In the midst of thousands of lawsuits claiming plaintiffs developed ovarian cancer, mesothelioma, and other serious health conditions, federal regulators and Congress have issued subpoenas to pharmaceutical and cosmetics giant Johnson & Johnson to seek answers over whether or not the company’s talc-based products pose a risk to the public. Executives for Johnson & Johnson recently revealed the company has received subpoenas from the Securities and Exchange Commission, the U.S. Department of Justice, and a member of the U.S. Senate seeking information about the health risks of talcum powder products.
Revelations came in a Form 10-k securities filing in which Johnson & Johnson admitted to receiving the records requests and claimed to be fully cooperating with federal investigators looking into the dangers of the company’s Baby Powder and Shower to Shower products. Johnson & Johnson was rocked at the end of 2018 by Reuters reporting that analyzed thousands of pages of internal company documents that appeared to show executives with the corporation knew for decades about positive tests for carcinogens in its talcum powder products.
Johnson & Johnson currently faces approximately 13,000 talcum powder cancer lawsuits across the country from women and men who claim they developed deadly forms of cancer from years of exposure to carcinogens in the products. In 2019, Johnson & Johnson and its talc supplier, Imerys Talc USA, face dozens of trials in several states which could open the company to potentially billions in liability if juries continue to hand down substantial plaintiffs verdicts as they had in 2018.
In 2018, juries handed down over $5 billion in compensatory and punitive damages to plaintiffs who filed lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson. In one Missouri state court alone, jurors awarded $4.7 billion to 22 victims who claimed they developed cancer from asbestos in Johnson & Johnson talcum powder products. Despite attempts to overturn or have the award reduced in the Missouri case, the company has been unsuccessful as judges have thus far upheld the jury’s verdict.
Plaintiffs across the country claim they have developed mesothelioma from asbestos in the talcum powder products sold and marketed by Johnson & Johnson sourced from talc supplied by Imerys. Although talc does not contain asbestos itself, the mineral is often found in deposits side by side asbestos and therefore may be prone to contamination if reasonable precautions are not taken to remove the carcinogen.
Mesothelioma is a rare and deadly form of cancer that commonly affects the thin linings of tissue surrounding the lungs but may also spread to the heart and abdomen. Because of the long latency period associated with mesothelioma, it can be decades before doctors are able to make a diagnosis, a situation which can often leave patients with diminished treatment options.
Nationwide Mesothelioma Lawyer
If you or a loved one were diagnosed with mesothelioma, contact our office to speak to one of our experienced mesothelioma attorneys about your situation. Our office can help investigate your case and determine if compensation can be sought from negligent parties to help pay for your medical treatment to help you and your family live a more comfortable life.