Mesothelioma
There are Still Products on the Market Containing Asbestos
| January 11th, 2018
It has been common knowledge for years now that asbestos can directly cause numerous cancers, such as cancers of the lung, larynx, and ovaries, as well as mesothelioma. Because of that, it’s easy to assume that the substance is banned and not allowed for any type of use in the United States. Well, think again. Believe it or not, there are actually many products on the market that still contain asbestos. While the use of asbestos is restricted, the U.S. is actually one of just a few developed nations that has not completely banned asbestos.
It is actually legal in the U.S. to include asbestos in products as long as the product doesn’t have more than one percent asbestos. These products are bought and sold every single day in the United States. And because no amount of asbestos exposure is safe, it’s critical to know what these specific products are.
Vehicle Parts
Many products that are required for cars, trucks, motorcycles and other motor vehicles contain asbestos. That includes brake pads, gaskets, pipes, and clutches. That’s why mechanics are one of the many occupations at risk of developing mesothelioma or lung cancer.
Fire Safety Products
Fire safety products are obviously made to keep us safe, therefore, it’s critical to have them on hand and utilize these products in the event of a fire emergency. Yet many of these fire safety products actually contain asbestos fibers.
Asbestos fibers are soft and flexible and are naturally resistant to heat, so they are very effective in products like fire blankets, fire curtains, and spray-on fireproof coatings. Because of that, it’s important to be very careful in selecting these type of products and only use them when it’s really necessary.
Lab Equipment
Related to the above fire safety products is laboratory equipment. Fire safety is obviously important in labs, as it may be required to wear fireproof gloves or jackets for various experiments. Sometimes even tabletops in science labs can contain asbestos. So the same potential problem with fire safety products happens here. Thus, be mindful when using any equipment in a lab—or even cleaning it.
Talcum Powder
For years it has been common for many people—especially women—to use talcum powder for general hygiene. Talcum powder has also been commonly used in many makeup products (mainly because it’s good at absorbing moisture). Talc, however, is naturally exposed to asbestos, contaminating it completely. In the past couple of years, there have actually been companies forced to recall products because of asbestos contamination due to the talc in its products: the trendy tween store Justice recalled some of its makeup, as did the jewelry store Claire’s.
Building Materials
One industry that has been known to be affected by asbestos is the construction industry. Many homes and buildings built before 1980 have asbestos in products like the insulation, flooring, paint, and plaster. Because of that, it’s critical to be careful when doing renovation or demolition work. Specific safety gear like masks with filters is required when working on structures that contain any products containing asbestos.
Lawn Care Products
Fertilizers and potting soils contain many products, one of which is vermiculite, a mineral that usually contains asbestos fibers. So if you ever get hands-on in the yard or garden, use caution. When using any type of fertilizer products be sure to wear gloves and a mask so that you don’t inhale any dust or have asbestos-contaminated products get on your skin.
The Take-Away
It has taken decades for research to show the hazards of asbestos. Many efforts have been made to eliminate the danger from our everyday lives, but the danger is still very real. People develop mesothelioma and other asbestos-related cancers every single day. If you believe you are being exposed to asbestos in your home, place of work, a product, or anywhere else, take the appropriate action and call an asbestos contractor for help.
They can answer any questions about asbestos contamination and even help remove and clean up the contaminated items. To find one, contact your state or local health department. And if you have developed an asbestos-related disease or cancer, give us a call today. We can talk you through your legal rights and help you find out if you are eligible for monetary compensation.
BEGIN YOUR FIGHT TODAY
If you were diagnosed with ovarian cancer after using talcum baby powder, you may qualify for compensation. Contact our experienced talc powder advocates to get the help you deserve.
We know how difficult struggling with a cancer diagnosis can be. Insurance companies, expensive medical costs, and taking time off from work can add to the strain. We believe that your total focus and attention should be on your recovery alone. Our team is dedicated to ensuring you receive the best possible care and compensation for your injuries.
Don’t wait to reach out – call (877) 564-0000 or fill out an online consultation form today. The compassionate advocates at Ovarian Cancer Support are ready to fight for you.
