Talcum Powder

Talcum Powder Lawsuit

Thousands of women are coming forward with claims that their ovarian cancer can be traced back to their use of popular feminine hygiene products containing talcum powder. If you or a loved one used talc-based products, such as Johnson's Baby Powder or Shower to Shower, for at least two years and developed ovarian cancer or fallopian tube cancer within the last fifteen years, you may have a right to seek compensation for your suffering.

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Thousands of Women are Seeking Justice

In recent years, women have begun filing suit against Johnson & Johnson for knowingly selling dangerous products and downplaying serious health risks. Over 16,800 women have now joined in lawsuits against the company after their use of baby powder and talc-based body fresheners, such as Shower to Shower, caused them to develop ovarian cancer. One of the largest verdicts was in 2018, when a jury ordered the company to pay more than $4 billion to 22 women diagnosed with ovarian cancer.1 Over $2 billion of the award was upheld on appeal.2

Even though Johnson & Johnson continues to deny their products’ link to cancer, a study dating back decades shows a clear link between habitual use of these products and the development of ovarian cancer.3 Johnson & Johnson knew the risk, but effectively silenced the evidence so they could continue selling dangerous products for decades,4 until they finally pulled talc-based products from the shelves in 2020. This decision has caused suffering, and even death, for thousands of women.

Meet the Team

The experienced leaders of the legal/medical team at JJS have earned the highest ratings available from such peer organizations as Best Lawyers in America®, Super Lawyers®, and Martindale-Hubbell. We have extraordinary in-house medical experts, including an OBGYN, who uncover medical errors that other law firms miss. Our dangerous product lawyers include: Kenneth Suggs, Dr. Giles Manley, Gerald Jowers, Rita M. Gribko, Andrew Janet, Patrick Thronson, and Howard Janet.

I started my OBGYN residency at GBMC in 1986. At that time most surgical gloves were of the latex variety without talcum powder. During my oncology rotation I learned this practice was to avoid getting powder in the abdominal cavity because of the known risk of powder exposure to the ovaries and ovarian cancer. Even back then we knew of the risk.

- Dr. Giles Manley

Compensation for Victims

Several large verdicts have been made, ordering Johnson & Johnson to compensate victims for their suffering.

  • $4 billion1: 2018 verdict in favor of 22 women diagnosed with ovarian cancer after using its talc-based products for years.
  • $72 million5: 2017 verdict in favor of the family of a woman whose death from ovarian cancer they claimed stemmed from her use of the company's talc-based products
  • $70 million: 2016 settlement to a woman in St. Louis who claimed to have developed ovarian cancer from its talc products.

Johnson & Johnson Knew the Risk

In 1971, a study emerged linking the use of talc-based products to the development of ovarian cancer. The study examined cancerous tissue and found talc powder deep in the tumours. Concerned about the implications of the study, Johnson & Johnson hired Arthur Langer, a mineralogist at Mount Sinai, to reexamine tissue.4,6 He confirmed the presence of talc, and also found asbestos in ovarian cancer tissue. Despite the dangerous findings of these studies, evidence shows that Johnson & Johnson successfully dissuaded Langer from publishing these findings.4,

For decades Johnson & Johnson continued to market these products to consumers as safe to use for feminine hygiene. However, women who repeatedly used these talcum powder products in their genital area have an increased risk for developing ovarian cancer. Women who used talcum powder on a regular– often daily basis — on sanitary napkins, diaphragms, condoms, or directly on the genital area are particularly at risk.

Despite mounting evidence linking talc-based products to ovarian cancer, Johnson & Johnson continued to sell talc-based baby powder and Shower to Shower products until 2020, when thousands of lawsuits forced them to pull the products from the shelves.

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Respectful, Compassionate, and Determined Representation

At Janet, Janet & Suggs, we pride ourselves on treating our clients with respect and compassion. We are committed to maximizing our clients’ compensation and helping them move forward. We are here to listen and to help.

Holding companies that manufacture dangerous products accountable and delivering the compensation families deserve is what we do—our dangerous products lawyers have up to 40 years of experience. We offer our services on a contingency fee basis, which means you will not pay anything unless we obtain compensation on your behalf.

Contact our team today for a free, no-obligation consultation to determine if you have a case. We work on a contingency fee basis and do not charge any fees or expenses unless you recover compensation.

LEARN MORE
Ovarian Cancer and Talcum Powder Concerns on the Rise

Sources

1 BBC. “Johnson & Johnson to pay $4.7bn damages in talc cancer case”, July 13, 2018
2 CNBC. “J&J loses bid to overturn baby powder verdict”, June 23, 2020
3 Henderson, W.J., et al. “Talc And Carcinoma Of The Ovary And Cervix”, March 1971
4 Hildick-Smith G. Letter to Langer. 1971
5 NYT, "$417 Million Awarded in Suit Tying Johnson’s Baby Powder to Cancer" August 22, 2017
6 Henderson WJ, Joslin CA, Turnbull AC, Griffiths K. Talc and carcinoma of the ovary and cervix. J Obstet Gynaecol Br Commonw. 1971

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