Talcum Powder – Ovarian Cancer

St. Louis Talc Powder Lawsuit Attorneys

For many years, countless women faithfully used talcum powder as part of their daily cleaning and hygiene routines. Little did these women know that, in many cases, they were slowly poisoning themselves.  A growing body of evidence suggests that Johnson & Johnson did know about the risk, yet did nothing to protect its customers. This combination explains why these victims might be entitled to substantial compensation.

At SL Chapman, our ovarian cancer powder lawyers have the expertise and dedication to successfully resolve these claims. Our professional team routinely handles a wide range of dangerous medical product claims, so we are quite familiar with the issues involved. Additionally, we firmly believe that if people do their homework, they usually do well on the test. That’s the simple and straightforward approach we use in your talc powder lawsuit.

The Talcum Powder – Asbestos Connection

Geologically, talc and asbestos have a lot in common. They are both fibrous minerals which are highly-prized for their value in consumer and industrial products. Additionally, since they are often found together in the ground, they are often processed at the same facility. So, there is a very high risk of cross-contamination.

The similarities largely end there. For many years, talc has been a prized cosmetic product. This mineral is naturally very soft, and when it’s ground into powder, it is even softer. As a result, talcum powder is a stand-alone product and also a filler in other products, mostly makeup. A few people have severe talc allergies, but for the most part, the product is harmless.

Asbestos was once used as a fireproofing material in ships and buildings. It is still technically legal to use asbestos in the United States. But almost all builders use alternative products, because unlike talc, asbestos is one of the most toxic substances on earth. One fiber is enough to cause mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive form of heart/lung cancer. And, approximately 20,000 of these fibers could fit in the space between Abraham Lincoln’s nose and beard on the penny.

As early as 1972, Johnson & Johson knew of possible talc/asbestos cross-contamination. Yet, the company did not inform the Food and Drug Administration and did nothing to warn its customers of the potential risk.

Talc Powder Lawsuits and Procedural Issues

Generally, the issue in these claims is not mesothelioma but ovarian cancer. This form of cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer fatalities among women. When women apply asbestos-laced talcum powder near their genitals, the microscopic asbestos fibers migrate through their fallopian tubes to their ovaries.

The ovarian cancer incubation period is usually between thirty and forty years. So, by the time these victims are diagnosed, the statute of limitations period has long since expired, in most cases. Generally, the discovery rule applies in these cases. The clock does not start ticking until:

• They know the full extent of their injuries, and
• They connect those injuries to a specific cause.

So, if a victim began using talcum powder in 1980 and received an ovarian cancer diagnosis in 2020, she still file a legal claim for damages in 2022.  Statute of limitations analysis is very complex and depends on each state.  Legal consultation is required.

Your Claim for Damages in an Ovarian Cancer Powder Lawsuit

Most of these matters are Multi-District Litigation matters or in state courts. Since there are thousands of victims, federal courts consolidate the claims for pretrial purposes. In state courts, women often join one another in filing of the claims.The consolidation is good for victims. Plaintiffs can pool their resources against pharmaceutical giants like Johnson & Johnson. Additionally, once one claim settles, it often creates favorable settlement momentum for remaining cases.

If the claim does not settle, it usually goes back to its home jurisdiction for trial. So far, the results in these trials have been very favorable. Some local highlights include a $110 million St. Louis verdict in 2017 and a massive $4.6 billion verdict in St. Louis in 2018. The latter case involved almost two dozen women.

These verdicts include compensation for economic losses, for medical expenses and lost wages.  Cancer treatments usually cost tens of thousands of dollars a month, especially for rare and aggressive cancers like ovarian cancer. Damages also include compensation for pain and suffering and other noneconomic damages.

These cases usually involve significant punitive damages as well. As mentioned, J&J knew about the problem for decades and did nothing. That kind of reckless conduct cries out for punitive damages. Large awards are the only way to get multinational companies like J&J to change the way they do business and stop placing profits over people.

The talc – asbestos connection is real, and it is often deadly. For a free consultation with an experienced personal injury attorney in St. Louis, contact SL Chapman, LLC. We do not charge upfront legal fees in injury cases.