California Talcum Powder Lawsuit Update
On Monday, August 21, 2017, a California jury awarded $417 million to a 63-year-old woman who developed ovarian cancer after using Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder for several decades. The award of damages in the talcum powder lawsuit judgment includes $70 million in compensatory damages and $347 million in punitive damages.
Eva Echeverria, of Los Angeles, claimed she had been using talc powder consistently, as part of her daily feminine hygiene routine, from the time she was 11 years old. Echeverria testified that if the product had included a warning label, she would have immediately stopped using it. She ceased use in 2016, after reading a news story about a woman who similarly used talcum powder and subsequently developed ovarian cancer.
California Talcum Powder Lawsuits
Hundreds of similar cases have been filed in California, however, Echeverria’s is the first to be decided. There have been four other verdicts against the manufacturer, Johnson & Johnson, in other states and a case in New Jersey was dismissed. Thousands of cases involving talc powder are in the litigation process in federal and state courts right now.
What is the Relation Between Cancer and Baby Powder?
Johnson & Johnson is under no legal obligation to put a warning label on its talc products. Talcum powder is considered a cosmetic under federal law and as such, it does not have to undergo a review by the FDA like a prescription or over-the-counter drug would. It must, however, be properly labeled with all ingredients listed and other required information. A product “must be safe for use by consumers under labeled or customary conditions of use,” according to the Food and Drug Administration.
The possible risk of ovarian cancer from frequent application of talcum powder in the female genital area is mentioned on the labels of some other baby powders on the market. Over the years, scientific studies have yielded a mix of findings concerning the link between talc powders and ovarian cancer.The genital use of talcum body powder has been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as “possibly carcinogenic to humans.” Talcum powder as a possible carcinogen has not been fully reviewed, according to the American Cancer Society. THe ACS says it is not clear whether or not the use of talc-based products increase cancer risk in females who use the products for feminine hygiene purposes.
Contact Our Talcum Powder Lawsuit Attorneys
If you or a loved one was diagnosed with ovarian cancer after consistently using talcum powder, your right to compensation may expire soon. The statute of limitation can be confusing when it comes to injuries sustained by products and drugs. It is in your best interest to speak with an attorney as soon as possible.
Our talcum powder lawsuit lawyers are well-versed in the law as it applies to dangerous and defective products. We have decades of combined experience and work diligently to fight manufacturers when they are in the wrong. When you suffer a life altering injury, you and your family suffers. We can help you hold the responsible party accountable for their actions and inactions. Contact the talcum powder lawsuit attorneys at Mary Alexander & Associates today for a free initial consultation.
