Dangers Associated with Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder with Talc

Lawsuits continue to mount against Johnson & Johnson as a result of the potential dangers associated with the company’s talc-based products. These talc-based products include J & J’s baby powder with talc—a product most everyone is familiar with—and Shower to Shower with talc. Johnson’s baby powder with talc has been sold for well over a century, despite the fact that there have been reported baby powder ovarian cancer dangers for decades. In the 1970s, talc fibers were found embedded in the ovarian tumors removed from women who had died from ovarian cancer.

A number of research studies also found that talcum powder, when used for feminine hygiene purposes, could result in ovarian cancer. Despite these studies, Johnson & Johnson continued to maintain their talc-based products were perfectly safe. In fact, many other manufacturers of talc-based products switched to cornstarch in place of talc, to ensure the safety of consumers. The first baby powder ovarian cancer lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson was filed in 2009. Later, lawsuits against J & J would be filed that claimed asbestos fibers had been found in the talc products. Since there is no safe level of asbestos, this was another cause for concern, for both women and men who used J & J talcum powder.

Where Does the Baby Powder Ovarian Cancer Litigation in Wilmington, Delaware Stand?

Deane Berg filed the first lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson; while the results were in favor of Berg, she received no settlement. Johnson & Johnson was successful in a handful of the lawsuits which have been heard to date, however, in others, there were significant monetary awards to the plaintiffs—in the double-digit millions for several individual women, and in the billions for one group of 22 women. As was expected, J & J appealed each and every award that was not in their favor. Recently, however, a Missouri Appeals Court upheld the original decision for the 22 women who received both compensatory damages, as well as a substantial punitive award. Johnson & Johnson has vowed to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court.

Because the FDA has little control over cosmetics or beauty products (a category talcum powders fall under), they have not required J & J to recall their talc-based products. That being said, this past May (2020), J & J pulled their baby powder with talc from the U.S. and Canadian markets. A J & J spokesperson stated the company had no safety concerns regarding the powder, but that sales were down as a result of the lawsuits and resulting publicity. There are currently as many as 20,000 lawsuits currently pending against J & J, with many of those lawsuits being filed by those in Delaware, and even Wilmington, Delaware.

Have the Statutes of Limitations Passed for My Baby Powder Ovarian Cancer Case?

You may wonder whether your statutes of limitations have passed if you or a loved one has developed baby powder ovarian cancer after using Johnson & Johnson baby powder with talc. The statutes of limitations provide a specific window of time in which a plaintiff may bring a product liability claim against the company that manufactured the product. These statutes of limitations vary from state to state, so your particular statutes will depend on the state you live in, therefore it can be extremely beneficial for you to speak to an experienced Wilmington, Delaware baby powder ovarian cancer attorney who can discuss the issue with you.

How Could Consulting with a Wilmington, Delaware Baby Powder Ovarian Cancer Lawyer Be Beneficial?

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and you believe J & J’s talc-based products are responsible for that diagnosis, you could benefit from filing a talcum powder ovarian cancer lawsuit. When you speak to an experienced baby powder ovarian cancer attorney from the Houston law firm of Sullo & Sullo, you will be provided all the answers necessary to help you make the decision as to whether you should file a lawsuit against J & J. You can have all your questions answered while we assess the facts surrounding your diagnosis and your potential claim.