Mesothelioma Lawyer Files Talc Lawsuit Against Johnson & Johnson
A 24-year-old man with pericardial mesothelioma has alleged Johnson & Johnson's baby powder caused his cancer. The Oakland mesothelioma trial is the first one to be held since J&J has dissolved its Talc business and filed for bankruptcy.
Earlier this year, jury awards in New Jersey and California led to massive settlements in talc-related lawsuits. Plaintiffs linked their cancer to asbestos in J&J's Shower to Shower and Baby Powder products.
What is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma can be a deadly form of cancer that affects mesothelium or lining that surrounds organs and body cavities. It is most common in the lungs, but can be located in the chest and abdomen cavity. Asbestos is the sole known mesothelioma-related cause, and people who have been exposed to asbestos are at a greater risk of developing this disease.
The first trial after J&J declared bankruptcy on its talcum powder division began in Oakland, California this week. Fort Lauderdale mesothelioma attorney were moved by the story of the plaintiff. In 2022, the plaintiff, who was just 24 years old at the time, old at the time was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma of the pericardium. He blamed the cause of his condition to his early use of Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder. The jury awarded him $25 million.
J&J has been accused of hiding asbestos-related risks from consumers for a long time. The company has a long history of keeping asbestos information from regulators, and paying for asbestos tests that did not yield the results they desired. These lawsuits have identified several of the company's suppliers of talcum powder such as Whittaker Clark & Daniels, Imerys Talc America, and others.
Some women who used talcum for feminine hygiene on sanitary pads or condoms as well as in the genital area have developed ovarian and mesothelioma. The lawsuits claim that J&J was aware for more than forty years that the powder could trigger ovarian cancer and other illnesses, but did not take the time to warn consumers.
The symptoms of mesothelioma are abdominal pain as well as abdominal lumps, abdominal swelling and a persistent cough. Doctors can diagnose the condition by a physical examination and imaging scans. These may include CT (computer tomography) scans, MRIs and PET or X-rays.
If mesothelioma has been diagnosed patients can undergo surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy. The surgeons can remove affected tissue based on the location of the tumors. Patients with mesothelioma may be given a life expectancy less than five years. However, aggressive treatments like extracorporeal membrane transplant and cytoreduction with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy can prolong the life expectancy.
What causes Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is caused by DNA changes in a cell. These mutations cause uncontrolled cell growth that causes tumors to form in tissues. Asbestos is a frequent cause mesothelioma. The exposure to asbestos can occur at work in many different industries, including mining, manufacturing, construction and transportation. Asbestos exposure usually occurs between 20 to 40 years prior to the time symptoms appear. Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma than women. It is also most often diagnosed in people between the ages 50 and 70. The type of mesothelioma that a sufferer is usually determined by the part of their body that were exposed to asbestos. The majority of people diagnosed with mesothelioma are diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lung. Other patients are diagnosed with peritoneal msothelioma. This type of mesothelioma is affecting the abdomen. In addition, some individuals are diagnosed with pericardial mesothelioma. It is an extremely rare type of the disease that affects the heart's lining (pericardium) and the organ itself.
Shortness of breath, fatigue, and abdominal pain are all symptoms of mesothelioma. In the late stages of mesothelioma, the tumors can spread to different areas of the body, causing severe pain and discomfort. Other common symptoms of mesothelioma include swelling of the lungs (pleural effusion), loss of appetite, difficulty swallowing and a blockage in the small intestine referred to as a bowel obstruction. Mesothelioma can be fatal.
The talcum powder trial in Oakland involved a 24-year-old man who was diagnosed with pericardial cancer due to the use of J&J baby powder. His lawyers argued that J&J knew that talc contained asbestos, but didn't inform consumers. They also cited a letter in 1998 to an J&J executive that revealed the possibility of asbestos in their products.
This is only the latest in a string of large verdicts against J&J. In March, J&J's Talcum powder caused ovarian mesothelioma in one woman. Last month, another jury in Missouri awarded $55 million in a similar case. Seven new cases have been added to the MDL talcum powder over the last month, bringing it to 37,522 the total number of pending suits. The majority of these lawsuits involve women who have used J&J's talcum powder to wash their feminine hygiene.
