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Talc 7/1
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Georgia Public School Teacher Files Talc-Based Powder Exposure Lawsuit
Jun 30, 2016 | Harris Martin Publishing
Plaintiffs in Georgia have filed suit against Johnson & Johnson defendants in federal court, contending that the defendants’ “deliberate and calculated suppression of the truth about the carcinogenic nature of talc powder” led one of the plaintiffs to develop ovarian cancer. -
Ill. Man Files Talcum Powder Suit On Behalf of Wife, Says Products Caused Her Uterine Cancer
Jun 30, 2016 | Harris Martin Publishing
An Illinois man has filed a talc-based powder exposure suit in Illinois federal court on behalf of his wife, contending that her uterine cancer was caused by exposure to Johnson & Johnson’s products. -
Advertisements play role in class actions following ovarian cancer study, verdict
Jun 30, 2016 | Northern California Record
By Carrie Salls
An uptick in the filing of class-action lawsuits stemming from a study linking talc to ovarian cancer can be largely traced to advertisements aired by personal injury attorneys in the wake of a recent verdict, according to Julie Griffiths of California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA). -
Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed Against Talcum Powder Manufacturer
Jun 30, 2016 | Injury Lawyer News
A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania by the administrator of the estate of a 58-year-old woman who died in 2014 from ovarian cancer. -
Health Update 2016: African American Ovarian Cancers Due to Talc Baby Powder Use
Jun 30, 2016 | The Legal Examiner
By Rick Shapiro
In the last few months, numerous reports have surfaced about the health and safety risks associated with baby powders containing talc, particularly the risk of women developing ovarian cancer.
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Georgia Public School Teacher Files Talc-Based Powder Exposure Lawsuit
Jun 30, 2016 | Harris Martin Publishing
Plaintiffs in Georgia have filed suit against Johnson & Johnson defendants in federal court, contending that the defendants’ “deliberate and calculated suppression of the truth about the carcinogenic nature of talc powder” led one of the plaintiffs to develop ovarian cancer.
In the June 29 complaint, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Georgia, the plaintiffs said that the defendants knew for more years of at least 21 independent studies linking talc to the development of ovarian cancer.
“…[Yet they] did not stop selling J&J’s Talc Products containing that talc and placed no ...
Subscription required, for full story: http://harrismartin.com/article/21026/georgia-public-school-teacher-files-talc-based-powder-exposure-lawsuit/
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Ill. Man Files Talcum Powder Suit On Behalf of Wife, Says Products Caused Her Uterine Cancer
Jun 30, 2016 | Harris Martin Publishing
An Illinois man has filed a talc-based powder exposure suit in Illinois federal court on behalf of his wife, contending that her uterine cancer was caused by exposure to Johnson & Johnson’s products.
The complaint was filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on June 29.
Plaintiff Tod Alan Musgrove filed the underlying complaint on behalf of Pamela N. Musgrove, contending that her uterine cancer –– and subsequent death –– was caused by “regular and prolonged” exposure to talcum powder.
According to her widow, Musgrove used Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower-to-Shower ...
Subscription required, for full story: http://harrismartin.com/article/21027/ill-man-files-talcum-powder-suit-on-behalf-of-wife-says-products-caused-her-uterine-cancer/
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Advertisements play role in class actions following ovarian cancer study, verdict
Jun 30, 2016 | Northern California Record
By Carrie Salls
An uptick in the filing of class-action lawsuits stemming from a study linking talc to ovarian cancer can be largely traced to advertisements aired by personal injury attorneys in the wake of a recent verdict, according to Julie Griffiths of California Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse (CALA).
Johnson & Johnson was recently hit with a $72 million verdict in a case filed by the family of an Alabama woman who died because her use of the company’s baby powder and talc-based feminine hygiene products allegedly led to ovarian cancer.
“The lawsuits are ramping up because the attorneys are airing misleading ads claiming that anyone signing up for this lawsuit have a real shot at a $72 million dollar settlement as well,” Griffiths told the Northern California Record. “Really, the whole thing from our perspective are these ads, for this case. They are playing all over satellite radio.”
Johnson & Johnson Consumer spokesman Carol Goodrich said in a statement that the company would appeal the jury verdict entered in the judicial court for the city of St. Louis.
A study reported in May by the American Association for Cancer Research revealed that use of body powders containing talc by African-American women increased their risk of getting ovarian cancer in comparison with those who did not use talc.
The study, entitled “Association Between Body Powder Use and Ovarian Cancer: the African-American Cancer Epidemiology Study,” said previous studies showed that use of genital powder increased the risk of ovarian cancer, but that those results had “not been thoroughly investigated in African-American women, a group with a high prevalence of use.”
The study involving African-American women found that powder use was prevalent in these women. The study also revealed an association between powder use and upper respiratory conditions, suggesting that an enhanced inflammatory response may explain the association between body powder and ovarian cancer.
Some cancer genetics experts have warned women to stay away from talc-containing powders for decades. However, Goodrich said “the jury’s decision goes against 30 years of studies by medical experts around the world that continue to support the safety of cosmetic talc.”
“Multiple scientific and regulatory reviews have determined that talc is safe for use in cosmetic products and the labeling on Johnson’s Baby Powder is appropriate,” Goodrich said.
Johnson & Johnson said two widely accepted studies, including one published in 2009 by the Harvard School of Public Health and another published in 2014 by the U.S. National Institutes of Health, found no association between talc and ovarian cancer. The company said various governmental and non-governmental agencies and other expert panels have also reviewed and analyzed all available data, “and none have concluded that talc can cause cancer.”
