Seattle Personal Injury Attorney Chris Thayer
Seattle Personal Injury Attorney Chris Thayer
Handling Personal Injury Claims in the Seattle Area and Throughout Washington Since 1995

My name is Chris Thayer and I am a personal injury attorney practicing in downtown Seattle. I handle personal injury, medical malpractice and wrongful death claims throughout the greater Seattle area, including Issaquah, Mercer Island and Kirkland.

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Lawsuits Involving Women Who Used Baby Powder

Posted Saturday, May 13, 2017 by Chris Thayer

In November 2016, two Washington women filed lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson (along with two Oregon families), alleging that the company knew there was a link between its baby powder and ovarian cancer. These two women regularly used the powder for decades before being diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2010 and 2013, respectively.

What Is Talcum Powder?

Women often use talcum powder (more commonly known as baby powder) for genital hygiene purposes. Talc is a mineral that can be found all across the United States, including here in Washington. When talc is crushed into powder, it is capable of absorbing moisture, oils and odors but is easily washed off of human skin, which is why it is often used in bathroom and other consumer products.

Unfortunately, talcum powder has been linked to several types of cancers. While the science is inconclusive, the American Cancer Society notes that using this powder may increase your risk of cancer. The three main cancers that may be linked to talcum powder are:

Ovarian cancer – Because the powder is often applied to the genital area, some studies have shown that prolonged use may increase a woman’s risk of ovarian cancer.Uterine or endometrial cancer – This type of cancer is more likely to affect postmenopausal women who have regularly applied talcum powder to their genital areas.Lung cancer – This is more of an issue with miners and others who are exposed to talc in its raw form. But this possibility hasn’t been widely studied.

Scientists will continue to study the links between talcum powder and cancer, especially since babies are also exposed to it.

Verdicts Against Johnson & Johnson

A St. Louis jury recently awarded $55 million in damages to a South Dakota woman who alleged that her use of Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder gave her ovarian cancer. The company’s defeat in that case follows an earlier St. Louis jury verdict awarding $72 million to the family of an Alabama woman who died of ovarian cancer.

Hundreds of similar lawsuits have been filed against Johnson & Johnson, but these are the first two that have resulted in damages.

Filing a Talcum Powder Lawsuit

Companies like Johnson & Johnson have a duty to provide consumers with safe products. If there are risks involved with their product (like the possibility of developing cancer), they have a duty to provide adequate warnings. If they fail to do so then they are susceptible to personal injury lawsuits.

If you have been injured by talcum powder or another potentially defective product, you might be able to recover medical expenses, lost wages, and damages for pain and suffering. If you have a lost a loved one because of a defective product, you might be able to recover damages for funeral expenses.

Contact Us Today

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and have been regularly using Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder, you might have a claim against the company. Contact one of our personal injury attorneys today for a free consultation. We will determine whether you have a viable claim and help ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve.