What are the Links Between Talc and Asbestos?

Currently, pharmaceutical and cosmetics giant Johnson & Johnson faces an estimated 14,200 lawsuits in state and federal courts across the country over claims that its talc-based products cause various forms of cancer in innocent people. Many of those claims allege that Johnson & Johnson products like Baby Powder and Shower to Shower contain asbestos fibers and that this fact was known to the company for decades, though it provided no warning to consumers about the risks of using the product.

Traditionally, asbestos cancer lawsuits were common in cases in which industrial and manufacturing workers used asbestos-laden products in the course of their jobs and not necessarily in consumer products. Common professions associated with asbestos exposure include ship and dock workers, vinyl flooring and insulation workers, pipefitters, and steamfitters using asbestos containing gaskets in power plants and other industrial applications.

Both talc and asbestos are naturally occurring minerals which can often be found in deposits side by side one another. If talc suppliers and manufacturers do not take precautions to prevent foreseeable asbestos contamination, innocent people may suffer serious health conditions as a result. When consumers are harmed as a result of companies knowingly placing defective products in the stream of commerce, the law gives these individuals the right to file asbestos cancer lawsuits.

By filing an asbestos cancer lawsuit, plaintiffs can recover compensation for their monetary damages such as past and future hospital bills and lost wages from missing work while undergoing treatment for the disease. Additionally, plaintiffs can recover compensation for the physical pain and suffering and emotional distress of living with the harm caused by a mesothelioma diagnosis.

To date, juries in state courts have awarded a total of $5 billion in total compensation, including large punitive damages awards to send a message to Johnson & Johnson and other companies that willful and wanton disregard for public safety will not be tolerated. Those verdicts came in trials where juries were presented evidence showing Johnson & Johnson executives knew for decades about the risks of asbestos contamination in its products but did nothing to warn consumers about possible health risks.

In cases in which victims pass away before they are able to have their case heard by a jury in a court of law, surviving family members or those designated as the administrator of the deceased’s estate may continue the claim on their behalf. Because of the nature of a mesothelioma diagnosis, patients are often left with limited time after receiving a diagnosis, but the law provides statute of limitations for plaintiffs to bring their claims that may extend after passing.

If you or a loved one were diagnosed with mesothelioma, contact our office to speak to one of our experienced mesothelioma attorneys about your situation. We can help investigate your case and determine if compensation can be sought from negligent parties to help pay for your medical treatment to help you and your family live a more comfortable life.