Mesothelioma Lawyer Files Talc Lawsuit Against Johnson & Johnson
A 24-year-old with pericardial msothelioma claims that Johnson & Johnson baby powder is responsible for his cancer. The Oakland mesothelioma trial is the first one to be held since J&J spun off its talc business and filed for bankruptcy.
In the beginning of the year, substantial settlements were reached in talc lawsuits in New Jersey and California. Plaintiffs attributed cancer to asbestos in J&J products Shower to Shower and baby powder.
What is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a lethal form of cancer, affects the mesothelium or the lining surrounding organs and cavities inside the body. It is most often found in the lungs but it can also be found in the abdomen, the heart and chest cavity, as well as the testicles. Asbestos is the sole known mesothelioma-related cause and those who have been exposed to asbestos are at a greater chance of developing the disease.
The first trial since J&J declared its Talcum Powder division bankrupt was opened this week and jurors in Oakland, California were emotional as they listened to the plaintiff's story. The plaintiff, who is just 24 years old was diagnosed with malignant pericardial mesothelioma 2022. The plaintiff attributed his condition to the use of Johnson & Johnson baby powder. The jury awarded him $25 million.
J&J is accused of hiding asbestos-related risks from consumers for many years. The company has a history of hiding asbestos-related findings from regulators and funding asbestos tests to get the results it wanted. Some of the company's Talcum powder suppliers have been named in these lawsuits, including Whittaker, Clark & Daniels and Imerys Talc America.
Women who used talcum to provide 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 cause ovarian cancer as well as other diseases, but failed to warn consumers.
Mesothelioma symptoms include abdominal pain and abdominal swelling, abdominal lumps, and persistent coughing. Doctors can diagnose the condition through a physical examination and imaging scans. They can include CT (computer tomography) scans, MRIs and PET or X-rays.
If a mesothelioma diagnosis has been confirmed, patients may undergo chemotherapy, surgery and/or radiation. The surgeons can remove the affected tissue depending on the location of the tumors. Patients with mesothelioma can be given an expected life expectancy of less than five years, however aggressive treatments like extracorporeal membrane transplant and cytoreduction with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy can prolong survival.
What causes Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is caused by DNA mutations in a cell. These mutations cause cells to multiply rapidly and develop tumors in tissues of the body. Asbestos is the most common mesothelioma-related cause. Asbestos exposure can be found in a variety of industries such as manufacturing, mining, and transportation. Asbestos can be exposed for 20 to 40 years prior to symptoms appearing. Mesothelioma is more prevalent in men than women, and it is most often diagnosed in people who are in their 50s and 70s. The kind of mesothelioma involving asbestos that a person develops is often determined by the place on their body they were exposed. Most mesothelioma patients are diagnosed with pleural msothelioma, which affects the lung. Others are diagnosed as having peritoneal mesothelioma. This type of mesothelioma is affecting the abdomen. Some patients are diagnosed with pericardial msothelioma. This is a rare form of the disease which affects both the liner (pericardium) as well as the organ itself.
Mesothelioma symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue abdominal pain and weight loss. In the late mesothelioma stages, the tumors can spread to different parts of the body, creating severe pain and discomfort. Other common symptoms of mesothelioma are fluid on the lungs (pleural effusion), loss of appetite, difficulty swallowing and a blockage within the small intestine called a obstruction of the bowel. Mesothelioma can be fatal.
The talcum powder trial in Oakland involved a 24-year-old man who developed pericardial mesothelioma from the use of J&J baby powder. His lawyers claimed that J&J knew that talc was contaminated with asbestos, but did not warn consumers. They also cited a letter from 1998 to an J&J executive which revealed the possibility of asbestos in their products.
This is the latest in a series of high-dollar verdicts against J&J. In March, a jury handed down $18.8 million to a woman who contracted mesothelioma of the ovarian tract from J&J's powder. Last month, a jury in Missouri awarded $55 million in a separate case that involved the same issue. Seven new cases have been added to the MDL talcum-powder in the last month, bringing to 37,522 the total number of lawsuits pending. The majority of these lawsuits involve women who used J&J's Talcum powder for feminine hygiene reasons.
