Mesothelioma Lawyer Files Talc Lawsuit Against Johnson & Johnson
A man aged 24 with pericardial mesothelioma has alleged Johnson & Johnson's baby powder caused his cancer. The Oakland mesothelioma trial is the first trial to take place since J&J separated its Talc business and filed for bankruptcy.
Earlier this year, jury awards in New Jersey and California led to large settlements in talc-related lawsuits. Plaintiffs have linked cancer to asbestos in J&J products Shower to Shower and baby powder.
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 commonly found in the lungs, however it can also occur in the abdomen, the heart and chest cavity, as well as the testicles. Asbestos, the sole known cause of this disease is asbestos. People who have been exposed to asbestos are at an increased risk of developing it.
The first trial since J&J declared its Talcum Powder division bankrupt began this week, and jurors in Oakland, California were emotional as they heard the story of the plaintiff. The plaintiff, who is only 24 years old, was diagnosed with malignant pericardial cancer in 2022. He attributed his illness to childhood use of Johnson & Johnson baby powder. The jury awarded him $25 million.
J&J is accused of obfuscating asbestos-related risks from consumers for decades. The company has a long tradition of keeping asbestos information from regulators, and even paying for asbestos tests that did not yield the results they wanted. Several of the company's talcum powder suppliers have been named in these lawsuits and include Whittaker, Clark & Daniels and Imerys Talc America.
Women who used talcum for feminine hygiene on pads or condoms, or in the genital region have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and ovarian cancer. The lawsuits assert that J&J was aware for more than forty years that the powder could cause ovarian cancer as well as other illnesses, but failed to warn consumers.
Mesothelioma symptoms include abdominal pain, abdominal lumps, abdominal swelling, and persistent coughing. Doctors can diagnose mesothelioma through physical examination and imaging scans. These include CT scans (computer tomography), MRIs, PET or X-rays.
After a mesothelioma is diagnosed, patients can undergo surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiotherapy. Depending on the site of their tumors, surgeons might be able to remove the affected tissue. Patients with mesothelioma may have a life expectancy less than five. However aggressive treatments like extracorporeal tissue transplantation and chemotherapy for cytoreduction that uses hyperthermic intraperitoneal therapy can prolong the duration of survival.
What causes Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma, as with most cancers, is caused by DNA mutations within a cell. These mutations cause the cells to multiply rapidly, forming tumors in the tissues of the body. Asbestos is the leading cause of mesothelioma. Exposure to asbestos can be found in a variety of fields which include mining, manufacturing construction, transportation and construction. Asbestos exposure typically occurs in the 20 to 40 years preceding symptoms appear. Mesothelioma affects men more than women, and is most often diagnosed in those in their 50s and 70s. The type of mesothelioma that a sufferer is usually determined by the region of their body in which they were exposed to asbestos. Most mesothelioma patients are diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma which affects the lungs. Other patients are diagnosed with peritoneal msothelioma. This type of mesothelioma affects the abdomen. In addition, some individuals are diagnosed with pericardial mesothelioma, an extremely rare form of the disease that affects the heart's lining (pericardium) and the organ itself.
Mesothelioma symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue and abdominal pain, as well as weight loss. In the final mesothelioma stages, the tumors can spread to other parts of the body, which can cause severe discomfort and pain. Other symptoms of mesothelioma include fluid in the lungs, loss of appetite and difficulty swallowing and eating. Mesothelioma can be fatal.
Santa Monica mesothelioma attorneys -powder trial in Oakland involved an individual of 24 years old who developed pericardial msothelioma after using J&J baby powder. His lawyers argued that J&J knew talc could contain asbestos, but did not warn consumers about it. They also cited a letter in 1998 to an J&J executive which revealed asbestos could be present in their products.
