Dean Weitzman
(Photo credit: Courtesy of MyPhillyLawyer)
From blog of MyPhillyLawyer, attorney Dean Weitzman
After 62-year-old Jacqueline Fox died in 2015 from ovarian cancer, her family sued Johnson & Johnson, the maker of the baby powder and other talcum powders she had used for more than 35 years. In February, a Missouri jury ordered the consumer products company to pay her family $72 million in damages after finding that her ovarian cancer was linked to the use of the products.
More than 1,200 other women who have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer across the nation have also sued Johnson & Johnson in connection with their talcum powder use for feminine hygiene and their cancers, according to an earlier Washington Post story.
Mrs. Fox had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer about three years before she died. In depositions in the case, she described her 35 years of using Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder and Shower to Shower Body Powder regularly.
In the family’s lawsuit, they alleged that Johnson & Johnson knew of the long term dangers of using and breathing talc – the main ingredient in the powders – but did nothing to warn consumers of the dangers and effects, the story reported.
Research studies “have associated regular talc use with ovarian cancer for decades,” but the American Cancer Society “notes that there is no definitive research on whether asbestos-free talc — the kind widely used in consumer products — causes ovarian cancer,” the story reported.
In Fox’s case, a pathologist “found that Fox’s ovaries were inflamed from talc, which then turned into cancer,” according to the story.
Internal Johnson & Johnson corporate memos presented at the trial were seen by some jurors as showing that the company knew the potential dangers of the products but didn’t advise consumers or regulators or add warnings labels to the products, the story reported. Additional lawsuits related to talc and cancer cases are pending against the company.
Johnson & Johnson sold its Shower to Shower product line to Valeant Pharmaceuticals in 2012.
As more victims of ovarian cancers that might be linked to long term talcum powder use come forward, the lawyers at MyPhillyLawyer are ready to review their potential cases and provide support and assistance as they plan their legal fights for compensation.
As of July 8, MyPhillyLawyer is running television ads about ovarian cancer risks from long term use of talcum powder products such as Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder and Shower to Shower Body Powder. Research has confirmed that the regular use of talcum powder for feminine hygiene can increase the risk of ovarian cancer in some women.
If you used such products before being diagnosed with ovarian cancer, contact MyPhillyLawyer to find out about your legal options as you deal with your illness. Let us fight for you in this battle.
In the Fox case, the jury awarded the family $10 million in compensatory damages and $62 million in punitive damages, which could eventually be reduced by a lower court, the report continued.
Johnson & Johnson said in February that it will appeal the verdict. “We have no higher responsibility than the health and safety of consumers and we are disappointed with the outcome of the trial,” the company told the Post in a statement. “We sympathize with the plaintiff’s family but firmly believe the safety the cosmetic talc is supported by decades of scientific evidence.”
These kinds of tragic legal cases occur every day when innocent victims are severely hurt or die from the use of a wide range of consumer products due to the actions, inattentiveness or indifference of others. That’s why it is critical to have a legal team on your side that uncovers every fact to bolster your case and maximize your damage award.
MyPhillyLawyer stands ready to assist you with your legal case if you or a loved one is ever seriously injured due to medical malpractice, a vehicle crash, a construction accident or any other incident anywhere in the United States. We represent the families of victims who die in such tragedies as well, to ensure that their families receive every penny of damages that they are eligible to receive.
Call MyPhillyLawyer at 215-227-2727 or toll-free at 1-866-920-0352 anytime and our experienced, compassionate, aggressive team of attorneys and support staff will be there for you and your family every step of the way as we manage your case through the legal system.
About Dean Weitzman
Attorney Dean Weitzman is the Managing Partner of Silvers, Langsam & Weitzman, P.C., known as MyPhillyLawyer. MyPhillyLawyer is a well-established personal injury law firm serving Greater Philadelphia and the surrounding area.
He also the host of the hour-long syndicated Court Radio show that discusses legal issues and gives free on air legal advice to callers every Sunday morning 7 AM to 8 AM live on Philadelphia’s Old School 100.3 FM, Praise 103.9FM and Boom 107.9FM. Court Radio helps local residents by talking with them about their rights in everything from car accidents, personal injury, domestic relations, wills, trusts and real estate and to worker’s compensation matters. Information: 215-227-2727 or www.myphillylawyer.com
Watch MyPhillyLawyer’s ovarian cancer commercial to assist victims below:
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