Did Johnson & Johnson Really Know About Talc Decades Ago?
| October 2nd, 2017
Recent trials have revealed that Johnson & Johnson long knew about the link between talcum powder and ovarian cancer, but newly released documents from a current trial in St. Louis, Missouri, suggest that the pharmaceutical giant also knew that the talc it used in its baby and body powder products contained asbestos. A known carcinogen, asbestos fibers cannot be seen, smelled, or tasted, and once in the body, they never dissolve, wreaking havoc on the body.
The team representing 50-plus women in a talcum powder lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson released the bombshell information earlier this month, which claims Johnson & Johnson knew decades ago that asbestos fibers were in its talc-based products. These new documents dispute previous claims and memos by Johnson & Johnson’s legal team that the company never found asbestos in its products “and it never will.”
Bloomberg News reported that as far back as the early 1970s there were company memos noting that traces of two different types of asbestos were found in the talc it obtained from a mine in Vermont. Furthermore, according to the report, the company also had a booklet from 1974 describing the asbestos-contaminated talc in a mine the company purchased in Italy.
This new evidence casts serious doubt on the pharmaceutical and consumer company, which has already been found liable in four cases. Thus far, Johnson & Johnson has had to shell out more than $700 million in damages to the many women who have been diagnosed and are suffering from ovarian cancer or, as some women have already passed away, their surviving family members.
The Link Between Asbestos, Talc & Ovarian Cancer
There are still many unknowns about talc’s exact part in ovarian cancer, but one fact is well known: asbestos is known to cause certain types of cancer—such as mesothelioma and cancers of the lung, colon, and throat—and contribute to the development of others.
Mesothelioma is almost always associated with an exposure to asbestos and is an aggressive form of cancer that typically affects the lungs and includes symptoms such as a cough, chest pain and shortness of breath. While it usually develops in the lungs, it can also be found in the heart and abdomen. Mesothelioma can be treated—treatments include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy—but the condition cannot be cured.
Asbestos is actually known as the number one cause of occupational cancer in the world because most people who develop the specific cancer do so from occupational exposure. Professionals most commonly associated with extreme asbestos exposure include mining, construction, heavy industry, shipbuilding, asbestos product manufacturing, firefighting, electricity generation, and military service. Because of second-hand exposure, family members of those working in these industries and those who live within a close vicinity of asbestos-contaminated mines or processing facilities are actually at a greater risk of developing an asbestos-related disease as well.
While it has become common knowledge that asbestos exposure leads to many deadly cancers and diseases, there really have been no real studies done on asbestos-contaminated talc. The main reason for that is because Johnson & Johnson has always claimed that its products containing talc were free of asbestos. The new revelations about the decades-old documentation about the link between asbestos and the talc used by Johnson & Johnson will most certainly reinforce the case brought against the pharmaceutical giant because it’s already known that asbestos does cause cancer.
Johnson & Johnson has already tried to get the class action lawsuit by the 50 women in St. Louis thrown out, but to no success—the federal judge dismissed their claims. The company has also chosen not to settle any suits brought against them so far, which could prove to be very expensive before it’s all said and done.
Have You Used Talcum Powder?
Have you used any Johnson & Johnson talc products? It has been commonplace for years for women to use talcum powder for general hygiene needs. In fact, it has even been encouraged, even though Johnson & Johnson has known for decades that their talc was not asbestos free. If you have used or currently use any talc-based products, it’s best to take action now to prevent any further exposure.
To start, stop using any talc products on or near your genitals. That also means don’t let it touch anything that gets anywhere near your genitals, such as undergarments, sanitary napkins, and tampons.
Second, early detection is key. Look for any potential symptoms that would suggest ovarian cancer. Talk with your doctor about potential signs or symptoms you discover.
And if you have already been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and have used talc-based products, give us a call today so that we can talk you through your legal rights. You may be eligible for compensation.
