Potential Talcum Powder Dangers
Following the focus on the potential dangers of talcum powder, women across the nation may be worried about their health. Whether you have already been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and are now wondering whether the use of talcum powder for feminine hygiene played a role in that diagnosis, or whether you have used talcum powder for feminine hygiene purposes for a significant length of time and are now fearful for your health, you are not alone. In 2013, the first baby powder ovarian cancer lawsuit ended in a verdict for plaintiff Deane Berg, although no damages were awarded. In February 2016 a Missouri jury awarded the family of Jacqueline Fox $72 million--$10 million for compensatory damages and $62 million for punitive damages. Then, just a few short months later, another Missouri jury awarded plaintiff Gloria Ristesund $55 million--$5 million in compensatory damages, and $50 million in punitive damages.
It appears from these awards that the jurors believed Johnson & Johnson was fully aware of the potential risks of talcum powder, yet did not warn women about those dangers. Johnson & Johnson has said they will appeal the decisions, and that there was no need for warnings on their baby powder with talc and Shower to Shower with talc because the products are perfectly safe. Yet researchers in the 1970’s found talc fibers in the ovarian tissues of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and many studies have concluded there is between a 20 and 40 percent increased risk of ovarian cancer among women who use talcum powder for feminine hygiene. If you are one of the many women who used talcum powder for feminine hygiene and are now uncertain of what you need to do, read below for information regarding the statute of limitations in the state of Minnesota.
Understanding the Minnesota Ovarian Baby Powder Cancer State Statute of Limitations
Statutes of limitations are enacted by each state to set forth a specific period of time in which plaintiffs have to bring a lawsuit against a defendant—in this case, a product liability ovarian baby powder cancer lawsuit. Some states also operate under statutes of repose, which bar a cause of action which is not brought within a specific period of time, following the occurrence of a specific event, such as the date on which an alleged defective product is initially manufactured, delivered, purchased or sold. The state of Minnesota has no statute of repose, however under the state’s statute of limitations, an action must be brought within four years of the date on which the injury occurred. Because the ovarian baby powder cancer state statute of limitations can be extremely complex, it could be beneficial to have an experienced ovarian talcum powder cancer attorney to help interpret the statutes correctly.
How the Minnesota Statue of Limitations Applies to Ovarian Baby Powder Cancer Lawsuits
While the statute may sound fairly straightforward, consider the following:
· Does your statute of limitations begin when you discover your talc cancer was caused by Johnson & Johnson?
· Does your statute of limitations begin when Johnson & Johnson admits there is a problem with their talc products?
· Does your statute of limitations begin when the FDA issues a warning regarding the risks of talcum powder and ovarian cancer?
· Does your statute of limitations begin when the FDA issues a recall of talc products, or
· Does your statute of limitations begin when a scanning electron microscope imaging study has verified the presence of talc fibers in your ovarian tissues?
If your diagnosis of ovarian cancer was made more than ten years ago, you could face additional hurdles. Federal law only requires healthcare institutions to keep tissue samples on hand for ten years, after which they are typically destroyed. If this is your situation, it is even more important that you contact an ovarian talc cancer attorney who will send a preservation letter on your behalf to prevent your pathology samples from being destroyed.
Getting Help from a Minnesota Ovarian Talcum Powder Cancer Attorney
An experienced baby powder ovarian cancer attorney can work hard on your behalf to ensure all deadlines are met on your potential ovarian talcum powder lawsuit. If you believe you may have missed a crucial deadline under your state statutes, don’t lose hope. A well-qualified ovarian talc cancer attorney can analyze all the facts of your specific case, then advise you on the best way to move forward. If you are a resident of one of the following Minnesota locales, and you were diagnosed with ovarian cancer after using talcum powder for feminine hygiene, you are encouraged to contact a Minnesota ovarian baby powder cancer lawyer.
· Minneapolis, Minnesota
· Saint Paul, Minnesota
· Rochester, Minnesota
· Duluth, Minnesota
· Bloomington, Minnesota
· Brooklyn Park, Minnesota
· Plymouth, Minnesota
Saint Cloud, Minnesota