Are There Dangers Associated with Baby Powder?
You may have heard of the many baby powder ovarian cancer lawsuits filed against Johnson & Johnson over the past few years, or you may be one of those harmed by the product. Although Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder with talc is an American icon, developed in the 1890s by J & J scientists, it appears the company may have been aware of the dangers associated with the product for many decades. J & J’s baby powder with talc was bringing in $400 million per year for the company by 2018—likely one of the primary reasons the company continued marketing the product, even after research pointed to the dangers time and time again.
In fact, as far back as the 1930s, it was found that surgeons who dusted their surgical gloves with talcum powder were leaving talc fibers in the abdominal cavities of patients who underwent peritonitis surgery. These talc fibers were causing inflammation in the abdomen and surrounding organs, which, in turn, caused diseases like cancer. In 1971, ovarian tumors removed from women who died from ovarian cancer were found to have talc fibers deeply embedded in them. And, in the 1980s and 90s, research found on more than one occasion that women who used talcum powder for feminine hygiene purposes, and those who sprinkled talcum powder in their sanitary napkins had a considerably higher rate of ovarian cancer.
Are There Lawsuits Against Johnson & Johnson?
The first lawsuit filed against Johnson & Johnson for ovarian cancer caused by talcum powder was in 2009. Since that time, many baby powder ovarian cancer claims have been filed against the company, with some very large awards given to plaintiffs in the cases. Johnson & Johnson has appealed all of these awards, although just recently, a billion-dollar award to 22 women was upheld by a Missouri appeals court (the punitive award portion was decreased, while the original compensatory portion was upheld). Johnson and Johnson stated they will take the case to the Supreme Court. Many of those with current lawsuits (as many as 20,000 have been filed) against Johnson & Johnson are from the state of Iowa.
Has J & J Baby Powder with Talc Been Recalled in the U.S.?
Even though the FDA has declined to recall Johnson & Johnson talc-based products, the company announced in May 2020 they would cease production of their J & J talc-based products in the United States and Canada, including Johnson & Johnson baby powder with talc, and Johnson & Johnson Shower to Shower powder. The company made it clear they do not believe the powders are harmful in any way, rather that they had seen a decline in sales due to the “constant barrage of litigation.” Curiously, in the 80s and 90s, most other manufacturers of talcum powder made the decision to remove talc from their products and replace it with cornstarch. While J & J also manufactured a cornstarch-based powder, they continued to sell their talc-based products as well.
Have the Statutes of Limitations Passed for My Baby Powder Ovarian Cancer Case?
The statutes of limitations govern the amount of time a consumer has to file a product liability claim as a result of a dangerous or defective product. These statutes vary considerably from state to state and can be impacted significantly by a number of issues. Because of this, it is always a good idea to contact an experienced talcum powder ovarian cancer lawyer who can assess all the facts of your potential Des Moines, Iowa baby powder ovarian cancer lawsuit.
How Could Consulting with a De Moines, Iowa Baby Powder Ovarian Cancer Lawyer Be Beneficial?
If you have received a diagnosis of ovarian cancer after using Johnson & Johnson for feminine hygiene purposes, you may have a talcum powder ovarian cancer lawsuit. It is important that you speak to an experienced talcum powder ovarian cancer attorney from the Houston Law Firm of Sullo & Sullo who can help you determine whether filing a baby powder ovarian cancer lawsuit is right for you.