How Mesothelioma Talc Lawsuit Can Be Your Next Big Obsession

Mesothelioma Lawyer Files Talc Lawsuit Against Johnson & Johnson
A man aged 24 with mesothelioma pericardial has claimed that Johnson and Johnson's baby powder caused his cancer. The Oakland mesothelioma trial is one of the first trial to take place since J&J has dissolved its Talc business and filed for bankruptcy.
In the beginning of this year, large settlements were made in talc suits in New Jersey and California. Plaintiffs have linked cancer to asbestos that was found in J&J products Shower to Shower and baby powder.
What is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a lethal type of cancer, affects the mesothelium or lining around organs and cavities within the body. Pittsburgh mesothelioma lawyers is most common in the lungs, but can also be found in the chest and abdomen cavity. Asbestos, which is the only 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 opened this week and jurors in Oakland, California were emotional when they heard the story of the plaintiff. In 2022, the plaintiff who was only 24 years old at the time, old at the time, was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma of pericardium. He blamed the cause of his condition to his early use of Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder. The jury awarded him $26 million.
J&J has been accused of concealing asbestos risks from consumers for decades. The company has a long history of hiding asbestos-related findings from regulators and even funding asbestos tests to get the results it wanted. Several of the company's talcum powder suppliers have been named in these lawsuits, including Whittaker, Clark & Daniels and Imerys Talc America.
Many women who used talcum powder to maintain feminine hygiene in the genital area or on sanitary napkins or condoms have developed cancer of the ovary, and a few have been diagnosed with mesothelioma. The lawsuits claim that J&J was aware for more than 40 years that the powder could cause ovarian cancer as well as other illnesses, but failed to warn consumers.
Symptoms of mesothelioma include abdominal pain and abdominal swelling, abdominal lumps, and persistent coughing. Doctors can diagnose the disease by a physical examination and imaging scans. These could include CT (computer tomography) scans, MRIs and PET or X-rays.
If mesothelioma has been diagnosed, patients can undergo surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy. The surgeons can remove the affected tissue depending on the location of the tumors. Patients with mesothelioma may have a life expectancy lower than five. However aggressive treatments like extracorporeal transplantation of tissue and cytoreduction using hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy can prolong survival.
What causes Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma, as with most cancers, is caused by DNA changes within a cell. These mutations cause the cells to multiply rapidly and form tumors in the tissues of the body. Asbestos is the most common mesothelioma-related cause. Exposure to asbestos can occur at work in many different industries which include mining, manufacturing construction, and transportation. Asbestos exposure typically occurs in the 20 to 40 years preceding symptoms develop. Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma than women. It is also diagnosed most often among those between the ages of 50 and 70. The kind of mesothelioma caused by asbestos that a person develops is often determined by the place on their body they were exposed. Most people with mesothelioma are diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma which affects the lung. Some are diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma, a type of mesothelioma that affects the abdomen. Finally, some people are diagnosed with pericardial melanoma, an extremely rare form of the disease that affects the heart's lining (pericardium) and the organ itself.
Symptoms of mesothelioma include shortness of breath, fatigue, abdominal pain and weight loss. In the late stages of mesothelioma, the tumors can spread to different parts of the body, creating severe pain and discomfort. Other signs of mesothelioma can include fluid in the lungs, loss of appetite and difficulty swallowing and eating. Mesothelioma is a terminal disease, and is often fatal.
The talcum-powder case in Oakland involved an individual of 24 years old who developed pericardial msothelioma following the use of J&J baby powder. His lawyers argued the company knew that talc was contaminated with asbestos, but didn't warn customers. They also cited a 1998 letter sent to a J&J executive revealing the possibility of asbestos being present in their products.
This is the latest in a string of high-dollar verdicts against J&J. In March, J&J's Talcum powder caused ovarian mesothelioma in one woman. Last month, another jury in Missouri handed down $55 million in a similar case. Seven new cases have been added to the MDL talcum powder over the last month, which brings the total to 37,522 the number of pending suits. The majority of these lawsuits concern women who have used J&J's talcum powder for feminine hygiene purposes.
