Mesothelioma Lawyer Files Talc Lawsuit Against Johnson & Johnson
A man who is 24 years old and has mesothelioma of the pericardium has claimed that Johnson and Johnson's baby powder was responsible for his cancer. The Oakland mesothelioma case is the first trial to take place since J&J separated its talc business and filed for bankruptcy.
In the spring of this year, jury awards in New Jersey and California led to massive settlements in talc-related lawsuits. Plaintiffs have 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 prevalent in the lungs but can also be located in the chest and abdomen cavity. Asbestos, the sole known cause of this illness, is asbestos. People who have been exposed to asbestos are at an increased chance 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 testimony of the plaintiff. The plaintiff, who is just 24 years old, was diagnosed with malignant pericardial mesothelioma in 2022. The plaintiff attributed his condition to childhood exposure to Johnson & Johnson baby powder. The jury awarded him $26 million.
J&J has been accused of concealing asbestos-related risks from consumers for decades. The company has a long history of hiding asbestos-related findings from regulators, and even supplying asbestos tests to get the results it wanted. Several of the company's talcum powder suppliers have been named in these lawsuits and include Whittaker, Clark & Daniels and Imerys Talc America.
Many women who used talcum powder to maintain feminine hygiene in the genital region or on sanitary napkins or condoms have developed ovarian cancer, and some have been diagnosed with mesothelioma. The lawsuits allege that J&J knew for more than 40 years that using the powder led to ovarian cancer and mesothelioma, but did not warn consumers of the danger.
Symptoms of mesothelioma include abdominal pain as well as abdominal lumps, abdominal swelling and a persistent cough. Doctors can detect mesothelioma with a physical exam and imaging scans. These could include CT (computer tomography) scans, MRIs and PET or X-rays.
Once a mesothelioma diagnosis is confirmed, patients can undergo surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation. The surgeons can remove the affected tissue depending on the location of the tumors. Some patients with mesothelioma have a life expectancy less than five. However, aggressive treatments such as extracorporeal tissue transplantation and the cytoreduction process using hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy can prolong survival.
What is the cause of Mesothelioma?
Like all cancers, mesothelioma is caused by DNA mutations. These mutations can cause uncontrolled growth of cells, which forms tumors in tissues. Asbestos is the most frequent mesothelioma cause. Asbestos exposure can occur in many different industries including manufacturing, mining and transportation. Asbestos exposure typically occurs 20 to 40 years prior to the time symptoms appear. Mesothelioma affects men more than women, and it is usually diagnosed in those in their 50s and 70s. The type of asbestos-related mesothelioma that someone develops is often determined by where on their body they were exposed. The majority of mesothelioma patients are diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma that affects the lung. Other patients are diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma, a type of mesothelioma that affects the abdomen. In addition, some individuals are diagnosed with pericardial melanoma, an extremely rare form of the disease that affects the heart's lining (pericardium) and the organ itself.
Insomnia, fatigue, and abdominal pain are all symptoms of mesothelioma. In the last stages of mesothelioma, tumors may expand to other parts of the body that cause severe discomfort and discomfort. Other typical symptoms of mesothelioma include fluid on the lungs (pleural effusion), loss of appetite, difficulties swallowing and a blockage in the small intestine referred to as a obstruction in the bowel. Mesothelioma can be fatal.
The talcum powder trial in Oakland involved a man of 24 who was diagnosed with pericardial mesothelioma due to the use of J&J baby powder. His lawyers claimed that J&J knew talc could contain asbestos and didn't warn consumers. They also cited an 1998 letter addressed to a J&J executive revealing the possibility of asbestos being in their products.
This is only the latest in a string of major verdicts against J&J. In March, a jury handed down $18.8 million to a woman who was diagnosed with mesothelioma ovarian from J&J's talcum powder. Last month the jury in Missouri awarded $55 million in a separate case involving the same issue. In addition, seven cases were added to the powder's MDL over the last month and brought the total number of lawsuits pending to 37,522. The majority of these lawsuits involve women who used J&J's talcum powder for feminine hygiene reasons.
How do Minneapolis mesothelioma lawyer know If I Have Mesothelioma?
A diagnosis of mesothelioma is devastating. Patients should always consult an expert to obtain the most accurate diagnosis possible and avoid misdiagnosis which could lead to unnecessary treatment or allow cancer to expand further.
A physical exam 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 reliable 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 look for mesothelioma cells.
The type of mesothelioma that a person is suffering from also affects his or her prognosis. Pleural mesothelioma, that forms in the thin lining that surrounds the lung, is the most common form of mesothelioma and makes up the majority of cases diagnosed. Peritoneal cancer, which forms in the lining of the abdomen, is a less common type. Finally, pericardial mesothelioma, a rare type of cancer that develops in the heart's lining, is more rare and only makes up around one percent of cases.
Shortness of breath, which gets worse with time, and a bloody cough are a few of the initial symptoms. Asbestos patients can also experience fluid accumulation in the chest cavity. This condition is called Pleural effusion. The fluid can be eliminated from the chest cavity by inserting an needle into the affected region. In more severe cases, doctors may perform pleurodesis, which is a procedure that seals the space in order to prevent the fluid from accumulating in the pleura.
Getting an accurate mesothelioma diagnosis is the best method to determine the patient's treatment options as well as their survival rate. Treatment options include chemotherapy, surgery and radiation are all options. Other options include immunotherapy which boosts the immune systems to fight mesothelioma as well as cancer treating fields that employ the power of magnets to kill cancerous cells.
A mesothelioma expert can also help patients understand different mesothelioma cells, which determine the extent of the cancer as well as the outlook for patients. Patients should discuss with their doctor their history of asbestos exposure to determine whether mesothelioma could be possible and what treatment options are available.
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 talcum 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 mesothelioma suits against J&J to make them accountable for their negligence.
Mesothelioma is a rare but fatal disease that is caused by exposure to asbestos. Asbestos was once widely used in a variety of industrial and consumer products, including baby powder. In talcum powder cases plaintiffs assert that exposure to asbestos from inhaling the powder led to the development of mesothelioma or other health problems.
J&J allegedly knew about the dangers of talcum powder and asbestos for a long time, but failed to warn consumers. Plaintiffs have filed mesothelioma lawsuits against the firm seeking compensatory and punitive damages. These claims have been consolidated in state and federal multidistrict litigations, or MDLs.
In 2018, one of the first major trial involving talc resulted in a $4.7 billion verdict for the plaintiff. This was a national news story that set the stage for the rest of the year. Last month, a court denied J&J's request to dismiss the lawsuits filed by the state.
However, in an attempt to derail the lawsuit, J&J tried again. The company created an additional subsidiary entity to take over its talc liabilities and LTL Management filed for bankruptcy. The bankruptcy ended hundreds of talc suits however, the 3rd Circuit rejected that strategy.
The lawsuits brought by Mississippi are based on the same allegations as those of the individual lawsuits filed against J&J. They assert that the company acted negligently in failing to warn of the possibility of ovarian cancer from talcum powder and that this resulted in an infraction 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 in order to determine whether the lawsuits against J&J will be allowed to proceed. If you or someone you know is diagnosed with mesothelioma, or any other condition that could have been caused by talcum powder, you should seek legal assistance immediately. Our skilled attorneys will assist you in getting the compensation you deserve.