O’Connor, Acciani and Levy is reviewing claims on behalf of victims who developed ovarian cancer after using Johnson & Johnson’s talcum powder products Baby Powder and Shower-to-Shower for feminine hygiene. If you or someone you love developed ovarian cancer after long-term use of a talc-based product, you may be entitled compensation. O’Connor, Acciani and Levy’s experienced class action attorneys will provide you with a free, no obligation consultation to review your claim. Our dedicated team of Cincinnati talcum powder lawyers will work tirelessly to investigate your claim and determine if you are entitled to file a class action lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson. We work only on a contingency fee basis, which means you only have to pay us if you recover compensation for your case.
WHAT IS TALCUM POWDER?
Talcum powder is a soft, refined form of the mineral talc. When talc is crushed into a powder, it easily absorbs moisture and oils, and helps decrease friction. These qualities make talcum powder effective at keeping skin dry and helping to prevent rashes, which has made it a popular material in many cosmetic and personal care products, such as:- Baby Powder
- Shower-to-Shower
- Foot powder
- Deodorant
- Medicated treatments for diaper rash and other skin irritations
- Feminine hygiene products
- Additive to sanitary pads and diapers
HAS TALCUM POWDER BEEN LINKED TO OVARIAN CANCER?
For decades, researchers have studied the potential link between ovarian cancer and using talcum powder products for feminine hygiene. One of the first studies to suggest a link between talcum powder and ovarian cancer was published in the medical journal The Lancet in 1971. Researchers conducting the study found that several ovarian tumors contained talc particles deeply embedded within them. Since this study was first published, more than 20 additional studies have found evidence that supports the belief that regularly using talcum powder for feminine hygiene can cause ovarian cancer. A 1999 study by the National Cancer Institute concluded that avoiding talc in genital hygiene may reduce the occurrence of lethal cancer by at least 10 percent. In 2003, an analysis of 16 talc studies concluded that women who used talc for feminine hygiene were 33 percent more likely to develop ovarian cancer than women who did not regularly use these products. In 2013, an analysis of eight case studies found that women who applied talcum powder to their genital area were shown to have a 20 to 30 percent increased risk of developing ovarian cancer. Additionally, a 2016 study showed that 63 percent of African-American women diagnosed with ovarian cancer had dusted themselves with talc. Although the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not declared that talcum powder causes ovarian cancer, many leading international health organizations consider talc-based products to increase the risk for ovarian cancer. Based on the overwhelming evidence presented in researchers’ findings, the International Agency for Research on Cancer has declared talc to be a “possible carcinogen” for women. Furthermore, the Cancer Prevention Coalition has petitioned the FDA seeking cancer warning labels be placed on cosmetic talc-based products to warn users of the potential dangers.HAVE THERE BEEN RECENT TALCUM POWDER LAWSUITS?
Although Johnson & Johnson denies that its products cause women to develop ovarian cancer, thousands of talcum powder lawsuits have been filed against the corporation for failing to warn about the risk of ovarian cancer from using Baby Powder in the genital area. In many of these cases, victims claimed the corporation knew that long-term talc use posed a high risk for developing cancer, but continued to market the product as safe. Between 2016 and 2017, there have been several major victories for victims who file talcum powder lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson, including:- $417 million verdict: In August 2017, a Los Angeles jury awarded $417 million to a 63-year-old woman who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2007. The victim claimed to have used Baby Powder for more than 40 years. The award included $70 million in compensatory damages and $347 million in punitive damages.
- $110 million verdict: In May 2017, a St. Louis jury awarded $110 million to a 62-year-old Virginia woman after her regular use of Baby Powder and Shower-to-Shower over a 40-year period caused her to develop ovarian cancer. The total award included $5 million in compensatory damages and $105 million in punitive damages.
- $70 million verdict: In October 2016, a St. Louis jury awarded $70 million to a California woman who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2012 after regularly using Baby Powder for several decades.
- $55 million verdict: In May 2016, a Missouri jury awarded $55 million to a South Dakota woman in a lawsuit filed against Johnson & Johnson. The jury awarded her $5 million in compensatory damages and $50 million in punitive damages.
- $72 million verdict: In February 2016, a Missouri jury ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $72 million to the family of a 62-year-old Alabama woman who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer after using talc-based products for feminine hygiene for more 35 years. Unfortunately, the victim died from cancer in 2015, and her family was awarded $10 million in compensatory damages and $62 million in punitive damages.
WHEN CAN I FILE A TALCUM POWDER LAWSUIT?
To determine if you are entitled to file a talcum powder lawsuit, our attorneys will review several details of your illness:- Were you diagnosed with an ovarian-based cancer?
- Did you regularly use a talc-based product, such as Baby Powder, for a period of more than five years?
- Do you have a genetic disorder that pre-disposes you to ovarian cancer?
- Did you dust your genital area with talcum powder on a daily basis?
- Do you have a positive biopsy showing evidence of talcum powder in your system?
