Earlier this year, a jury in St. Louis awarded the family of a woman who died of ovarian cancer $72 million in damages following a pharmaceutical product liability lawsuit alleging baby powder causes ovarian cancer. The $72 million verdict included actual damages of $10 million and punitive damages of $62 million. The woman filed the suit against Johnson & Johnson, the makers of the baby powder, before her death. She was one of several other women who sued J&J after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer linked to their use of J&J baby powder products.
During the woman’s trial, her attorneys argued that Johnson & Johnson had known for years about the cancer risk associated with the talc used in its products, which include Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower to Shower. In addition, her attorneys claimed that despite knowing about the cancer risk, J&J failed to inform its customers of the dangers of using its products for the purpose of feminine hygiene. An internal memo from 1997 from a J&J medical consultant referenced during the trial, revealed that there were concerns raised within the company that talc powder and cancer were linked.
Talcum Powder Ovarian Cancer Lawsuits Against Johnson & Johnson Mounting
The $72 million jury award in St. Louis was just the tip of the iceberg. Over 1,200 cases have been filed against Johnson & Johnson, and that number continues to grow. In fact, there has been a motion filed requesting that all federal claims be combined into multidistrict litigation (MDL).
In some cases, mass torts are combined into a MDL. Mass tort lawsuits involve several individuals who file separate lawsuits against the same party. MDLs gather all the cases involved in a mass tort lawsuit throughout the country and bring them before one judge to handle those cases during the pre-trial period. In essence, this helps each plaintiff build a stronger case by coordinating case strategies and arguments. Once the pre-trial period is over in an MDL, the individual cases are returned to their original districts, where each plaintiff can proceed to trial or negotiate a settlement.
Further, class action lawsuits could also be an option for talcum powder ovarian cancer lawsuits. Class action lawsuits allow several individuals to join together to file a legal claim against the same party.
Missouri and Illinois Attorneys for Baby Powder Ovarian Cancer Cases
The Missouri and Illinois pharmaceutical product liability attorneys at Walton Telken, LLC have successfully helped clients who were victims of product liability injuries, both individually and in multidistrict litigation, including recoveries of $7 million and $5.75 million for clients and their families.
If you or someone you love was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and used Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder or Shower to Shower for five years or more, you may be able to hold J&J accountable for your pain and suffering, including recovering financial compensation. Our firm offers free consultations with an experienced personal injury lawyer, where you can have your questions answered and learn what options are available to you and your family without any obligation to hire us. In addition, if you do hire us to represent you, we work on a contingency fee basis. This means we don’t get paid unless we secure a favorable verdict or settlement for you. You and your family do not have to go through this alone. We are here for you. Call now.
The information provided by Walton Telken, LLC in this Blog is not intended to be legal advice, but merely provides general information related to common legal issues. This Blog, and the information contained within it, is Attorney Advertisement. The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely upon advertisements. Past results afford no guarantee of future results. Every case is different and must be judged on its own merits.
