Mercury News Investigation by Ethan Baron Exposes Worsening Bay Area Silicosis Crisis Tied to Crystalline Silica Artificial Stone
March 19, 2026
A Los Angeles County jury has delivered a significant $12.75 million verdict to the family of a local physician who died from mesothelioma after decades of using talc-based cosmetic products contaminated with asbestos. The decision highlights continuing concerns regarding asbestos in consumer talc products—an issue documented for nearly a century.
A Long-Known Risk Hidden from Consumers
On March 4, 2026, jurors found that Port Jervis Laboratories, Inc. (formerly operating as Kolmar Laboratories) failed to warn users about the asbestos hazards present in cosmetic talc. Evidence presented at trial showed that the company had been aware of contamination risks for decades yet continued manufacturing talc-based products marketed under the “Jafra” brand without disclosing the danger.
Historical records and internal documents demonstrated that worries about asbestos in talc stretch back to at least the 1930s. Despite this, the company and its subsidiaries allegedly withheld critical safety information from those who relied on their products every day.
A Physician’s Tragic Story
The case centered on Dr. Rosalinda Flores Soto, a Los Angeles physician who regularly used Jafra-brand cosmetic powders between 1980 and 1996. She was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma in December 2017 and tragically passed away in April 2021.
Her family brought the lawsuit on her behalf, arguing that she never had the chance to know the risks she faced. The jury agreed—finding that the company’s failure to warn directly contributed to her preventable exposure.
Mesothelioma: A Preventable Cancer
Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. While historically associated with industrial settings, growing evidence shows that consumers can face the same deadly danger when common products—such as cosmetic powders—contain contaminated talc.
This verdict serves as another reminder that asbestos exposure does not only occur in shipyards, construction sites, or factories. Everyday use of certain talc-based products has left countless unsuspecting individuals at risk.
Case Information
Case: Abel Eduardo Vasquez Hernandez, individually and as successor-in-interest to Rosalinda Flores Soto, deceased, et al. v. Jafra Cosmetics International et al.
Court: Superior Court of California, Los Angeles County