For decades, people trusted talc powder as a supposedly safe health and beauty solution. People used it to avoid odors and prevent moisture accumulation. In fact, Johnson & Johnson even marketed talc powder as baby powder. Countless parents sprinkled the powder inside the diapers of their newborns. They may have encouraged their children to continue using the product to minimize moisture and odors as they matured and went through puberty. Some of the people who consistently used talc powder have since developed major medical issues.
Specifically, they have developed mesothelioma, a deadly form of cancer. Medical research has established a clear connection between contaminated talc powder and mesothelioma risk. Individuals diagnosed with mesothelioma have begun taking legal action against businesses that distribute talc powder to consumers. A court ruling out of Connecticut is just the most recent of dozens of cases where people have prevailed against this powerful company in civil court.
After decades of use, the plaintiff developed cancer
Most people assume that products marketed for health and beauty purposes are safe. The idea that an item branded as baby powder could contain a carcinogen seems ludicrous. However, internal records from Johnson & Johnson indicate the company was aware of potential contamination decades ago. The company did not make any disclosures to consumers and continues to insist its products were fully safe.
However, some people who routinely use talc powder products have since developed mesothelioma. This aggressive form of cancer has a strong association with asbestos exposure, and independent testing has found asbestos in talc products in some cases. Mesothelioma is difficult to treat and deadly in the vast majority of cases.
As more research has connected talc products to mesothelioma, people facing a grim diagnosis have decided to take legal action. This most recent case involves a male customer who reportedly used talc powders for decades. A jury in Connecticut decided in his favor and ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $15 million in compensation.
This case is just the most recent of many successful lawsuits attempting to hold Johnson & Johnson accountable for exposing consumers to a known carcinogen. People struggling to make sense of a mesothelioma diagnosis may eventually realize that talc powder use may be to blame for their condition. Pursuing a lawsuit can help people pay for their treatment and support their families when their health prevents them from working.