Mesothelioma Lawyer Files Talc Lawsuit Against Johnson & Johnson
A man who is 24 years old and has pericardial mesotheliom claims that Johnson & Johnson baby powder is to blame for his cancer. The Oakland mesothelioma trial is one of the first to proceed since J&J spun off its talc business and filed for bankruptcy.
In the first quarter of this year, large settlements were made in talc lawsuits in New Jersey and California. Plaintiffs have linked cancer to asbestos found in J&J products Shower to Shower and baby powder.
What is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma can be a deadly form of cancer that affects the mesothelium, or lining that surrounds organs and body cavities. It is most common in the lungs, but it can be located in the abdomen and chest cavity. Asbestos, which is the only known cause of this disease is asbestos. People who have been exposed are at a higher 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. The plaintiff, who is only 24 years old, was diagnosed with malignant pericardial mesothelioma in 2022. He attributed the cause of his illness to his childhood use Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder. The jury awarded him $26 million.
J&J has been accused of concealing asbestos-related risks from consumers for many years. The company has a long track record of concealing asbestos-related information from regulators, as well as paying for asbestos tests that produced the results they desired. A number of the company's talcum powder suppliers have been named in these lawsuits and include Whittaker, Clark & Daniels and Imerys Talc America.
Women who used talcum for feminine hygiene on pads or condoms as well as in the genital region have developed ovarian and mesothelioma. The lawsuits claim that J&J was aware for more than forty years that the powder could cause ovarian cancer and other diseases, but failed to warn consumers.
Mesothelioma symptoms may include breathing difficulties, constant coughing, fatigue, abdominal pain and lumps or masses on the abdomen or chest. Doctors can detect mesothelioma with an examination and imaging scans. These include CT scans (computer tomography), MRIs, PET or X rays.
When a mesothelioma diagnosis is confirmed, patients can undergo chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation. The surgeons can remove affected tissue depending on the location of the tumors. Patients with mesothelioma may be given a life expectancy less than five years, but aggressive treatments such as extracorporeal Membrane transplant and cytoreduction with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy can extend the duration of their survival.
What is the cause of Mesothelioma?
Like many cancers, mesothelioma develops by DNA mutations. These mutations cause the cells to multiply rapidly and form tumors in the tissues of the body. Asbestos is the most frequent mesothelioma-related cause. The exposure to asbestos can occur at work in a variety of fields, including manufacturing, mining construction, and transportation. Asbestos exposure typically occurs in the 20 to 40 years preceding symptoms develop. Mesothelioma affects men more than women, and it is most often diagnosed in people who are in their 50s to 70s. The type of mesothelioma a sufferer is usually determined by the region of their body where they were exposed to asbestos. The majority of mesothelioma patients are diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma that 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.
Shortness of breath, fatigue, and abdominal pain are all symptoms of mesothelioma. In the last stages of mesothelioma the tumors can grow to other areas which can cause extreme discomfort and discomfort. Other symptoms that are common to mesothelioma are fluid on the lungs (pleural effusion) loss of appetite, difficulty swallowing and a blockage within 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 cancer due to the use of J&J baby powder. His lawyers argued that J&J knew that talc might contain asbestos,
pleural but didn't inform consumers. They also cited an 1998 letter to a J&J executive, revealing the possibility of asbestos being present in their products.
This is the latest in a string of large verdicts against J&J. In March, J&J's Talcum powder caused ovarian mesothelioma in one woman. In March, a jury in Missouri awarded $55 Million in the same case. In addition, seven cases were added to the powder talcum MDL over the last month and brought the number of lawsuits pending to 37,522. The majority of these lawsuits are filed by women who used J&J talcum powder to maintain feminine hygiene.
How do I know if I have mesothelioma or not?
A diagnosis of mesothelioma can be devastating. Patients should consult a specialist to get the most accurate information available and avoid misdiagnosis that could lead to unnecessary treatment or allow cancer to grow.
A physical examination and blood test is an effective way to determine whether mesothelioma is causing symptoms. These tests can be used to test for asbestos fibers in blood or to assess the health of a patient's internal organs. The most accurate way to identify mesothelioma is with a biopsy, where doctors remove fluid or tissue from the affected area, and then examine it under a microscope in order to search for mesothelioma cancer cells.
The type of mesothelioma that a sufferer has also impacts his or her prognosis. Pleural mesothelioma, which forms in the thin lining around the lungs, is the common form of the disease and makes up the majority of cases diagnosed. Peritoneal cancer that develops in the lining around the abdomen is a less prevalent form. In addition, pericardial mesothelioma which is a rare form of cancer that occurs in the lining of the heart, is much less common and makes up around 1percent of cases.
Some of the first symptoms include a shortness of breath that gets worse over time, and then coughing up blood. Asbestos victims may also experience fluid buildup in the chest cavity, a condition called
pleural effusion. It can be eliminated by inserting a needle into the affected area of the chest cavity. In more serious cases, doctors can undergo a procedure called pleurodesis to seal the space to prevent reaccumulation of fluid in the pleura.
A mesothelioma accurate diagnosis is crucial in determining the patient's survival rate as well as treatment options. There are many treatments available, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Other options include immunotherapy. It is a kind of treatment that increases the immune system to fight mesothelioma cells, and tumor treating fields, which uses an electromagnetic field to eliminate cancerous cells.
A mesothelioma expert can also help patients understand different mesothelioma types that determine the severity of the cancer and the outlook for patients. Patients should discuss their history of exposure to asbestos 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've used Johnson & Johnson talcum and suffered from ovarian or other diseases like mesothelioma after using the talcum powder, you could be entitled to a substantial amount of compensation. Contact us today to receive an obligation-free, no-cost consultation. We can assist you in filing a mesothelioma lawsuit against J&J and hold them accountable for their actions.
Mesothelioma is a rare but fatal disease that is caused by asbestos exposure. Asbestos was once widely used in a wide range of industrial and consumer products, including baby powder. Plaintiffs in talcum powder cases claim that inhaling talcum powder caused to their exposure to asbestos, which contributed to mesothelioma and various other health issues.
J&J allegedly knew about the risk of asbestos and talcum powder for decades, but did not warn consumers. Plaintiffs have filed mesothelioma lawsuits against J&J seeking compensatory and punitive damages. These claims have been consolidated in state and federal multidistrict litigations, or MDLs.
In 2018, one of the largest Talc cases resulted in a $4.7 billion settlement in favor of the plaintiff. This was a major news story and set the stage for the rest. In the last month, a judge denied J&J's motion to dismiss the lawsuits filed by the state.
J&J however, tried again to stall the litigation. The company created a new subsidiary entity to take on its talc liability and LTL Management filed for bankruptcy. The bankruptcy stayed thousands of talc lawsuits however, the 3rd Circuit rejected this strategy.
The lawsuits filed by Mississippi are based on the same allegations as those of the individual lawsuits filed against J&J. They allege that the company was negligent in not warning of the possibility of ovarian cancer due to talcum-powder, and that this constituted an infraction to the law of the state.
J&J has filed a motion to dismiss lawsuits to a different bankruptcy court. A hearing is scheduled for June to determine whether the lawsuits against J&J will be allowed to proceed. If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with a mesothelioma or another condition that could be caused by talcum powder you should seek legal representation immediately. Our experienced lawyers can assist you in obtaining the compensation you deserve.