How Do I Know if I Have Mesothelioma?
A diagnosis of mesothelioma could be devastating. Patients should always see a specialist to get the most accurate diagnosis possible and prevent misdiagnosis that could result in unneeded treatment or allow cancer to grow.
A physical examination and a blood sample can aid in identifying mesothelioma-related symptoms. These tests can check for asbestos fibers in blood or to assess the extent to which a patient's organs are functioning. The most accurate method to diagnose mesothelioma is the procedure of a biopsy. Doctors take tissues or fluids from an affected area, and then look at them under a microscope to look for mesothelioma cancer cells.
The type of mesothelioma that is present in a patient can affect his or her prognosis. Pleural mesothelioma, that forms in the thin lining of the lungs, is the common form of mesothelioma and accounts for the vast majority of diagnosed cases. Peritoneal mesothelioma is a type of cancer that forms in the abdomen's lining is not as common. Lastly, pericardial msothelioma is a rare kind that is found in the lining of the heart. It only accounts for one percent of all cases.
The first signs include breathlessness that gets worse over time and a coughing up of blood. Asbestos sufferers may also experience fluid accumulation in the chest cavity. This is known as pleural effusion. The fluid can be removed from the chest cavity by inserting a needle into the area affected. In more severe cases doctors may perform pleurodesis, a procedure that seals the space in order to prevent the fluid from accumulating within the pleura.
A precise mesothelioma diagnosis is the most reliable way to determine a patient's treatment options and the survival rate. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation are all options. Other options include immunotherapy, a type of treatment that boosts the immune system to fight mesothelioma cancer cells and tumor-removing fields, which employ an electromagnetic field to destroy cancerous cells.
A mesothelioma specialist who is specialized can also assist patients in understanding the different mesothelioma cells, which determine how aggressive the cancer is and what the patient's prognosis is. Patients should discuss their history of exposure to asbestos with their physician to determine if they are a mesothelioma candidate and discover what kinds of treatment might be available to them.
How Can I Get Help?
If you've used Johnson & Johnson talcum powder and then developed ovarian cancer, or another disease such as mesothelioma, you could be eligible for substantial compensation. Contact us now for a free, no obligation case evaluation. We can assist you in bringing a mesothelioma suit against J&J to hold them accountable for negligence.
Mesothelioma, an extremely rare and fatal condition caused by asbestos exposure is a rare disease. Asbestos was once widely used in a range of consumer and industrial products including baby powder. The plaintiffs in talcum powder cases claim that inhaling talcum powder caused to asbestos exposure, which contributed to mesothelioma and various other health issues.
J&J failed to inform the public about the dangers of talcum and asbestos even though they had been aware of their dangers for decades. Plaintiffs have filed mesothelioma lawsuits against J&J seeking punitive and compensatory damages. These claims have been combined into federal and state multidistrict litigations, or MDLs.
In 2018 one of the biggest talc cases led to a $4.7 billion verdict in favor of the plaintiff. It was a national news story and set the stage for the rest of the year. Last month, a judge denied a motion by J&J to dismiss the lawsuits brought by the state of Mississippi.
In an attempt to stop the litigation, J&J tried again. LTL Management, a subsidiary of J&J has filed for bankruptcy after the company established a new entity to assume its obligations. The bankruptcy stopped thousands of talc lawsuits but the 3rd Circuit rejected this strategy.
The lawsuits brought by Mississippi are based on the same allegations of the individual lawsuits brought against J&J. They allege that the company acted negligently in not warning of the possibility of ovarian cancer from talcum-powder and that this resulted in a violation of state law.
J&J has submitted its motion to dismiss lawsuits to another bankruptcy court. A hearing is scheduled for June in order to determine whether the lawsuits against J&J will be allowed to proceed. If you or someone around you has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another condition which could have been caused talcum powder. You must seek legal advice immediately. Our skilled attorneys can assist you in obtaining the compensation you deserve.