A grieving Georgia family recently filed an asbestos talcum powder cancer lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson after losing their mother to a battle with mesothelioma in 2017 that they claim was caused by the pharmaceutical and cosmetics giant's negligence. The family's lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson and its supplier, Imerys Talc USA, comes just shortly after a report by Reuters detailed a review of thousands of internal company documents showing that the defendants knew for decades about asbestos contamination in its talcum powder products.
According to the talcum powder mesothelioma lawsuit, the victim used talc-based products manufactured by Johnson & Johnson and supplied by Imerys Talc USA that were contaminated with deadly asbestos fibers. Despite knowing full well about the presence of asbestos in its talcum powder products and the risks it could pose to consumers, the defendants declined to provide the public with any warnings on the product labels, according to the lawsuit.
The mesothelioma cancer lawsuit is another in an increasingly long list of claims filed against the company by defendants, mostly women, who developed ovarian cancer or mesothelioma as a result of using Johnson & Johnson talcum powder products. Currently, there are an estimated 12,000 other talcum powder cancer lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson pending in state and federal courts, with several slated for trial in 2019.
Johnson & Johnson has thus far refused to settle any of the lawsuits against it and instead has opted to take the claims in front of juries. A recent report by Reuters claims that the company had testing done, both internally and by outside labs, that showed asbestos contamination in its talc supply. Despite the revelations, Johnson & Johnson continues to maintain that its talc-based products are safe for human consumption and remains steadfast in its denying liability in pending lawsuits.
Both talc and asbestos are naturally occuring minerals, often found in deposits side by side one another. Because of this phenomenon, talc sourcing companies must take great care when mining the talc or otherwise risk asbestos contamination in the supply. Asbestos itself was once commonly used in a variety of industrial and commercial products for its heat resistant properties and ability to be molded into a variety of shapes.
An asbestos talcum powder cancer lawsuit can recover compensation for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering of living with mesothelioma. In cases in which the victim may have passed away, the law generally gives family members the right to continue the claim on behalf of the deceased and recover damages from negligent partites.
Arizona Mesothelioma Lawyer
If you or a loved one were diagnosed with mesothelioma, contact our office to speak to one of our experienced Arizona mesothelioma attorneys about your situation. Our office can help investigate your case and determine if compensation can be sought from negligent parties to help pay for your medical treatment.