Contaminated Baby Powder Pulled from North American Shelves
For years, personal care giant Johnson & Johnson fought claims that its talc-based Baby Powder contained fibrous talc, asbestos, and heavy metals,all known carcinogens. After facing thousands of ovarian cancer lawsuits Johnson & Johnson has finally decided to discontinue selling its iconic talc -based baby powder product in the U.S. and Canada. Any existing inventory on shelves will be sold until it runs out.
Johnson & Johnson made this stunning announcement on Tuesday, May 19th, and while the official press release notes that the company “remains steadfastly confident in the safety of talc-based Johnson’s Baby Powder,” public safety advocates say otherwise. To those who are representing ovarian cancer victims in lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson, the company’s withdrawal of the product is a major development in the litigation.
CALL 866-709-0505 OR CONTACT US ONLINE FOR A FREE, CONFIDENTIAL CONSULTATION.
About the Ovarian Cancer Lawsuits
In recent years, thousands of women came forward to claim that using Baby Powder caused them to develop ovarian cancer. During the summer of 2018, a St. Louis jury awarded over $4.69 billion to 22 ovarian cancer victims, after court documents revealed that Johnson & Johnson had known about the asbestos contamination as early as 1971. As of today, there are more than 16,000 talcum powder lawsuits pending against Johnson & Johnson nationwide.
What Does the Announcement Mean for Future Claims?
In late April 2020, U.S. District Judge Freda Wolfson also ruled a decisive blow against Johnson & Johnson, after the company tried to bar experts on the plaintiffs’ side from linking genital use of Baby Powder to ovarian cancer. In allowing the multi-district litigation to proceed, Judge Wolfson ruled that the plaintiffs can present expert testimony that Johnson & Johnson’s talc-based baby powder can cause ovarian cancer.
Johnson & Johnson is adamant that their decision to discontinue Baby Powder has little to do with that decision or the mounting litigation, claiming that sales have been declining “due in large part to changes in consumer habits and fueled by misinformation around the safety of the product and a constant barrage of litigation advertising.”
However, at Ashcraft & Gerel, our talcum powder lawsuit attorneys are equally adamant that Johnson & Johnson is trying to avoid the consequences of corporate negligence. With over 65 years of experience in high-stakes product liability litigation, our team is currently representing hundreds of women in lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson. If you believe that your cancer diagnosis was related to using Baby Powder, we are ready and willing to help you pursue justice.
Call us today at (866) 709-0505 or contact us online to get started with a free consultation. We serve clients in Washington DC, Virginia, Maryland, and beyond.
