TALCUM POWDER LAWSUITS

There have been more than 53,000 talcum powder lawsuits filed by people across the United States who developed ovarian cancer, mesothelioma, and other types of cancers because of prolonged use or exposure to talc and talc-based products such as Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder and “Shower to Shower.“

Of the total number of lawsuits to date, over 38,000 have been filed against Johnson & Johnson. Documents show J&J was aware of the cancer link as far back as 1982 but did not warn consumers of the risks. While J&J denies liability and insists it did not sell cancer-causing products, it stopped the sale of talc-based Johnson’s Baby Powder in North America. In 2023, it switched to a cornstarch-based alternative and discontinued worldwide sales of talc-based Baby Powder.

Attorney Ethan Vessels accepts talcum powder lawsuits in both Ohio and West Virginia. If you or a loved has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer or mesothelioma please contact Ethan Vessels for a free, no obligation consultation. He can be reached by calling 740-374-5346 or sending a message here from this website.

Many people who develop ovarian cancer or mesothelioma after long-term use or exposure to talc have filed product liability lawsuits against manufacturers, suppliers, distributors and even retailers such as Target, Walmart, Walgreens, and CVS. When the cancer is terminal and victims succumb to the disease, families may act by filing wrongful death claims.

Talc is used in many households and industrial products, including personal hygiene powders, cosmetics, food additives, astringents, and lubricants. Talc is popular because it helps absorb moisture and prevent friction.

Some of the most popular brand names of talcum powder products include:

• Baby Powder
• Shower to Shower
• Baby Magic

Women are the most frequent users of talc-based powders due to its ability to prevent moisture, making the product useful for personal hygiene.

Workers who helped mine and mill the talc often suffer from pneumonia, asthma, and even lung cancer.

Because the talc in the powder does not dissolve easily, it can settle within the reproductive organs of a woman and eventually form cancerous tumors. The Cancer Prevention Research Journal reported that women who use talcum powder regularly have a 20-30% higher risk of acquiring cancer in their ovaries than women who have not used the powder. Statistics from the American Cancer Society show that approximately 14,000 women in the United States die from ovarian cancer each year. 

Since 2016, different juries throughout the United States have heard the evidence presented in talcum powder cases and awarded significant verdicts to the people who were injured because of their talcum powder use or exposure. To avoid the courtroom, manufacturers have also resolved lawsuits with settlements.

These are some of the most notable verdicts and settlements to date:

2016

• A jury held Johnson & Johnson responsible for the death of Jacqueline Fox. Ms. Fox had been using talcum powder products for personal hygiene for over 35 years. The total award was $72 million, including $62 million in punitive damages.

• A jury agreed with Gloria Ristesund's claim that her use of Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder caused her ovarian cancer. The jury awarded her $55 million.

• A California jury awarded a $70 million verdict to Deborah Giannecchini. She had used talcum powder products for more than 40 years and developed ovarian cancer. $65 million of the verdict was for punitive damages.
  

2017

• A St. Louis jury awarded $110 million to Louis Slemp. She had used baby powder for more than 40 years and suffered from ovarian cancer that spread to her liver.

• A jury awarded Eva Echeverria $417 million. Ms. Echeverria used baby powder daily since the 1950s. She was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer. The jury’s verdict included $68 million in compensatory damages and $340 million in punitive damages.

• Colgate-Palmolive agreed to a confidential settlement with Carol Schoeniger. The plaintiff blamed the company’s talc-based products for her asbestos exposure and mesothelioma.

2018

• Joanne Anderson was awarded $25 million by a jury. Ms. Anderson was diagnosed with mesothelioma that she claimed was caused by her inhaling talcum powder when using on her children and while she bowled.

• A jury awarded 22 women a total verdict of $4.6 billion for causing their ovarian cancer due to frequent use of baby powder products.

• Colgate-Palmolive settled with Paul Garcia, who claimed his mesothelioma was from using baby powder made by former Colgate-Palmolive affiliate Mennen.

• Vanderbilt Minerals LLC settled a potential $11.5 million lawsuit with Robert Lord, a former tile worker. The plaintiff attributed his mesothelioma to inhaling asbestos in the company’s industrial talc products.
  

2019

• A California jury awarded $30 million to Teresa Leavitt. She was diagnosed with mesothelioma, which the jury found was caused using talcum powder.
  

2020

• A Miami, Florida jury found Johnson & Johnson liable for a woman’s mesothelioma, ordering the company to pay $9 million.

• A New Jersey jury found Johnson & Johnson liable for $750 million in damages to four plaintiffs who were diagnosed with mesothelioma. However, state law limited the total award to $186.5 million. 
  

2021

• The U.S. Supreme Court affirmed a $2 billion verdict against J&J in a case involving 22 people in different states who have cancer. Plaintiffs’ attorneys had shown J&J’s prior knowledge and internal discussion of asbestos contamination in its talc products.
  

2022

• A Los Angeles Superior Court jury awarded Rita Chapman $10 million in compensatory damages in a verdict against Avon Products Inc. Chapman attributed her cancer to using Avon’s talc-based cosmetics and had earlier been awarded $40 million.
  

2023

• In a lawsuit against former talc supplier Whittaker, Clark & Daniels, a South Carolina jury awarded $29.14 million to a woman who linked her mesothelioma to the use of asbestos-contaminated talc products.

• A California jury awarded $18.8 million to 24-year-old Emory Hernandez Valadez, who claimed J&J's baby powder led him to develop pericardial mesothelioma.

• Johnson & Johnson proposed an $8.9 billion settlement to approximately 60,000 plaintiffs.

• Emtal reached a $72.5 million settlement with workers who developed asbestos-linked lung cancer after exposure to talc.
  

For more than sixteen years, people in Ohio and West Virginia have been contacting Ethan Vessels for legal advice, guidance, and representation when they develop diseases like ovarian cancer and mesothelioma because of using or being exposed to harmful products like talcum powder or asbestos.

Given the complexities associated with these types of lawsuits, an attorney with his experience, reputation, and resources is needed. Ethan is a proven trial attorney who adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards. His focus is representing those who have been injured due to the negligent actions of others, including companies who manufacture talc-based products.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer or mesothelioma, please contact Ethan Vessels for a free, no obligation consultation. He will answer all your questions and provide you with the feedback you need to decide whether you should pursue a talcum powder lawsuit and the amount of time you have remaining to file a claim. The meeting and its details will be kept strictly confidential.

When he accepts talcum powder cases in either Ohio or West Virginia, he typically works on a contingent fee basis, which means there is no fee for his legal services until and unless a settlement or verdict is reached.