BEGIN YOUR FIGHT TODAY
If you were diagnosed with ovarian cancer after using talcum baby powder, you may qualify for compensation. Contact our experienced talc powder advocates to get the help you deserve.
We know how difficult struggling with a cancer diagnosis can be. Insurance companies, expensive medical costs, and taking time off from work can add to the strain. We believe that your total focus and attention should be on your recovery alone. Our team is dedicated to ensuring you receive the best possible care and compensation for your injuries.
Don’t wait to reach out – call (877) 564-0000 or fill out an online consultation form today. The compassionate advocates at Ovarian Cancer Support are ready to fight for you.
Johnson & Johnson Reeling After $417 Million Verdict in California
| August 21st, 2017
The first court case in California against Johnson & Johnson for its talc products associated with ovarian cancer resulted in a massive payout against the pharmaceutical giant. The four-week trial resulted in the Los Angeles jury siding with Eva Echeverria, a 63-year-old woman with terminal ovarian cancer who claimed Johnson & Johnson failed to warn customers about the risk in using its talc products.
The result: Johnson & Johnson was ordered to pay out $417 million, the largest amount yet in the many suits ongoing against the healthcare company.
Echeverria was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2007, and though doctors removed a softball-sized tumor, she is now near death. In fact, she was not even able to be in court for the trial. However, she testified via videotape that she used Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder from when she was 11 years old until 2016, when she saw a story about a woman with ovarian cancer who used the same product. She testified that if she had been given a warning that the product could cause ovarian cancer, she wouldn’t have used it.
Just two days of deliberating led the jury to award Echeverria $70 million in compensatory damages and $347 million in punitive damages, agreeing with her that there was, in fact, a connection between her cancer and the company’s talc-based powder. This marks the third-largest jury-awarded verdict in the United States thus far in 2017.
In California alone, more than 300 lawsuits are currently pending against Johnson & Johnson, and there are more than 4,500 lawsuits across the United States. All suits contend that the pharmaceutical company ignored data that showed their talcum-powder based products were contaminated with asbestos, increasing the risk of cancer in anyone using the products.
A 1982 study released during the trial revealed that women who used talc products on their genitals were at a 92 percent greater risk of developing ovarian cancer.It also revealed that the lead researcher, Daniel W. Cramer, had advised Johnson & Johnson to include a warning label on its talc-based products. Another study brought to light in the suit was from 1999 by the National Cancer Institute, which also concluded that “avoidance of talc in genital hygiene might reduce the occurrence of a highly lethal form of cancer by at least 10 percent.”
The National Cancer Institute has released data that shows ovarian cancer accounts for 1.3 percent of all new cancer cases in the United States. It’s the eighth most common cancer among women and the fifth-leading cause of cancer-related death among women.
Johnson & Johnson has now lost four other jury verdicts in St. Louis, Missouri, which total $300 million.
BEGIN YOUR FIGHT TODAY
If you were diagnosed with ovarian cancer after using talcum baby powder, you may qualify for compensation. Contact our experienced talc powder advocates to get the help you deserve.
We know how difficult struggling with a cancer diagnosis can be. Insurance companies, expensive medical costs, and taking time off from work can add to the strain. We believe that your total focus and attention should be on your recovery alone. Our team is dedicated to ensuring you receive the best possible care and compensation for your injuries.
Don’t wait to reach out – call (877) 564-0000 or fill out an online consultation form today. The compassionate advocates at Ovarian Cancer Support are ready to fight for you.
Pharmaceutical Giant Receives Second Loss in One Week
| May 3rd, 2016
Johnson & Johnson received its second straight trial loss this week as jurors once again found the company liable for a woman who used the company’s baby powder for decades and developed ovarian cancer. After the three-week trial in a Missouri court, the pharmaceutical company was ordered to pay Sioux Falls resident Gloria Ristesund $55 million.
Jurors deliberated for one day before returning with the verdict in favor of Ristesund, who was awarded $5 million in compensatory damages and $50 million in punitive damages.
