Johnson & Johnson has been a household brand since the 1970’s as the products it supplied were always claimed to be safe and hazard free for both adults and babies. But in recent years, the company has begun to receive a significant amount of backlash after some women who used the company’s most widely used product, Baby Powder, developed ovarian cancer. Many of the women who developed cancer began to connect their condition with the talc found in the powder which then led to several lawsuits being filed against the company.
Back in July, 22 women sued Johnson & Johnson and a $4.7 billion verdict was reached. Still, despite the hefty amount the company was asked to pay, it still remains firm in backing its products up. Unfortunately for the company, a recent report issued by Reuters alleges that “small amounts of asbestos have been lurking in some of the company’s talc—the substance that makes baby powder powdery” and has been for years [Source: Vox]. Vox stated that the “company allegedly didn’t openly communicate results, and at times purposely obfuscated them, to both consumers and the Food and Drug Administration.”
Because of the negative publicity the company continues to receive, its stock recently dropped by 11%.
While Johnson & Johnson has shared their plans to appeal the court’s decision on the $4.7 billion verdict, more lawsuits continue to be filed. The St. Louis Record reported that a surviving husband of a Stone County woman recently filed suit against the company after his wife passed from ovarian cancer. The plaintiff in the case, identified as William Yardley, is claiming that his wife Mary Ann Yardley, had used Johnson & Johnson products on a daily basis and was later diagnosed with ovarian and peritoneal cancer in December 2015.
After learning about the cancer, Yardley’s wife underwent “a radical debulking of tumor, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, and months of chemotherapy and radiation.” The lawsuit was filed in the Western District of Missouri, which has been recognized as a “favorable jurisdiction for plaintiffs to win big awards.” The reason being is that many of the plaintiffs who have come forward and filed suit in the state of Missouri have been successful with their efforts. However, Johnson & Johnson is fighting back against those who have traveled to the state just to file suit but aren’t actual residents of it.
Although the company has continued to defend its name and its long line of products that have made their way into homes all across the country, the fact that they denied that their talc contained asbestos in the past only for recent studies to indicate otherwise isn’t a good look for the company. Vox highlighted that although talc “is a natural mineral that is mined from the earth, it’s not totally certain that its end product, talcum powder, is safe even in its purest form.” In fact, the source says that “it can also be contaminated with asbestos as it often shows up in the same mines where talc is, causing contamination.” The source continued to highlight that despite the test results from years ago that indicated traces of asbestos were found in the talc from the company, they continued to sell their products while claiming they were asbestos-free.
Vox stated that aside from Johnson & Johnson receiving the negative attention that it has, legislators have also “been faced with increased pressure over the past several years from so-called “clean” beauty companies and consumer advocated alike to pass laws that give the FDA more regulatory power over cosmetics and personal care products.” And if this were to happen, perhaps fewer companies would be able to sell hazardous products to consumers, putting both their health and life at risk.
In the event your health or a loved one’s life was put at risk after using a product that was said to be safe and hazard free, consider contacting Madison, MS personal injury attorney William E. Ballard. At our law firm, we understand what steps need to be taken in order to hold a company accountable for their negligent actions and we won’t stop until a favorable outcome is reached in your case.
If you are interested in learning more about filing a personal injury lawsuit or a wrongful death lawsuit in the state of MS given the use of the product has led to your loved one’s death, contact us today to speak with an attorney who is qualified and prepared to help you.
You can reach Ballard Law, PLLC. at:
108 S. President Street
Jackson, MS 39201
769-572-5111
