Mesothelioma Lawyer Files Talc Lawsuit Against Johnson & Johnson
A man aged 24 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 to proceed since J&J separated its Talc business and filed for bankruptcy.
Earlier this year, jury awards in New Jersey and California led to massive settlements in talc lawsuits. Plaintiffs have linked cancer to asbestos that was found in J&J products Shower to Shower and baby powder.
What is Mesothelioma?
citrus heights mesothelioma law firm , which is a fatal form of cancer, affects the mesothelium or the lining that surrounds organs and cavities inside the body. It is most prevalent in the lungs, but can be located in the abdomen and chest cavity. Asbestos, the sole known cause of this illness, is asbestos. People who have been exposed to asbestos are at a higher chance of developing it.
The first trial after J&J declared bankruptcy over its talcum powder division opened in Oakland, California this week. Jurors were moved by the story of the plaintiff. The plaintiff, who is only 24 years old, was diagnosed with malignant pericardial cancer in 2022. The plaintiff attributed his condition to childhood use of Johnson & Johnson baby powder. The jury awarded him $26 million.
J&J is accused of hiding asbestos-related risks from consumers for decades. The company has a history of withholding asbestos findings from regulators and funding asbestos tests to get the results it wanted. These lawsuits have identified several of the talcum-powder suppliers for the company which include Whittaker Clark & Daniels, Imerys Talc America, and others.
Many women who used talcum powder for feminine hygiene in the genital areas or on sanitary napkins or condoms have developed an ovarian cancer and some have been diagnosed with mesothelioma. The lawsuits claim that J&J knew for more than 40 years that the powder led to mesothelioma and ovarian cancer, but did not warn consumers of this danger.
Mesothelioma symptoms include abdominal pain, abdominal lumps, abdominal swelling and persistent coughing. Doctors can identify the disease through a physical exam 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. The surgeons can remove the affected tissue depending on the location of the tumors. Patients with mesothelioma may have a lifespan less than five. However aggressive treatments like extracorporeal tissue transplantation and the cytoreduction process using hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy can prolong the life of patients.
What is the cause of Mesothelioma?
Like most cancers, mesothelioma is caused when a cell's DNA experiences mutations. These mutations cause cells to multiply in uncontrolled ways and form tumors in the tissues of the body. Asbestos is a frequent cause of mesothelioma. The exposure to asbestos can occur at work in many different industries which include mining, manufacturing construction, transportation and construction. Asbestos exposure is typically seen in the 20 to 40 years preceding symptoms begin to manifest. Mesothelioma is more prevalent in men than women, and it is most commonly diagnosed in people who are in their 50s to 70s. The type of mesothelioma that a person is usually determined by the part of their body where they were exposed to asbestos. Most people with mesothelioma are diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma which affects the lungs. Some are diagnosed with peritoneal msothelioma. This kind of mesothelioma affects the abdomen. Certain people are diagnosed with pericardial msothelioma. This is an extremely rare type of the disease which affects both the inner lining (pericardium) as well as the organ itself.
The symptoms of mesothelioma are fatigue, breathlessness and abdominal pain, as well as weight loss. In the last stages of mesothelioma, the tumors can grow to other areas, causing severe discomfort and pain. Other symptoms of mesothelioma include fluid in the lungs, loss of appetite and difficulty swallowing and eating. Mesothelioma is a fatal illness that is usually fatal.
The trial involving talcum powder in Oakland involved a 24-year-old man who was diagnosed with pericardial mesothelioma due to the use of J&J baby powder. His lawyers argued the company knew that talc was contaminated with asbestos, but did not inform customers. They also cited a 1998 letter to a J&J executive that revealed the possibility of asbestos being in their products.
This is the latest in a series of major verdicts against J&J. In March, a jury awarded $18.8 million to a woman who was diagnosed with ovarian mesothelioma from J&J's talcum powder, and last month the jury in Missouri awarded $55 million in a different case that dealt with the same issue. In addition, seven cases were added to the powder's MDL in the last month and brought the total number of lawsuits pending to 37,522. The majority of these lawsuits concern women who used J&J's Talcum powder for feminine hygiene purposes.
How Do I Know if I Have Mesothelioma?
A diagnosis of mesothelioma is devastating. Patients should always see a specialist to get the most accurate information possible and avoid misdiagnosis which could lead to unnecessary treatment and let cancer grow.
A physical examination and a blood test is an excellent way to determine whether mesothelioma is causing symptoms. These tests can be used to test for asbestos fibers in blood, or the health of a patient's internal organs. 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 to look for mesothelioma cells.
The type of mesothelioma sufferers have can influence the prognosis of a patient. Pleural mesothelioma, the most commonly encountered type of disease and is responsible for the majority of cases diagnosed. Peritoneal cancer, which forms in the lining surrounding the abdomen is a less prevalent form. Lastly, pericardial msothelioma is a rare type that is found in the lining of the heart. It only accounts for 1percent of all cases.
The first signs include shortness of breath that becomes worse over time and coughing up blood. Asbestos sufferers may also experience fluid accumulation within the chest cavity. This condition is called pleural effusion. This can be drained by inserting a needle in the affected area of the chest cavity. In more severe cases doctors may opt to perform pleurodesis, which is a procedure that seals the cavity to stop the accumulation of fluid in the pleura.
Making sure that mesothelioma is diagnosed correctly is the best method to determine a 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 is a kind of treatment that increases the immune system to fight mesothelioma cancer cells and tumor-removing fields, which uses an electromagnetic field to kill cancerous cells.
A mesothelioma specialist can help patients understand different mesothelioma cells which determine the extent of the cancer as well as the patient's outlook. Patients should discuss their history of asbestos exposure with their physician to determine if they're mesothelioma-related and discover what kinds of treatment options are available to them.
How Can I get help?
If you have used Johnson & Johnson talcum powder and then developed ovarian cancer, or a different illness such as mesothelioma, you may be eligible for substantial compensation. Contact us today to receive an absolutely free case evaluation. We can assist you with filing mesothelioma lawsuits against J&J and hold J&J accountable for their wrongful conduct.
Mesothelioma, an uncommon and fatal illness caused by asbestos exposure is a rare disease. Asbestos was used in many industrial and consumer products, including baby powder. Plaintiffs in talcum powder cases claim that inhaling talcum powder led to asbestos exposure and subsequently mesothelioma and various other health issues.
J&J believed to have known about the dangers of talcum powder and asbestos for decades but failed to warn consumers. Plaintiffs have filed lawsuits seeking punitive damages and compensatory damages against the company. These claims have been consolidated in federal and state multidistrict lawsuits, also known as MDLs.
In 2018, one of the largest talc cases resulted in an $4.7 billion verdict in favor of the plaintiff. It was a national news story that set the precedent for the rest of the year. In the last month, a judge rejected the motion of J&J to dismiss the lawsuits filed by the state of Mississippi.
J&J however, tried again to halt the litigation. The company established an additional subsidiary entity to take on its talc liability, and LTL Management filed for bankruptcy. The bankruptcy ended hundreds of talc suits however, the 3rd Circuit rejected that strategy.
The lawsuits filed by Mississippi are based on the same allegations that are in the background of the individual lawsuits filed against J&J. They assert that the company was negligent in failing to warn consumers of the possibility of ovarian carcinoma due to talcum-powder, and that this was a violation of state law.
J&J has resubmitted its motion to dismiss the lawsuits to a different bankruptcy court. A hearing has been scheduled for June in order to determine whether the lawsuits against J&J will be allowed to proceed. If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another condition which could be caused by talcum powder you should seek legal representation immediately. Our skilled attorneys will assist you in getting the compensation that you deserve.