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Hawaii Woman Files Asbestos Cancer Lawsuit Against Johnson & Johnson

Posted by Michael Throneberry | Jan 04, 2020

A Hawaii woman recently filed an asbestos cancer lawsuit against pharmaceutical and cosmetics giant Johnson & Johnson and local grocer Foodland Supermarket Ltd. alleging that the defendants are responsible for her mesothelioma cancer diagnosis. The mesothelioma cancer lawsuit claims Johnson & Johnson knowingly produced and marketed talc-based products like Baby Powder and Shower to Shower, which the company knew were contaminated with deadly carcinogens but did not provide any warning to consumers on the label.

According to the asbestos mesothelioma lawsuit, filed in Honolulu Circuit Court, the 64-year-old plaintiff developed malignant mesothelioma after years of using asbestos-contaminated talcum powder products produced by Johnson & Johnson and sold by Foodland Supermarkets. The plaintiff, who is also an equine chiropractor, claims she frequently used Johnson & Johnson's talcum powder products in the course of her work caring for horses.

The asbestos talcum powder lawsuit filing comes less than a month after Johnson & Johnson issued a voluntary recall for certain lots of of its Baby Powder product after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that those certain lots of Baby Powder tested positive for cancerous asbestos fibers. While Johnson & Johnson claims subsequent testing showed no positive tests for asbestos, a Wall Street Journal report revealed flaws in the initial testing the company conducted after it appeared to rush those independent tests.

Both talc and asbestos are naturally occurring minerals which can often be found side by side one another, which means contamination could take place if talc suppliers and processors do not take reasonable precautions to protect consumer safety. In December 2018, a Reuters report revealed that Johnson & Johnson executives knew as far back as the 1970s that its talcum powder products were testing positive for asbestos fibers but did not alter these product formulas or warn the public.

Johnson & Johnson currently faces an estimated 14,000 talcum powder asbestos cancer lawsuits in state and federal court across the country brought by plaintiffs who claim their serious forms of cancer were caused by the companies talc-based products like Baby Powder and Shower to Shower. Trials so far have resulted in juries awarding over $5 billion in total compensation to plaintiffs for developing various forms of cancer, including mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is a rare and deadly form of cancer which commonly affects the thin lining of tissue surrounding vital organs such as the heart, abdomen, and lungs. There is currently no cure for mesothelioma, and due to the 20-year to 50-year latency period, patients are often left with diminished treatment options to fight the disease and live a more comfortable and dignified life.

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 to help you and your family live a more comfortable life.

About the Author

Michael Throneberry

Attorney Michael Throneberry graduated from Purdue University with a Civil Engineering degree. He then served with the United States Army...

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