For the last several years, plaintiffs have been pursuing claims against pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson stating that Johnson & Johnson knew about the risk of ovarian cancer
related to talcum powder and failed to warn its consumers of the danger.
There have been two recent positive developments in the talcum powder litigation. First, as part of the Multi District Litigation (MDL) in federal court in New Jersey, the Judge ruled in favor of the plaintiffs following the Daubert hearings. Secondly, Johnson & Johnson has finally made the decision to discontinue the production of its talc based products.
Daubert Hearings Have Been Favorable for Plaintiffs
On April 27, 2020 the Judge presiding over the MDL in New Jersey issued her ruling which largely rejected Johnson & Johnson’s efforts to bar science experts from testifying that baby powder contains asbestos and that talc can cause ovarian cancer. Specifically, the Judge ruled that an epidemiologist and oncologist will be allowed to testify as to “general causation,” or that they believe that genital application of talc can cause ovarian cancer. Furthermore, the Judge also held that a microscopist will be allowed to testify that he found asbestos in Johnson & Johnson talc samples. This is a “big win” for plaintiffs’ attorneys who have faced accusations from Johnson & Johnsons about bringing “junk science” into the courtroom.
Johnson & Johnson to Remove Talcum Powder from Shelves
For generations, talcum powder has been a household fixture. Talcum powder, which is commonly referred to as baby powder, has been used in American bathrooms and nurseries to soothe skin irritation, absorb moisture, and reduce odor. On Tuesday, May 19, 2020, Johnson & Johnson finally made the decision to discontinue its talc-based baby powder products in the U.S. and Canada. J&J’s cornstarch-based baby powder will continue to be sold. While it is still too early to assess what this means for the litigation, this is very good news.
Call Keller & Keller Today
Keller & Keller is still reviewing potential cases for people that feel they have been injured by the use of talcum powder. If you or a loved one have been frequent users of talcum powder or talcum products and have been diagnosed with cancer, contact an attorney immediately.
At Keller & Keller, we have been protecting the rights of injured people, including those harmed by multi-billion dollar pharmaceutical companies, since 1936. Fill out our confidential free contact form or contact us at 1-800-253-5537 for a free consultation with one of our attorneys.
