May 5, 2017 — A jury in St. Louis, Missouri has awarded $110.5 million to a woman who developed ovarian cancer after using Johnson & Johnson’s talcum powder products.
The plaintiff is Louis Slemp, 62, a woman from Virginia who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2012 after using Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower-to-Shower for over 40 years. Her cancer recently metastasized to her liver and she was too sick to attend the trial.
Her lawyers accused Johnson & Johnson of selling talc products that were contaminated with asbestos, a known carcinogen. Their talc supplier, Imerys Talc America, was also ordered to pay $100,000. Imerys began labeling its talc as a possible carcinogen in 2006. Those warnings were not added to any products sold by Johnson & Johnson.
It is the 5th talcum powder lawsuit to go to trial in St. Louis. Last year, juries awarded verdicts of $72 million, $55 million, and $70 million in talcum powder lawsuits. All of the verdicts are being appealed.
In March 2017, the 4th trial broke Johnson & Johnson’s losing streak in St. Louis when a jury did not award damages to plaintiff Nora Daniels. Another 2,000 lawsuits are pending in state and federal court.
Lawyers say the company failed to strengthen warnings or inform women about the risk of using talcum powder on their genital area. Talcum powder was often contaminated with asbestos before 1976. Experts now estimate a 20-30% increased risk of ovarian cancer from the genital use of talcum powder products.
The first case report linking talc and ovarian cancer was published in 1971, when particles of talc were found in tissue samples of women who died of ovarian cancer. The study proved that talc is absorbed by a woman’s reproductive system and accumulates in the ovaries.
Do I have a Baby Powder Cancer Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting talcum powder induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, 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 toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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