How Can I tell whether I have mesothelioma not?
A diagnosis of mesothelioma may be devastating. Patients should always consult an expert to obtain the most accurate diagnosis possible and avoid misdiagnosis which could lead to unnecessary treatment and allow cancer to spread more.
A physical examination and a blood sample can help identify mesothelioma symptoms. These tests can be used to check for asbestos fibers in blood or the health of the patient's internal organs. The most precise method to diagnose mesothelioma is by biopsy, which is when doctors remove fluid or tissue from the affected area and then examine the area under a microscope to search for mesothelioma cancer cells.
The type of mesothelioma a person has can also influence their prognosis. Pleural mesothelioma is the most common type of the disease, and accounts for the majority of cases that are diagnosed. Peritoneal cancer, which forms in the lining of the abdomen is a less well-known form. Finally, pericardial mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer that occurs in the heart's lining is more rare and only represents around 1percent of cases.
The first signs include breathlessness that becomes worse over time and a coughing up of blood. Asbestos patients may also experience fluid accumulation within the chest cavity. This is known as Pleural effusion. The fluid can be eliminated from the chest cavity by inserting a needle into the area affected. In more serious cases, doctors may perform pleurodesis, an operation which seals the area to prevent the accumulation of fluid within the pleura.
Making sure that mesothelioma is diagnosed correctly is the most reliable way to determine a patient's treatment options as well as their survival rate. Treatment options include chemotherapy, surgery and radiation are all options. There are also immunotherapy treatments that enhances the immune system to fight mesothelioma and treatment fields for tumors that utilize the power of magnets to kill cancerous cell.
A specialist in mesothelioma can help patients understand the different mesothelioma cell types which determine how invasive the cancer is and what the patient's prognosis is. Patients should discuss their history of exposure to asbestos with their doctor to determine if they're a mesothelioma candidate and learn about the various types of treatment options are available to them.
How Can I get help?
If you've used Johnson & Johnson talcum and developed ovarian or other illnesses like mesothelioma after using the talcum powder, you could be entitled to a substantial amount of compensation. Contact us today to receive a no-obligation, free case evaluation. We can assist you with bringing mesothelioma suits against J&J to hold them accountable for negligence.
Mesothelioma, an uncommon and fatal illness caused by asbestos exposure is a rare disease. Asbestos was utilized in a variety of consumer and industrial products including baby powder. In talcum-powder lawsuits, plaintiffs claim that exposure to asbestos through inhalation of the powder caused them to develop mesothelioma or other health problems.
J&J was allegedly aware of the dangers of asbestos and talcum powder for decades, but did not warn consumers. Plaintiffs have filed mesothelioma lawsuits against the company seeking compensatory and punitive damages. The claims have been combined in state and federal multidistrict lawsuits, also known as MDLs.
In 2018, one of the largest Talc cases resulted in a $4.7 billion verdict in the favor of the plaintiff. This made national headlines and set a tone for the remainder of the litigation. In the last month, a judge denied J&J's motion to dismiss the lawsuits brought by the state.
Coral Springs mesothelioma lawsuits &J however, attempted again to halt the litigation. LTL Management, a subsidiary of J&J has filed for bankruptcy after the company created an entity that would take on its obligations. The bankruptcy was able to halt thousands of talc lawsuits but the 3rd Circuit rejected this strategy.
The lawsuits brought by Mississippi are based on the same allegations that are in the background of the individual lawsuits filed 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 an infraction to the law of the state.
J&J has submitted its motion to dismiss the lawsuits to an alternative bankruptcy court. A hearing is scheduled for June to decide whether the lawsuits against J&J will be allowed to proceed. If you or someone you love is diagnosed with mesothelioma or another condition that could have been caused by talcum powder, you should seek legal representation immediately. Our experienced lawyers can assist you in obtaining the compensation you deserve.