Johnson and Johnson’s baby powder — a seemingly innocuous product — is now the subject of intense legal allegations. For years, the company has been confronted by claims that its powder, which includes the ingredient talc, has caused ovarian cancer.
Talc is a mineral that contains magnesium, silicon, and oxygen. It absorbs moisture well, so it’s used in a lot of products meant to prevent rashes, like hygienic powders for adult women. But researchers have found talc might be very dangerous. Some studies have connected talcum powder and ovarian cancer.
This past week, Johnson and Johnson landed in even hotter water. Reuters reported that the company has long been aware that its baby powder might have contained or been contaminated with small amounts of asbestos, a known carcinogen.
There is a tragic story at the heart of the Reuters report: In 1999, Darlene Coker died of mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer typically linked to asbestos exposure. For many who have suffered from it, the link is clear: men who inhaled the dust in industries like shipbuilding were often diagnosed. But how had Coker been exposed? As her body weakened, she wanted answers.
Coker’s lawyer honed in on Johnson and Johnson’s Baby Powder, which his client had used on herself and her children throughout her life. She sued J&J, alleging that the powder’s talc had cost her her life. J&J vehemently denied the claim, and Coker was forced to drop the suit.
20 years later, J&J has been forced to share materials that would have come in handy during Coker’s case. The company recently turned over thousands of pages of confidential documents, including memos and internal reports, for more than 11,700 plaintiffs who have claimed the talc caused their cancer. This includes thousands of women with ovarian cancer.
From the Reuters report:
“A Reuters examination of many of those documents, as well as deposition and trial testimony, shows that from at least 1971 to the early 2000s, the company’s raw talc and finished powders sometimes tested positive for small amounts of asbestos, and that company executives, mine managers, scientists, doctors and lawyers fretted over the problem and how to address it while failing to disclose it to regulators or the public.”
Our Memphis personal injury lawyers are currently taking talcum powder cases.
Our Memphis personal injury lawyers are currently taking talcum powder cases. If a woman you know has used Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder or shower to shower product consistently and developed ovarian cancer, you may be entitled to compensation. Contact me today to discuss your situation for free.
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