How do I know whether I have mesothelioma or not?
A diagnosis of mesothelioma could be devastating. Patients should always seek out a specialist to get the most precise diagnosis and to avoid mistakes that could lead to unneeded treatment and cancer spreading.
A physical exam and blood sample can help to identify mesothelioma symptoms. These tests can be used to check for asbestos fibers in blood or to assess the health of a patient's internal organs. The most reliable method to diagnose mesothelioma is taking a biopsy. Doctors remove tissue or fluids from the affected area, and then look at them under a microscope for mesothelioma tumor cells.
The type of mesothelioma that a sufferer has also impacts the likelihood of a positive outcome. Pleural mesothelioma, which forms in the thin lining that surrounds the lungs, is the most common form of the disease and accounts for the vast majority of cases diagnosed. Peritoneal cancer that develops in the lining surrounding the abdomen is a less well-known form. In addition, pericardial mesothelioma which is a rare form of cancer that occurs in the heart's lining, is much rarer and only makes up about 1percent of cases.
Some of the earliest symptoms include a shortness of breath that gets worse over time, and then coughing up blood. Asbestos patients can also experience fluid accumulation within the chest cavity. This condition is called the pleural effusion. It can be removed by inserting a needle into the affected region of the chest cavity. In more severe cases, doctors might use a procedure known as pleurodesis to close the space to prevent reaccumulation of fluid in the pleura.
A mesothelioma accurate diagnosis is essential to determining the rate of survival for a patient and treatment options. There are a variety of options for treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Other options include immunotherapy which enhances the immune system to fight mesothelioma as well as treatment fields for tumors that utilize magnetic fields to kill cancerous cells.
A mesothelioma specialist can assist patients in understanding different mesothelioma types which determine the extent of the cancer as well as the patient's outlook. Patients should discuss their experience of exposure to asbestos with their doctor to determine if they're mesothelioma-related and learn about the various types of treatment are available to them.
How Can I get help?
If you've used Johnson & Johnson talcum powder and have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer or another illness like mesothelioma or other cancers, you could be eligible for significant compensation. Contact us today for a no-obligation, free case evaluation. We can assist you in filing mesothelioma lawsuits against J&J and hold them accountable for their negligence.
Mesothelioma is an extremely rare and fatal condition caused by asbestos exposure is a rare condition. Asbestos used to be widely used in many industrial and consumer products, including baby powder. Plaintiffs in talcum powder lawsuits claim that inhaling talcum powder caused to their asbestos exposure which led to mesothelioma as well as other health issues.
J&J allegedly knew about the dangers of asbestos and talcum powder for a long time, but failed to warn consumers. Plaintiffs have filed mesothelioma lawsuits against the firm seeking punitive and compensatory damages. These claims have been consolidated in state and federal multidistrict lawsuits, also known as MDLs.
In 2018 one of the largest Talc trials ended in a $4.7 billion verdict for the plaintiff. The news made headlines across the country and set the stage for the remainder of the litigation. In the last month, a judge ruled against the motion of J&J to dismiss the lawsuits filed by the state of Mississippi.
However, in an effort to stop the lawsuit, J&J tried again. LTL Management, a subsidiary of J&J, filed for bankruptcy after the company created an entity to take over its obligations. The bankruptcy ended the filing of thousands of talc lawsuits, but the 3rd Circuit rejected that strategy.
The lawsuits brought by the state of Mississippi are built on the same allegations as the individual lawsuits brought against J&J which allege that the company's inability to warn about the risks of ovarian cancer from talcum powder was negligent, and constituted violations of the law of the state.
J&J has resubmitted its motion to dismiss the lawsuits to a different bankruptcy court. A hearing is scheduled for June in order to determine if the lawsuits against J&J are able to proceed. If you or someone close to you has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another condition that could be the result of talcum powder. You should seek legal counsel immediately. Our experienced lawyers can help you receive the compensation you deserve.