. Talcum powder is derived from talc, an inert mineral. By itself, it is completely safe. (The World Health Organization says, however, that talc in its fibrous form may be carcinogenic.)
The problem is that asbestos is often found alongside talc. Depending on the mine, heavy metals such as nickel and chromium may also be present. Asbestos is one of the most dangerous substances known to man. One tiny fiber is enough to cause lung or ovarian cancer.
The biggest producer of talcum powder is Johnson & Johnson (J&J). And an internal memo suggests that the company knew of asbestos in their baby powder as early as 1969.
The first dangerous products talcum powder lawsuit naming Johnson & Johnson was filed in 2013. A South Dakota physician’s assistant claimed she developed ovarian cancer as the result of using J&J talcum powder. That opened the flood gates and today an estimated 10,000 cases have been filed in the United States.
Why so many? Regular female users of talcum powder have a 30% greater chance of developing cancer and some experts claim there is a link to fallopian tube cancer and mesothelioma as well. In cases of ovarian cancer, the risks may be much higher.
The risk of ovarian and fallopian tube cancer is limited to women and to those who use the powder in the pelvic region. Mesothelioma, however, suggests there is a risk to everyone who inhales the powder, something that is hard not to do. (Despite being called “baby powder,” the American Academy of Pediatrics said baby powder was a hazard to babies because of complications that could occur if aspirated.)
Johnson & Johnson claim their product is safe and asbestos free. Their definition of asbestos free isn’t zero (0%) however. And many manufacturers are warning women not to use talcum powder in the genital area.
I Have Cancer and Regularly Use / Used J&J Baby Powder, What Should I Do?
First, our prayers are with you. Continue to do what you need to get better.
If you have a diagnosis of any type of cancer, we urge you to continue with your medical treatment.
If you have ovarian cancer, we certainly wish to speak with you and right away. Most pathology labs save tissue samples for 10 years, often we can hire an expert to see if there is evidence of asbestos fibers in the samples.
If you have fallopian tube cancer – something which is quite rare, we would like to speak with you as well. These cases are few and far between and none have gone to trial. We do think the disease pathology and link to cancer are very similar.
We are also investigating cases in which a baby powder user developed mesothelioma. To date there has only been one successful mesothelioma baby powder lawsuit. Two cases resulted in mistrials meaning they will be tries again. These cases suggest the cancer was developed through inhaling residual talcum powder. If the link is confirmed, both men and women may have claims.
Asbestos in the lungs is the number one cause of mesothelioma but the World Health Organization believes that talc in its fibrous form may also be carcinogenic.
Other type of cancer? We are not aware of any link or studies on other cancers. We cannot assist you at this time. Let us know what your doctors think, however. This is an expanding area of law that is dependent on emerging medical science.
In screening our potential baby powder lawsuit claims, we also look for women who were under the age of 65 at the time of diagnosis. After 65, there is a higher risk of certain cancers making the link to talcum powder too difficult. We simply can’t say with medical certainty or even a high degree of probability that your cancer is tied to Johnson & Johnson baby powder.
A third requirement is that you were a regular use of Johnson & Johnson talcum powder. For our purposes, let say 4 years.
Finally, we can’t accept cases where the patient is positive for the breast cancer gene. (BRCA). Once again, we aren’t saying we don’t believe you or your doctor, our decision to limit our cases is based on medical opinion testimony and what expert witnesses are saying.
Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder Lawsuit Case Screening Questions
-
Have you been diagnosed with ovarian, fallopian tube cancer or mesothelioma?
-
Are you 65 or younger (okay to measure from the date you were diagnosed)?
-
Are you BRCE negative (no breast cancer gene)?
-
Did you regularly use J&J baby powder for at least 4 years?
If you answered “Yes” to every question, we may be able to help!
Men, Mesothelioma and Baby Powder
Most of this post – and most of the 10,000 lawsuits filed – involve women and ovarian cancer tied to talcum powder. There is a growing body of science, however, that connects mesothelioma and talc. Unlike ovarian cancer which only affects women, mesothelioma is a particularly deadly cancer that knows no gender boundaries.
If you are a man diagnosed with mesothelioma and used talcum baby powder regularly for four or more years, call us. Our contact information appears throughout this post.
How Do You Prove the Link between Baby Powder and Cancer?
A pathologist may be able to find asbestos fibers in diseased tissue and offer direct evidence. Frequently, however, the evidence is circumstantial.
Expert witnesses can testify as to the probabilities of developing ovarian cancer, particularly through statistical analysis. You can also testify as to your use of baby powder and what brands you used.
How Do I Know if I Have Ovarian Cancer?
Tough question. Ovarian cancer is truly a silent killer. In its early stages, the patient rarely has any symptoms. Even in its late stages, the symptoms are often quite general. Having regular checkups and discussing any health issues with your doctor is your best option.