This is the latest in a series of large verdicts against J&J. In March, J&J's Talcum Powder caused ovarian mesothelioma to a woman. In March, a jury in Missouri handed down $55 million in a similar case. In addition, seven new cases were added to the powder's MDL in the last month and brought the number of lawsuits pending to 37,522. The majority of these lawsuits concern women who used J&J's Talcum powder to wash their feminine hygiene.
How do I know whether I have mesothelioma or not?
A diagnosis of mesothelioma could be devastating. Patients must always consult a doctor for the most accurate diagnosis and to avoid misdiagnosis, which could lead to unneeded treatment and cancer spreading.
A physical exam and blood sample can aid in identifying mesothelioma signs. These tests can detect asbestos fibers in the blood or to determine how well a patient's organs are functioning. The most reliable method to determine if mesothelioma has been detected is through biopsy, which is when doctors remove tissue or fluid from the affected area, and then examine it under a microscope in order to detect mesothelioma-related cells.
The type of mesothelioma a person has can also affect his or her prognosis. Pleural mesothelioma, the most prevalent type of disease and is responsible for the majority of cases diagnosed. Peritoneal cancer, which forms in the lining of the abdomen is a less prevalent form. Finally, pericardial mesothelioma, an uncommon type that develops in the heart's lining, is much less common and makes up about 1percent of cases.
Some of the earliest symptoms include breathlessness which gets worse with time and coughing up blood. Asbestos patients can also experience fluid accumulation in the chest cavity. This condition is called the pleural effusion. This can be drained by inserting a needle in the affected region of the chest cavity. In more severe cases, doctors may perform a procedure called pleurodesis, which seals the area to prevent reaccumulation of fluid in the pleura.
A precise diagnosis of mesothelioma is crucial to determine the patient's survival rate as well as treatment options. There are many treatments available, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. There are also immunotherapy treatments that increases the immune system to fight mesothelioma as well as tumor treating fields that use a magnetic field in order to kill cancerous cell.
A specialist in mesothelioma can also help patients understand the different mesothelioma cells, which determine how aggressive the cancer is and what the patient's prognosis is. Patients should discuss their history of asbestos exposure with their doctor to determine if they're mesothelioma candidates and find out what types of treatment are available to them.
How Can I Get Help?
If you have used Johnson & Johnson talcum and developed ovarian or other illnesses like mesothelioma as a result of using the powder, you may be eligible for a significant amount of compensation. Contact us today to receive a no-obligation, free assessment of your case. We can assist you in bringing a mesothelioma suit against J&J to make them accountable for their negligence.
Mesothelioma is an extremely rare and fatal condition caused by asbestos exposure is a rare disease. Asbestos was once widely used in a range of industrial and consumer products, including baby powder. In talcum-powder lawsuits, plaintiffs claim that exposure to asbestos from inhaling the powder led to the development of mesothelioma or other health problems.
J&J failed to warn the public about the dangers of asbestos and talcum even though they were aware of them for decades. Plaintiffs have filed mesothelioma lawsuits against the company seeking damages for punitive and compensatory. These lawsuits have been combined into federal and state multidistrict litigations or MDLs.
In 2018 one of the first major Talc trials ended in a $4.7 billion verdict for the plaintiff. This was a major news story that set the tone 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.
J&J however, tried to stop the litigation. The company created a new subsidiary entity to take on its talc liability, and LTL Management filed for bankruptcy. The bankruptcy stayed thousands of talc lawsuits however, the 3rd Circuit rejected this strategy.
The lawsuits filed by the state of Mississippi are built on the same allegations as the individual lawsuits against J&J that claim that the company's failure to warn of the dangers of ovarian cancer resulting from talcum powder was negligent and constituted violations of state law.
J&J has resubmitted its motion to dismiss the lawsuits to another bankruptcy court. A hearing is scheduled for June to determine whether the lawsuits against J&J are able to proceed. If you or someone close to you has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another condition which could be the result of talcum powder. You should seek legal counsel immediately. Our experienced attorneys can help you receive compensation that you deserve.