The pharmaceutical corporation Johnson and Johnson (J&J) has been charged with thousands of lawsuits in the past decade, which state that some of their products cause cancer. The users cited in these lawsuits claim that the materials in J&J’s baby powder and lotion products contain harmful asbestos and talc particles. These particles may have led to ovarian cancer and other conditions for consumers.
Recently, J&J agreed to settle over 1,000 talcum lawsuits for a total of $100 million. There are still over 20,000 lawsuits against the company alleging that their products cause cancer.
Connection Between Talcum Powder and Cancer
Talcum powder is commonly used to reduce friction, and it appears as an ingredient in many body care products. However, several studies have indicated a possible correlation between talcum powder products and cancer.
Because talcum powder is mined in places where asbestos is also present, the two minerals have often been linked. Many talc samples have been found to contain asbestos particles, which can cause cancer.
Court Actions and Compensation
Users all around the country have filed many lawsuits against J&J for the health complications caused by their products. Over the past decade, J&J has consistently lost these suits and has been instructed to pay billions in verdicts in talcum powder lawsuits. These lawsuits have led to large amounts of award compensation to plaintiffs.
The most significant award was in 2018 when J&J was ordered to pay $4.7 billion to a group of 22 women. The plaintiffs claimed the company’s talcum powder caused their ovarian cancer. The company appealed for the penalty to be reduced to approximately $2 billion.
Call an Attorney to Discuss Dangerous Products
Talcum powder has been linked to numerous life-changing conditions. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with potentially harmful products such as the alleged side effects of Talcum Powder, you may be entitled to compensation. The experienced lawyers at O’Connor, Acciani & Levy could offer valuable legal advice and support. Contact us today to learn more about Product Liability lawsuits and discuss your situation.