We are not doctors but we can share what the Mayo Clinic, says are the symptoms of ovarian cancer:
- Abdominal bloating or swelling
- Quickly feeling full when eating
- Weight loss
- Discomfort in the pelvis area
- Changes in bowel habits, such as constipation
- A frequent need to urinate
Why Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder?
J & J is by far the biggest player in the market. They are the biggest retailers of baby powder in the U.S. Remember, however, that some baby powder is made with cornstarch, not talc. There is no medical evidence linking cancer to cornstarch baby powder.
Johnson & Johnson is not the only company being sued. But they certainly occupy the largest share of the talcum powder market in the United States. Some powder makers actually put proper warning labels on their products indicating that they should not be used by women in the pelvic area. (Those labels may address claims for ovarian cancer but not mesothelioma.)
Another big defendant in these cases is Imerys Talc America, the talc supplier to J&J.
Our top three cancer investigation targets who make talcum baby powder are:
- Johnson’s Baby Powder by Johnson & Johnson
- Shower to Shower by Valeant Pharmaceuticals
- Baby Magic Baby Powder (presently owned by Naterra, previous owners include Colgate-Palmolive, Playtex and Mennen)
How Long Do I Have to File a Claim?
State law establishes how long you have to sue a wrongdoer for injuries. In many states, that is just two years. Some places only give you one year.
In many states, the clock doesn’t begin to tick until you are diagnosed with cancer and knew or should have known of the possibility that baby powder might be the cause.
Keep in mind that courts don’t like litigating old cases. The older the case, the more likely it will be dismissed. Depending on how long you have been diagnosed with cancer, it may even be too late in some jurisdictions.
Don’t wait another minute!
To speak to a lawyer and find out if you have a Johnson & Johnson baby powder lawsuit, contact us online, by email [hidden email] or by phone at 800.669.7782.
How Much is my Case Worth?
We are frequently asked, “Do I have a case?” Or “How much is case worth?”
How much is your talcum baby powder lawsuit worth? Every case is unique. In general, we can usually secure compensation for your:
- Medical bills
- Future anticipated medical bills
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Reduced earning capacity
- Out of pocket expenses
In cases where death occurs, we can also help families secure funeral expenses and lost earnings.
Often punitive damages are available but laws on punitive damages vary widely state to state.
My Sister / Wife / Mother / Grandmother Died of Ovarian Cancer and Was a Regular User of J&J’s Baby Powder. What do I do?
Once again, your family is in our prayers.
If there is any silver lining, it is that in most states, the executor of the cancer victim’s estate can file a lawsuit.
Sometimes the period in which to file a lawsuit is very short, please call us right away! Contact us online, by email [hidden email] or by phone 800.669.7782.
How Do the Lawyers Get Paid?
Baby powder lawsuit claims are handled on a contingent fee (success fee) basis. You don’t pay us unless we are successful in recovering money for you.
Is It True that the Talcum Powder Lawsuits Are a Class Action? Don’t I Become Just a Number in a Class Action?
Class actions have a terrible reputation. Often deservedly so. But the Johnson & Johnson talc cases are part of what is called a Multi District Litigation or “MDL.”
So, what is the difference?
In the typical class case, everyone has the same injury. If your bank overcharged you for bad check fees and everyone received the same charge, calculating damages is easy. All that is required is a chart. In a dangerous products case, each case is unique. The cause of the injury may be the same but not the injuries, pain and suffering, etc.
What is Happening with These Cases? Are Consumers Winning Talcum Powder Lawsuits?
There are now an estimated 10,000 cases filed. Most are part of the Multi District Litigation. The court has consolidated the cases and appointed a committee of lawyers to conduct discovery. Discovery is where we get to inspect documents, ask questions of J&J and others under oath and see if they are hiding evidence.
As of this writing, seven baby powder lawsuit cases have gone to trial. All involved women who suffered from cancer and say they were regular users of talcum powder. In all but one of the cases, the cancer attributed to talc was ovarian. One case involved a mesothelioma victim.
Six of the cases were single plaintiff cases. One was a group case with 22 plaintiffs consolidated for trial.
Plaintiffs won six of these seven trials! The defendants are appealing.
The first case that went to trial was in February 2016. The victim in that case had already passed away by the date of the trial. Her estate, however, was able to prosecute the case. A jury returned a $72 million verdict.
That verdict was reversed by an appeals court but on procedural grounds. In other words, the appeals court didn’t decide in favor of Johnson & Johnson and the other defendants on the merits. That case is pending once again at the trial court level.
A second baby powder lawsuit in Missouri went to trial in April of 2016. That case resulted in a $55 million jury verdict. That verdict was also reversed on procedural grounds and is now on appeal to the Missouri Supreme Court.
Other cases that are earlier in the appeals process include:
- October 2016 (St. Louis) $70 million verdict.
- April 2017 (St. Louis) $110 million verdict.
