A woman suing pharmaceutical titan Johnson & Johnson has been awarded $70 million as the result of a case brought before court in St. Louis. The case was reportedly swung by the revealing of written communications between Johnson & Johnson and their supplier of talcum powder, Imerys, which “proved that the company was aware of the dangers for over 30 years.”  Medical professionals have known for years that repeated use of talcum powder is dangerous to both infants and children, causing symptoms such as difficult breathing. Now, with the help of this court ruling, it has been revealed that repeated talcum use can actually cause a dramatic increase in the likelihood for a woman to develop ovarian cancer.

Approximately one in 70 women will develop ovarian cancer on average. However, women who use talcum powder – which is made from the naturally-occurring clay mineral, talc – as part of a daily feminine hygiene regiment are reportedly 30 to 60% more at risk of developing ovarian cancer than women who do not use talcum powder regularly.  It is the third major payment issued to a plaintiff suing on the grounds that Johnson & Johnson’s talcum powder has caused them life-threatening health complications. The other plaintiffs, which filed in 2014, were awarded $55 million and $72 million. With this verdict, it is almost certain that more cases will come to light.

Aside from these high-profile litigations, Johnson & Johnson is now the subject of multiple class-action lawsuits on behalf of women who used talcum powder. Although not every woman who has used talcum powder regularly has or will develop ovarian cancer, the lawsuits stand as an indication that people are furious that Johnson & Johnson could continue to sell a product with known links to such a deadly disease. Despite the situation, Johnson & Johnson continues to sell its talcum powder products without any warning labels.

Talcum powder dangerous for women and infants

Talcum powder is a product that nearly everybody can remember either their parents, grandparents or themselves using at one point or another. The seemingly innocuous product is used in baby powders and adult powders meant to prevent odor and itching in areas of the body prone to sweating and heat. Many women use the products in their private area, which has been revealed to lead to a potentially increased risk for ovarian cancer.  A Harvard doctor, Daniel Cramer, studied the link between talcum powder and ovarian cancer for 30 years and testified in court that talcum powder “was likely a contributing factor in 10,000 cases of ovarian cancer annually.” The testimony was part of a lawsuit filed by a South Dakota woman in 2006, which ruled that Johnson & Johnson was negligent about the dangers of its product but awarded no damages to the woman, who did develop ovarian cancer as the result of her talcum powder use.

Johnson & Johnson’s knowing negligence is unacceptable

The 2006 case showed that Johnson & Johnson was negligent by distributing a dangerous product, but did absolutely nothing to make them pay for that negligence. They continue to sell this product, and continue to do so without any warning labels or indicators of the risks involved with continuous use of talcum powder.  At Altman & Altman LLP, we consider this to be simply inexcusable. It is no longer a secret or a theory that talcum powder use can, and does, lead to an increased risk of ovarian cancer. Johnson & Johnson has now paid three hefty damages payments as a result of their careless, cavalier attitude regarding this product.

If you, or anybody you love, has experienced ovarian cancer or other health complications as a result of continuous use of talcum powder, contact us right away. We have over 40 years of experience fighting gigantic corporations like Johnson & Johnson that believe they are above proper regulations and standards. We will not rest until you have received the proper compensation. Call us today at 617-492-3000 or toll-free at 800-481-6199.  We are available 24/7 for free consultations and we do not receive a penny unless you are successful in your claim.