Johnson & Johnson and Colgate-Palmolive Co. have been ordered to pay $10 million to a California woman who claims she is dying because she used talc-based products produced by the manufacturers. 
The verdict was announced earlier this week in an Oakland court. It is the 11th time that J&J has lost in a trial involving talc-asbestos cancer claims. The claims began to mount against the company in 2016.
In the Oakland case, the woman claimed she developed mesothelioma due to using talc-products that were laced with asbestos. Keep in mind, aside from mesothelioma, asbestos exposure has been linked to stomach cancer, throat cancer and kidney cancer.
According to Bloomberg, the woman claimed she used J&J’s Baby Powder or Colgate’s Cashmere Bouquet for most of her life after showering.
Jurors found that the companies were each 40 percent responsible for her injuries, while finding that Avon Products Inc. was responsible for the reminder due to the woman’s purchase of the company’s products as a young adult. As the woman did not name Avon in her case, it is unlikely that she will be able to recover damages against the company.
Currently, J&J faces about 14,000 lawsuits claiming its talc products have caused customers ovarian cancer and mesothelioma. As of this week, it is expected that the claims may be moved to a federal judge in Delaware.
Photos used during the Oakland trial allegedly showed asbestos fibers in talc samples that were taken, the woman’s attorneys claimed. They also claimed that internal documents showed that J&J was aware of talc dangers for many decades and did not disclose this information to consumers.
Were You Injured by a Talc Product?
If you become sick because you are exposed to asbestos through a talc product, our cancer and mesothelioma attorneys can help you fight back. We can investigate your claim and possibly obtain compensation for you that can help pay for costly healthcare treatment.
Contact us today for a free consultation, if you have been diagnosed with cancer and you believe it was the result of talc product usage. Call (800) 637-6347 today or fill out our online case review form.
Cappolino Dodd Krebs LLP – Mesothelioma Attorneys
