Mesothelioma Lawyer Files Talc Lawsuit Against Johnson & Johnson
A 24-year-old man with pericardial mesothelioma has alleged Johnson and Johnson's baby powder was responsible for his cancer. The Oakland mesothelioma trial is one of the first one to be held since J&J spun off its talc business and filed for bankruptcy.
In the first quarter of the year, huge settlements were reached in talc suits in New Jersey and California. Plaintiffs linked cancer to asbestos found in J&J products Shower to Shower and baby powder.
What is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a fatal form of cancer that affects the mesothelium or lining that surrounds organs and body cavities. It is most often found in the lungs but it can also occur in the abdomen, the heart and chest cavity, as well as the testicles. Asbestos, the sole known cause of this illness, is asbestos. People who have been exposed are at a higher risk of developing it.
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. In 2022, the plaintiff who was just 24 years old at the time, old at the time, was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma of pericardium. He attributed the reason for his illness to his early use of Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder. The jury awarded him $25 million.
J&J is accused of obfuscating asbestos-related risks from consumers for many years. The company has a history of withholding asbestos findings from regulators and funding asbestos tests to achieve the results it desired. The lawsuits have identified a number of the company's talcum-powder suppliers such as Whittaker Clark & Daniels, Imerys Talc America, and other companies.
Many women who used talcum powder for feminine hygiene in the genital area or on sanitary napkins, or condoms have gotten an ovarian cancer and some have been diagnosed with mesothelioma. The lawsuits assert 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 as well as abdominal lumps, abdominal swelling and a persistent cough. Doctors can identify the disease through a physical exam and imaging scans. These include CT scans (computer tomography), MRIs, PET or X-rays.
When a mesothelioma diagnosis is confirmed, patients may undergo chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation. The surgeons are able to remove the affected tissue, based on the location of the tumors. Some patients with mesothelioma have a life expectancy less than five. However, aggressive treatments such as extracorporeal transplantation of tissue and cytoreduction using hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy can prolong the duration of survival.
What is the cause of Mesothelioma?
Like many cancers, mesothelioma develops by DNA mutations. These mutations cause cells to multiply in uncontrolled ways and develop tumors in tissues of the body. Asbestos is the most common mesothelioma-related cause. The exposure to asbestos can occur at work in many different industries, including mining, manufacturing, construction and transportation. Asbestos exposure is typically seen in the 20 to 40 years preceding symptoms appear. Mesothelioma is more common in males than women, and is most often diagnosed in people in their 50s and 70s. The type of mesothelioma a sufferer is usually determined by the area of their body in which they were exposed to asbestos. Most people with mesothelioma are diagnosed with pleural melanoma, which affects the lungs. Other patients are diagnosed with peritoneal msothelioma. This kind of mesothelioma affects the abdomen. Finally, some people are diagnosed with pericardial mesothelioma, an extremely rare form of the disease that affects the lining of the heart (pericardium) and the organ itself.
Symptoms of mesothelioma include fatigue, breathlessness and abdominal pain, as well as weight loss. In the last stages of mesothelioma the tumors may expand to other parts of the body that cause severe discomfort and discomfort. Other symptoms that are common to mesothelioma include fluid on the lung (pleural effusion), loss of appetite, difficulty swallowing and a blockage within the small intestine, referred to as a obstruction in the bowel. 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 was contaminated with asbestos, but did not inform customers. They also cited an 1998 letter to a J&J executive that revealed the possibility of asbestos being present 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 was diagnosed with ovarian mesothelioma from J&J's talcum powder. Then, last month a jury in Missouri awarded $55 million in a separate case involving the same issue. Seven new cases have been added to the MDL talcum powder over the last month, bringing to 37,522 the total number of lawsuits pending. The majority of these lawsuits are brought by women who have used J&J talcum powder to maintain feminine hygiene.
How Can I Tell if I Have Mesothelioma?
The diagnosis of mesothelioma could be devastating. Patients should always consult a specialist to get the most accurate diagnosis and to prevent 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 be used to test for asbestos fibers in blood, or the health of a patient's internal organs. The most precise method to diagnose mesothelioma is by a biopsy, in which doctors remove tissue or fluid from the affected area and then examine the area under a microscope to look for mesothelioma cells.
The type of mesothelioma a person is suffering from also affects the likelihood of a positive outcome. Pleural mesothelioma is by far the most common type of the disease and is responsible for the majority of cases that are diagnosed. Peritoneal cancer that develops in the lining of the abdomen is a less prevalent type. Lastly, pericardial msothelioma is a rare form of cancer that is found in the lining of the heart. It's only one percent of all cases.
Shortness of breath, which gets worse with time, and a bloody cough are some of the first symptoms. Asbestos sufferers may also experience fluid buildup in the chest cavity, which is known as pleural effusion. The fluid can be removed from the chest cavity by inserting a needle into the affected area. In more severe cases doctors may opt to perform pleurodesis, which is a procedure that seals the cavity in order to prevent the fluid from accumulating within the pleura.
Making sure that mesothelioma is diagnosed correctly is the most reliable way to determine the patient's treatment options as well as their survival rate. There are many options for treatment which include chemotherapy, surgery and radiation. Other options include immunotherapy which increases the immune system to fight mesothelioma and tumor treating fields that use magnetic fields to kill cancerous cell.
A specialized mesothelioma specialist can also assist patients in understanding the various mesothelioma types, 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 doctor to determine if they are mesothelioma candidates and find out what types of treatment might be available to them.
How Can I Get Help?
If you used Johnson & Johnson talcum and developed ovarian or other illnesses such as mesothelioma following the use of the powder, you could be eligible for a significant amount of compensation. Contact us today for a free, no obligation case evaluation. We can assist you with bringing mesothelioma suits 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 used extensively in a range of consumer and industrial products, including baby powder. In talcum-powder cases plaintiffs claim that asbestos exposure from inhaling the powder led to the development of mesothelioma or other health problems.
J&J believed to have known about the risk of asbestos and talcum powder for a long time, but failed to warn consumers. Plaintiffs have filed mesothelioma lawsuits against the company seeking punitive and compensatory damages. Thornton mesothelioma lawyers have been consolidated in state and federal multidistrict lawsuits, or MDLs.
In 2018, one of the largest Talc cases resulted in a $4.7 billion settlement in favor of the plaintiff. This was a major news story and set the stage for the rest of the year. In the last month, a judge denied J&J's motion to dismiss the lawsuits filed by the state.
However, in an effort to halt the lawsuit, J&J tried again. The company created an additional subsidiary entity to assume its talc liabilities, and LTL Management filed for bankruptcy. The bankruptcy stayed the talc lawsuits of thousands, however, the 3rd Circuit rejected this strategy.
The lawsuits brought by the state of Mississippi are based on the same allegations that were a part of the individual lawsuits against J&J that claim that the company's failure to warn consumers about the dangers of ovarian cancer from talcum powder was negligent and was a violation of the law of the state.
J&J has filed a motion to dismiss lawsuits before a different bankruptcy court. A hearing is scheduled for June to determine if the lawsuits against J&J can continue. If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or other disease that could be caused by talcum powder you should seek legal assistance immediately. Our experienced lawyers will assist you in getting the compensation you're entitled to.