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Talc Powder Mesothelioma Lawsuit

Talc Powder Mesothelioma Lawsuit

Johnson’s Baby Powder, Cashmere Bouquet, Old Spice, and other talcum powder products that contain asbestos are linked to mesothelioma, a rare but often deadly lung cancer.

What You Can Do & How We Can Help

The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting talc powder induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was diagnosed with mesothelioma, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Product Liability Litigation Group or call us toll-free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

UPDATE: $19 Million Awarded to Man With Mesothelioma

In July 2023, a jury in California awarded nearly $19 million to a 24-year-old man who developed mesothelioma after being exposed to Johnson’s Baby Powder as a child.

Johnson & Johnson Offers $8.9 Billion Talc Settlement

In April 2023, Johnson & Johnson offered to pay an $8.9 billion settlement to resolve about 60,000 lawsuits involving people who developed mesothelioma or ovarian cancer after using talcum powder products.

Jury Awards $4.8 Million in Old Spice Cancer Lawsuit

In April 2021, a jury in California awarded $4.8 million to a 78-year-old Vietnam War veteran who developed mesothelioma after 22 years of using Old Spice Talcum Powder every day. His lawyers accused talc supplier Whittaker Clark & Daniels of selling talc from a mine in North Carolina that was contaminated by asbestos.

Chanel Hit With Talcum Powder Mesothelioma Lawsuit in New York

In May 2020, a woman who was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2019 filed a lawsuit against Chanel for failing to warn about the risk of cancer from asbestos contamination in talc products. The woman says she used Chanel’s after-bath talcum powder for nearly 30 years, from 1965 to 1991. Click here to read more.

Jury Awards $40 Million in Talc Mesothelioma Trial

In September 2019, jury in California awarded $40 million to Nancy C., a woman who developed mesothelioma after using Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower-to-Shower that she claims were contaminated with asbestos particles. Click here to read more.

Other Mesothelioma Jury Verdicts

  • $325 Million: In June 2019, a jury ordered Johnson & Jonson to pay $325 million to Donna Olson, a woman who developed mesothelioma after years of using Johnson’s Baby Powder.
  • $30 Million: In March 2019, a jury in California ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay a $29.5 million to a woman who developed mesothelioma after using baby powder that contained asbestos.
  • $37 Million: In April 2018, a jury awarded $37 million to man who developed mesothelioma after using talcum powder manufactured by Johnson & Johnson for several decades.
  • $18 Million: In October 2016, a jury in California awarded $18 million to Philip Depoian, a man from Los Angeles who was diagnosed with mesothelioma in May 2015.
  • $13 Million: In April 2015, a jury awarded $13 million to a woman who was diagnosed with mesothelioma 40 years after she stopped using Cashmere Bouquet, a talcum powder product for adult women made by Colgate-Palmolive.

Does Talc Contain Asbestos?

Talcum powder and asbestos are both silicates, but they have different crystalline structures. They often naturally occur in the same mineral deposits. Before the 1970s, it was not uncommon for talc products to also contain small amounts of asbestos. Even today, the FDA cannot prove that most or all talc-containing cosmetics are asbestos-free.

Does Asbestos-Tainted Talc Cause Mesothelioma?

Yes. “Talc that has asbestos is generally accepted as being able to cause cancer if it is inhaled,” according to the American Cancer Society. Exposure to asbestos is the leading cause of mesothelioma.

How Does Asbestos Cause Cancer?

Asbestos is a known carcinogen. Under a microscope, fibers of asbestos look like needle-like splinters or bundles of twisted fibers. When these fibers are inhaled, they get trapped in the bottom part of the lungs. Eventually, they can become embedded in the lungs and cause inflammation. This can lead to lung cancer and mesothelioma.

Studies Linking Talc and Mesothelioma

In October 2014, a study published in the International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Health traced fibers of asbestos from a contaminated talcum mine into a cosmetic product that was used by a woman who developed mesothelioma.

Researchers also conducted experiments to show that dangerous amounts of asbestos can be inhaled when talcum powder is dusted in a confined space, such as a bathroom. They warned:

“The inhalation of talc may cause lung fibrosis in the form of granulomatose nodules called talcosis. Exposure to talc has also been suggested as a causative factor in the development of ovarian carcinomas, gynecological tumors, and mesothelioma.”

What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining around the lungs, stomach, heart, and other abdominal organs. Most cases are associated with asbestos exposure. The disease has a long latency — up to 40 years in some cases — but 60% of cases are fatal within the first year of diagnosis.

Warning Signs & Symptoms of Mesothelioma

  • Dry cough
  • Shortness of breath
  • Painful breathing
  • Chest wall pain
  • Excess fluid around the lungs (pleural effusion)
  • Fever
  • Excess sweating
  • Unexplained weight-loss
  • Loss of appetite
  • Heart murmur
  • And more

Do I have a Talcum Powder Mesothelioma Lawsuit?

The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting talc powder induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was diagnosed with mesothelioma, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Product Liability Litigation Group or call us toll-free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.

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