Talcum Mesothelioma Lawsuit 2023
Victims of the dreaded talcum powder mesothelioma finally found justice after filing a lawsuit. After almost four decades of legal battles, even those who were harmed back in the ‘60s and ‘70s have been rewarded by courts and juries across the country with substantial compensations.
Talcum powder, in fact, has been used for decades as a popular cosmetic in both infants and adults due to its silky texture and pleasant smell. Although many people used it for personal hygiene, the public was never warned that talc particles contained asbestos, a dangerous substance linked to lung cancer.
If you suffered a similar fate or lost a family member to this lethal malignancy, it’s time to seek proper compensation. File a litigation today, and take part in one of the oldest civil actions in the U.S. history.
Wasn’t Talcum Powder Free of Asbestos Fibers?
Talc is a fibrous, white powder made of heavily refined hydrated magnesium silicate that is widely used as a lubricant and to absorb moisture. As a cosmetic, it’s most appreciated for its ability to absorb bad smells and keep the skin dry when sprinkled on underwear, shoes and after changing infant diapers. Talcum can be used by direct application on the skin, dusted or sprinkled over underwear, o through swabs diapers, and sanitary pads.
Although natural talc may contain asbestos, the purified power used today in most cosmetics is free of this known carcinogen. Back in the ‘70s, however, things were very different. Asbestos was, in fact, banned in talc products only in 1973. In the subsequent years, though, many talc-based cosmetics were still found containing up to 20% of dangerous fibers of this mineral known for its carcinogenic powers. People who used it back then had no idea of these dangers or, even worse, were just toddlers sprinkled by their mothers.
Why is Asbestos Dangerous and What is Mesothelioma?
Asbestos fibers look like minuscule needles that bundle together in twisted fibers. They create a dust made of tiny and light particles that float in the air. When talcum powder containing this mineral is sprinkled, some of these fibers are inevitably inhaled. Once breathed, they lodge deeply inside the patient’s lungs where they become embedded for years to come. First, they cause a progressive inflammation known as asbestosis. Later, this condition may eventually evolve to lung cancer or mesothelioma, a deadly malignancy of the lining tissues around the lungs, chest wall and abdomen.
In particular, asbestos-containing talc is even more dangerous when dusted in a confined space, such as a bathroom. The potentially lethal diseases have a long latency: up to 40 years after exposure. However, once it manifests, about 60% of patients die within the first year of diagnosis.
2023 State of Talcum Mesothelioma & Lung Cancer Legal Proceedings
Several companies such as Johnson & Johnson and Colgate-Palmolive Co. manufactured and marketed talcum-based products that contained asbestos in the past. To speed up the legal proceedings, thousands of talcum powder lawsuits filed across the country have been centralized in a large Talcum Powder Multidistrict Litigation (MDL No. 2738) that counts over 6,000 total cases. The consolidated product liability litigation is underway in the U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey, and it’s overseen by Honorable Judges Freda L. Wolfson and Lois H. Goodman.
Although most of these cases involve other forms of cancer (mostly ovarian cancer), many plaintiffs have already been rewarded by the juries. For example, back in November 2017, Colgate-Palmolive Co. agreed to settle a lawsuit filed by a Pennsylvania plaintiff who developed mesothelioma after using Cashmere Bouquet, a cosmetic product containing asbestos, for more than 20 years.
In April 2018, a jury in the Middlesex County, New Jersey, ordered the manufacturers to pay $80 million in punitive damages to a banker after he was diagnosed a potentially fatal tumor linked with 30 years of using talcum powder.
Update January 3rd, 2023: Johnson&Johnson is expected to face three times as many baby-powder trials compared to last year. At the moment of writing they are facing more than 11,700 claims.
Did Johnson & Johnson Know About the Risks of Talcum?
According to the documentation presented by many plaintiffs who filed a lawsuit against Johnson and Johnson, the company knew about the risks associated with talcum for more than 40 years. The pharmaceutical giant intentionally sealed classified information trying to hide all the evidence that linked their product with cancer.
In 2016, a jury from South Dakota confirmed those risks, however, and found J&J guilty of negligence in warning the public about the dangers of talc use in the genital area. The company was also found responsible for conspiracy, and was ordered to pay about $130 million in punitive and compensatory damage to the families of two women who died of cancer after using their product for years.
Why you Should File a Talcum Powder Lawsuit Today
If you or a loved one has been a victim of a talcum powder mesothelioma or lung cancer, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit. You can seek relief for all the damage you suffered, including:
- Medical expenses, including money spent to pay chemotherapy agents
- Physical and psychological suffering
- Lost wages
- Funeral expenses
- Loss of consortium
By filing a civil action, you’re not just protecting your own rights by seeking a just compensation for all you’ve gone through. You’re walking the extra mile by helping us hold liable those who conspired for years against the health of countless American citizens by hiding the truth.