June 21, 2019 - Johnson & Johnson—who often refer to themselves as the most trusted pharmaceutical company in the world—is facing thousands of lawsuits which claim J & J’s baby powder with talc, when used for feminine hygiene purposes, caused their ovarian cancer. J & J has consistently denied that their baby powder with talc or Shower to Shower with talc could cause ovarian cancer. Even so, the company which sells talc to J & J added their own warning on their bags of talc which stated perineal use of talcum powder was a potential risk factor for ovarian cancer.
Deane Berg was the first woman to file a lawsuit against J & J; Berg was diagnosed with ovarian cancer at the age of 49, after using J & J’s baby powder with talc in the perineal area for more than three decades. Dr. Daniel Cramer, who has studied the issue of talcum powder and ovarian cancer for many years said about Berg’s claim, “to a reasonable degree of medical and epidemiologic certainty, chronic talc use was the major cause of her invasive serous ovarian cancer…” Berg was offered a substantial settlement, but turned it down because the settlement would have prohibited her from warning other women about the dangers of talcum powder.
Five St. Louis, Missouri cases and one California case quickly followed—all won by the plaintiffs. In 2016, the family of Jacqueline Fox won a $72 million wrongful death claim against J & J. Months after the Fox trial, Gloria Ristesund was awarded a $55 million settlement in her product liability claim against J & J. Deborah Giannecchini received a $67.5 million jury verdict after using J & J baby powder with talc for four decades, then in May 2017, Lois Slemp was awarded more than $110 million. In August 2017 a California jury awarded Plaintiff Eva Echeverria $417 million for her ovarian cancer claim, and in July 2018, another St. Louis jury awarded $550 million in actual damages and $4.14 billion in punitive damages to 22 women who alleged J & J baby powder with talc was responsible for their ovarian cancer.
Risk Factors for Ovarian Cancer - As you might expect, Johnson & Johnson is appealing these decisions, continuing to claim their J & J baby powder with talc is perfectly safe. Additionally, J & J has attempted to shift the blame for the plaintiffs’ ovarian cancer diagnoses, pointing to a variety of other risk factors. A 1989 study in England attempted to determine risk factors for ovarian cancer. This study found an increased risk of ovarian cancer for women with no children or a 1st pregnancy after the age of 35, for women going through menopause after the age of 50, and for women suffering from infertility. The study also found that women using talc more than once a week had twice the risk of developing ovarian cancer.
A 1983 study found the following to be risks for ovarian cancer: women who had fewer pregnancies or no pregnancies, a family history of ovarian cancer, a family history of breast cancer, high blood pressure, and obesity. A 1998 study of women between the ages of 20 and 69 found that having no pregnancies increased the risk of ovarian cancer and that talc use for feminine hygiene also increased the risk of ovarian cancer, while tubal ligations and hysterectomies decreased the risk of ovarian cancer. A 1992 Chinese study found that the fewer childbirths—or having no children—increased the risk of ovarian cancer and that long-term use of talc on the lower abdomen and perineal area also increased the risk of ovarian cancer. The Chinese study further found that occupational exposure to heavy metals increased the risk of ovarian cancer and that women with a serum mumps virus antibody had a higher risk of ovarian cancer.
How a Baby Powder Ovarian Cancer Attorney Can Help - Women who have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer after using Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder with talc, for feminine hygiene purposes, could benefit from speaking to a baby powder ovarian cancer lawyer. There are statutes of limitations for product liability claims, therefore you will want to ensure your claim is properly preserved. A baby powder ovarian cancer lawyer can investigate your claim and make sure it is filed in a timely manner. Contact a well-qualified baby powder ovarian cancer lawyer today regarding your talcum powder ovarian cancer.