Johnson & Johnson has been in the legal news a lot lately. Currently, the company is facing over 20,000 lawsuits from people who claim that the company’s talc-based products caused their cancer. In recent weeks, a Manhattan judge ordered J&J to pay a Brooklyn couple $120 million after they claimed in court that a talc product caused 67-year-old Donna Olson’s mesothelioma. (Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer linked to asbestos exposure.)
J&J has been implicated in other cancer cases as well, including claims that their talc products caused women’s ovarian and fallopian tube cancer. I’ll tell you more about recent cases below, and about how to connect with a New York talc powder lawyer at Buttafuoco & Associates if you have been diagnosed with cancer after using these products.
Talc Linked to Cancer for Decades
Despite Johnson & Johnson’s continued claims that their talc products are safe, research has shown for decades that people who use their baby powder and after-shower products are at higher risk for cancer.
The products are dangerous because they contain asbestos, a known carcinogen linked to many forms of cancer. Women who use these products for genital hygiene are especially at risk because asbestos can enter the vagina, resulting in cell mutations that lead to cancerous tumors in the reproductive organs. Additionally, if talc particles are inhaled, they can cause mesothelioma, a lung disease. Both of these diseases take a long time to surface, so even if someone used the products decades ago, the talc may still have caused their cancer.
Despite years of research showing that these products are dangerous, Johnson & Johnson kept them on the shelves, falsely insisting that they were safe. Even after the most recent settlement, the company still continued to make public statements saying their products do not cause cancer. It was not until May of 2020 that the company finally stopped selling their talc products, but by this point tens of thousands of people had been harmed.
While the company could have yanked products from the shelves, they instead chose to let consumers go on using these deadly products. The most serious complaint in the lawsuits against the company is that J&J knew their products were dangerous and lied about it, refusing to warn consumers and putting thousands of lives at risk.
At Buttafuoco & Associates, we have handled a significant number of talc-cancer lawsuits and have seen how using these products can damage lives. If you need help, or want to learn more about your rights in these cases, a New York talc powder injury lawyer at our firm can provide a free consultation and tell you whether or not you have a case.
Talc Lawsuit Compensation
Donna Olson’s case is not the only one Johnson & Johnson has lost in recent months. They have also lost many recent high-dollar appeals attempting to overturn cases where they were ruled against. In June 2020, after a failed appeal, J&J was ordered to pay $2.12 billion to 22 women who said the company’s talc products caused their ovarian cancer.
Many talc cancer cases have been tried in New York courts, and it is true that New York law is often on the consumer’s side in product liability cases like these. If you are suffering from cancer after using a talc product, you may be eligible for the following damages and more:
- Medical bills and expenses
- Wage loss
- Nursing and other home treatment
- Reduced ability to earn a wage
- Disability
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Pain and suffering
Working with a New York personal injury lawyer is among the best ways to ensure that you are fairly compensated in talcum powder injury cases. At Buttafuoco & Associates, we have years of experience working on these cases. From investigating and gathering evidence and records to fighting hard for you in court, our legal team will be there with you every step of the way. We’ll take care of the complicated details so you can put your energy toward your health.
To find out more about how Buttafuoco & Associates may be able to help, contact us at 1-800-NOW.HURT.
