Earlier this month, Big Pharma giant Johnson & Johnson (J&J) scored a victory in its ongoing talcum powder litigation when a California jury rejected a woman’s claims that her cancer was caused by the company’s well-known baby powder.
The verdict, reached after a seven-week trial in Humboldt County, involved one plaintiff who claimed she developed mesothelioma, a rare and deadly form of cancer linked to asbestos exposure, after using J&J’s baby powder. Although the jury agreed she had been exposed to asbestos-tainted talcum powder, they stated it was not a substantial factor in causing her cancer.
While J&J may have prevailed in this particular case, the pharmaceutical company is still facing close to 12,000 pending lawsuits in the U.S. over its baby powder and other talc-based products. Over 9,000 of those cases involve claims over ovarian cancer. Some of the latest developments in the years-long litigation include:
J&J has been cleared of liability in three other mesothelioma cases, has had four mesothelioma cases result in mistrials (including a South Carolina case that ended in a deadlocked jury in early November), and has filed appeals in cases it has lost.
The company also continues to deny claims that its talcum-based products – including its signature baby powder, Shower to Shower powder, and others – cause cancer. According to plaintiffs and a number of scientific studies cited in these cases, however, women who use the company’s talc-based products and powders on a regular basis for feminine hygiene are 33% more likely to develop ovarian cancer than those who do not.
If you believe you have a potential claim involving cancer that may have been caused by the use of J&J baby powder or other talcum powder products, you may have the right to seek financial compensation for your losses. J&J has been aggressive in its approach to battling talcum powder lawsuits, but the growing number of claims and scientific studies connecting talc-based products to higher risks of cancer provide strength and legitimacy to victims’ allegations.
As a nationally renowned law firm comprised of attorneys with significant experience representing victims and families harmed by defective products and dangerous pharmaceuticals, Bailey Cowan Heckaman PLLC is available to help you learn more about your rights and legal options. Contact us to speak with an attorney. Consultations are free and confidential.