During the trial, Ristesund claimed she used the company’s baby powder and Shower-to-Shower body powder on her genitals for 40 years. In her late 50s, she was diagnosed with Stage I ovarian cancer and had to undergo a hysterectomy. Her pathologist also informed her that talcum powder was found in her ovaries. Currently, her cancer is in remission.
Ristesund’s case echoed the same claims as many women around the country who are also suing Johnson & Johnson for: being diagnosed with ovarian cancer after using Johnson & Johnson’s talcum powder for feminine hygiene needs for decades. The lawsuit claimed that Johnson & Johnson did know about the dangers of its talc-based products and their link to cancer.
During the trial, Ristesund’s legal team revealed an internal memo from Johnson & Johnson stating that not only did the company know about the risk of its talc products over 20 years, but they also tried to influence regulatory boards.
This verdict comes after a jury already ordered the healthcare company to pay $72 million to the family of a woman who died from ovarian cancer after using Johnson & Johnson products for decades. Johnson & Johnson currently faces approximately 1,200 lawsuits, all accusing the company of failing to warn consumers about the risk of its talc-based products and the link to ovarian cancer.
BEGIN YOUR FIGHT TODAY
If you were diagnosed with ovarian cancer after using talcum baby powder, you may qualify for compensation. Contact our experienced talc powder advocates to get the help you deserve.
We know how difficult struggling with a cancer diagnosis can be. Insurance companies, expensive medical costs, and taking time off from work can add to the strain. We believe that your total focus and attention should be on your recovery alone. Our team is dedicated to ensuring you receive the best possible care and compensation for your injuries.
Don’t wait to reach out – call (877) 564-0000 or fill out an online consultation form today. The compassionate advocates at Ovarian Cancer Support are ready to fight for you.
Alabama Woman Gets $72 Million from Johnson & Johnson
| February 24th, 2016
The first case with monetary compensation against Johnson & Johnson was awarded in a St. Louis, Missouri, courtroom last week. Jacqueline Fox, a resident of Birmingham, Alabama, had already passed away, but her voice spoke volumes in the courtroom.
During a previously recorded audio deposition, Fox accused the Johnson & Johnson talc-based products she had used for 35 years (mainly Shower-to-Shower Body Powder) for her diagnosis of ovarian cancer. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer just over three years ago.
As a result of her case, the jury ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay Fox’s family $72 million total, $10 million in compensatory damages and $62 million in punitive damages. Fox had also sued Johnson & Johnson’s talc product, Imerys Talc, but the jury did not find them at fault.
The jury was comprised of nine female jurors—all of whom voted in Fox’s favor—and three male jurors, only one of whom sided with Fox, noted the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. According to the Post-Dispatch, 50-year-old juror Jerome Kendrick said he was influenced heavily against Johnson & Johnson after learning about the company’s internal memos that suggested they knew the link between talk and ovarian cancer.
“They tried to cover up and influence the boards that regulate cosmetics,” he said. “They could have had at least put a warning label on the box but they didn’t. They did nothing.”
The Post-Dispatch also noted another company memo that focused on the declining sales of the talc products as more people were learning about the health risks. The document included strategies on how to make African-Americans and Hispanics the biggest users of talcum powder. Fox was African American.
A pathologist brought in discovered that Fox’s ovaries were inflamed because of the talc, and that then morphed into cancer.
Fox’s lawsuit included more than 60 other plaintiffs. In addition, more than 1,200 women across the country are suing Johnson & Johnson for failing to warn consumers about the dangers of talc in the company’s talc-based products.
BEGIN YOUR FIGHT TODAY
If you were diagnosed with ovarian cancer after using talcum baby powder, you may qualify for compensation. Contact our experienced talc powder advocates to get the help you deserve
We know how difficult struggling with a cancer diagnosis can be. Insurance companies, expensive medical costs, and taking time off from work can add to the strain. We believe that your total focus and attention should be on your recovery alone. Our team is dedicated to ensuring you receive the best possible care and compensation for your injuries.
Don’t wait to reach out – call (877) 564-0000 or fill out an online consultation form today. The compassionate advocates at Ovarian Cancer Support are ready to fight for you.