Brayton Purcell LLP

Call For A Free Consultation
800-598-0314

Call For A Free Consultation 800-598-0314

Brayton Purcell LLP
  • Home
  • Firm Overview
    • Our Beliefs
      • Giving Back
      • Our Associations And Memberships
      • The Right To Trial By Jury
    • Regions Served
    • Careers
    • Our Employees Pets
    • Press Releases
  • Attorneys
  • Practice Areas
    • Mesothelioma/Asbestos
    • Personal Injury/Wrongful Death
    • Toxic Substances
    • Estate Planning
    • Other Areas Of Practice
  • Court Successes
    • Trial Verdicts
    • Appeals
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Home
  • Firm Overview
    • Our Beliefs
      • Giving Back
      • Our Associations And Memberships
      • The Right To Trial By Jury
    • Regions Served
    • Careers
    • Our Employees Pets
    • Press Releases
  • Attorneys
  • Practice Areas
    • Mesothelioma/Asbestos
    • Personal Injury/Wrongful Death
    • Toxic Substances
    • Estate Planning
    • Other Areas Of Practice
  • Court Successes
    • Trial Verdicts
    • Appeals
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • Contact

Johnson & Johnson Loses millions in Lawsuit Over Dangers of Talc

by Brayton Purcell LLP | Feb 25, 2016 | Product Liability

If you have read this blog before, you may remember previous posts we have written about talc. The substance that is the basis of baby powder and many similar products is benign on its own, but is sometimes contaminated with asbestos. Most American manufacturers of personal care products claim that their talc is asbestos-free, but this is difficult for companies to certify when their talc was purchased from suppliers outside the United States.

mined talcum

Talc may also be associated with another danger for women: ovarian cancer. Many health professionals in recent decades have found a correlation between the use of talc for feminine hygiene and an elevated risk of ovarian cancer. It is unclear if asbestos contamination plays any role in this correlation, but companies like Johnson & Johnson continue to assert that talc is completely safe.

Johnson & Johnson may be losing that argument in the courtroom. Recently, a jury in St. Louis awarded $72 million in damages to the family of a woman who died of ovarian cancer in 2015. Actual damages accounted for $10 million of the award while the rest was for punitive damages against J&J. The company is currently facing pending lawsuits from approximately 1,200 more plaintiffs.

Although the direct connection between talc and ovarian cancer has not been fully established, J&J has known about the observed link for a long time. In 1997, for instance, a medical consultant for the company circulated an internal memo saying that denying the risk of ovarian cancer for women who use hygienic talc is “denying the obvious in the face of all evidence to the contrary.”

Like the countless individuals who have suffered health problems caused by exposure to asbestos, women suing for talc-related diseases may be facing an uphill battle. But both battles are worth fighting, especially with the help of dedicated and experienced attorneys.

Recent Posts

  • EPA Risk Evaluation for Chrysotile Asbestos
  • Caring for Someone with Mesothelioma: What to Know
  • 2020 shows promise in the fight for a mesothelioma cure
  • Asbestos in Makeup Products Is a Problem That Is Not Going Away
  • How Did I Get Mesothelioma?

Archives

Categories

RSS Feed

Subscribe To This Blog’s Feed

Free Consultation

Take The First Step In Resolving Your Issue. Send Us An Email.

Email Us For A Response

San Francisco
Bay Area Office

222 Rush Landing Road Novato, CA 94945

Novato Office
222 Rush Landing Road
Novato, CA 94945
Toll Free: 800-598-0314
Phone: 415-898-1555
Fax: 415-898-1247

Map & Directions

Southern California
Office

12 28th Street Venice, California 90291

Los Angeles Office
12 28th Street
Venice, California 90291
Toll Free: 800-598-0314
Phone: 415-898-1555
Fax: 415-898-1247

Map & Directions
  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow
  • Follow

© 2021 Brayton Purcell LLP. All Rights Reserved.

Disclaimer | Site Map | Privacy Policy | Business Development Solutions by FindLaw, part of Thomson Reuters

Review Us