- August 2017 (Los Angeles) $417 million verdict.
- April 2018 (New Jersey) $117 million verdict ($35 million attributable to Imerys).
- 22 Plaintiff case July 2018 (St Louis) $4.69 billion verdict. During that trial, Imerys, J&J’s talc supplier, settled before the case went to verdict. The settlement terms are sealed.
Don’t be disheartened by the appeals in these cases. Johnson & Johnson is spending tens of millions of dollars fighting these cases. We remain confident that the juries that heard the first several cases “got it right” and that justice will prevail. We are in the fight until the end.
We will constantly update this post below in our updates section. Bookmark this page and come back often.
Talcum Powder Lawsuit Updates!
October 2018 – New Evidence on Efforts to Manipulate the FDA
Depositions taken in the MDL have lately focused on J&J’s efforts to influence the scientific community and the FDA so that talcum powder won’t be classified as a human carcinogen when used by women in the genital area.
Evidence suggests that despite the ingredients label on most powder products that indicates the only ingredients are talc and fragrance, talcum powder also contains asbestos and heavy metals. Research also shows that talcum powder also often contains fibrous talc which the World Health Organization has linked to ovarian cancer. Johnson & Johnson continue to deny the existence of asbestos in their products and say their products are safe.
October 2018 – Two Juries Deadlock on Baby Powder Lawsuit Claims
Not every baby powder lawsuit results in a victory. Different facts, different juries and different judges. A Los Angles jury deadlocked meaning they could not reach a verdict in a case involving a man who claims he developed mesothelioma from regular use of Johnson & Johnson baby powder.
The jury was one vote shy of ruling in favor of the man. After several days of unsuccessful jury deliberation, the court declared a mistrial. That means the case will be tried again in front of a different jury. This is case involved one of the rare but increasing number of claims filed by men who developed mesothelioma after using baby powder.
In late September, Pasadena jury deadlocked in another mesothelioma baby powder lawsuit. Carolyn Weirick, a 59-year-old school counselor, claimed she used J&J’s talc products for more than 40 years. She was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2017 and said her only exposure to asbestos came from her use of talcum powder.
She claimed that a test of the baby powder found in her home, found 11 asbestos fibers in it, enough to cause cancer. Experts say that any asbestos exposure can cause cancer.
Said one of Carolyn’s lawyers, “We can’t trust that these companies have done the testing they should have done or even the testing they’ve claimed to have done.” That theme has been echoed by others who claim that J&J didn’t even test for asbestos for long periods of time despite knowing of the cancer risk.
September 17, 2018 – Imerys Settles Another Baby Powder Lawsuit
Imerys Talc America, the major worldwide supplier of talc, continues to face thousands of baby powder lawsuit claims from women who say they developed ovarian cancer after using Johnson & Johnson baby powder. After being held responsible for a $117 million verdict in NJ, Imerys again made the decision to settle confidentially in a pending Los Angeles talcum powder mesothelioma cancer lawsuit.
Although it settled, the company released a statement saying, “Imerys Talc America is committed to the quality and safety of its products, as evidenced by our quality testing results that consistently show no asbestos.”
CALL TO ACTION! Important Information on Cancer and Baby Powder Lawsuits
If you or a loved one suffers from ovarian cancer, mesothelioma or fallopian tube cancer and regularly used Johnson & Johnson or other talcum powder products, contact us immediately. Depending on where you live and how long you have been diagnosed, time is running out to file a baby powder lawsuit. In some cases, it may already be too late.
We believe that companies like Johnson & Johnson have known for more than 40 years their talcum powder products are linked to cancer and mesothelioma.
Why these companies continue to refuse to warn users of their products of the cancer risks is troubling. They must be held accountable.
Both women and men are at risk for mesothelioma. Women are especially at risk for ovarian and fallopian tube cancer if they apply the powder in the pelvic area.
We are accepting baby powder lawsuit cases nationwide.
To speak to a lawyer and find out if you have a Johnson & Johnson baby powder lawsuit case, contact us online, by email [hidden email] or by phone at 800.669.7782.
Call for Whistleblowers
Are You a Johnson & Johnson, Valeant, Imerys or Baby Magic insider or an independent testing lab worker? We would love to hear from you and learn what you know. Our goal is to get justice for the suspected tens of thousands of cancer victim across the United States who developed cancer because of exposure to talcum powder.
While J&J and others continue to beat the drum about how safe their products are, we know from experience that there is often some overlooked – or hidden – piece of evidence to the contrary. That is where you can help.
Even if you don’t want your identity known, any information you can provide is appreciated. The information will be used to prosecute our baby powder lawsuit cases. With your permission, we may also share your information with the FDA and other regulators.
We don’t want you to break any laws to help but any help you can give is appreciated. Feel free to call attorney Tim Granitz at 800.669.7782 or even anonymously send information to [hidden email]. Obviously we wish to speak to you but any information is better than none.