“It is natural for trial verdicts to raise questions about the product involved, and it’s also important to distinguish jury verdicts – in the United States – from regulatory rulings or rigorous scientific findings,” Johnson & Johnson said.
Griffiths said CALA supports restrictions on personal injury lawsuit ads “that promise fortunes and clog up our court systems.”
“Lawsuit abuse trends are rampant in California and continue to grow,” Griffiths said. “Our motto is always justice, not greed.”
http://norcalrecord.com/stories/510940445-advertisements-play-role-in-class-actions-following-ovarian-cancer-study-verdict
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Wrongful Death Lawsuit Filed Against Talcum Powder Manufacturer
Jun 30, 2016 | Injury Lawyer News
A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania by the administrator of the estate of a 58-year-old woman who died in 2014 from ovarian cancer. The complaint alleges that the deceased’s daily use of talc-based powder for feminine hygiene purposes caused her to develop what is a most stubborn, aggressive and often fatal form of the disease. It is argued that Johnson & Johnson (J & J) failed to warn consumers of risks known to the manufacturer for decades and engaged in misleading and fraudulent marketing of its products to an unsuspecting public.Facts underlying talcum powder lawsuit
In one of the most recent in an onslaught of talc-related lawsuits initiated across the country, the administrator of the estate of Maureen Broderick Milliken filed suit against powder manufacturers J & J and Imerys Talc America, in which several allegations of negligence are lodged. According to the June 9 complaint, Ms. Milliken used Johnson’s Baby Powder for perineal hygiene on a daily basis for the bulk of her life.
The lawsuit further states that during the time period at issue, J & J engaged in deceptive and misleading marketing which touted the benefits of their product and its ability to absorb unwanted wetness, reduce skin friction and chafing and bring comfort and freshness to users. This was done, it is argued, despite several decades of research studies and knowledge on the part of manufacturers and others that talc could boost the risk of ovarian cancer when used in this particular manner. Warnings were never placed on talc product packaging, and no marketing changes were ever made.Talc basics
Talcum powder is a product derived from the mineral called talc, which is itself composed mainly of magnesium, oxygen and silicon. When turned into a powder, talc is known for its drying qualities and its ability to prevent rashes of the skin. A large number of cosmetic products use talcum powder, though items used for feminine hygiene reasons have raised the greatest alarm among safety watchdogs. This is because multiple research studies have made a connection between their use and the eventual development of ovarian cancer, as talc migrates toward the ovaries, uterus and Fallopian tubes.Key research studies fail to prompt additional baby powder warnings
A series of research studies have produced noteworthy connections between the use of talcum powders by women and ovarian cancer diagnoses. In 1971, a study of these risks revealed that a shocking 75% of ovarian tumors had talc within them. A study published in 2013 found that women who used talc for perineal hygiene experienced a 20-30% rise in the risk of ovarian cancer as contrasted to women who did not use talc in this way.
Despite these and other studies, talcum powder manufacturers as well as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have failed or refused to issue heightened warnings. No changes to labels or advertising have been mandated, and no adjustments appear to be on the horizon. As a result of this inaction and the continued marketing of talcum powder products as safe, healthy and clean options for consumers, safety advocates are working to increase public awareness of the dangers.Talc controversy and litigation continue to gain steam
Talcum powder cancer lawsuits similar to that filed by the estate of Ms. Milliken have been making their way into the courts for a number of years. In 2013, the first significant talcum powder case reached the trial stage in South Dakota, with the plaintiff ultimately prevailing against J & J. That trial produced testimony from a Harvard University expert who stated a belief that no less than 10,000 ovarian cancer cases were likely attributable to talc exposure. With additional cases being filed as public understanding of the connection expands, the potential for the creation of a multidistrict litigation (MDL) process to consolidate similar complaints will only grow.
http://injurylawyer-news.com/2016/06/wrongful-death-lawsuit-filed-against-talcum-powder-manufacturer/
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Health Update 2016: African American Ovarian Cancers Due to Talc Baby Powder Use
Jun 30, 2016 | The Legal Examiner
By Rick Shapiro
In the last few months, numerous reports have surfaced about the health and safety risks associated with baby powders containing talc, particularly the risk of women developing ovarian cancer.
On May 12, 2016, a major study impacting African American women who used talc baby powder was published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention Journal—the largest study ever of ovarian cancer in women of color, including their talcbaby powder use.
The article was entitled “Association Between Baby Powder Use and Ovarian Cancer: The African-American Cancer Epidemiology Study” (AACES) with the lead author being Joellen M. Schildkraut along with Abbott and Alberg, et al.
The study included over 1,000 participants spread out across eleven states. Two of the most widely sold talc baby powder products marketed to women are Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder and Shower-to-Shower, another J & J baby powder. J & J recently sold off the North American marketing rights to Shower-to-Shower to a different pharmaceutical company. Other less popular, but widely distributed, talc baby powders are sold by major drug store chains. As of this article’s publication date, none of the above referenced products have added warning labels to their talc products about ovarian cancer risks.
Related Content: For a recent article I published on Legal Examiner relating to the timeline history of studies relating to the use of talc by women for feminine hygiene, and the connection to ovarian cancers, read that prior article “Public Health Update” on Baby Powder and Ovarian Cancer here.
Below, I summarize the significance of this new major study about the use of talc powder by African-American females.
It is important to note that this study was in the field of epidemiology comprising professional scientists who study statistical information. The study was not funded by any industry but instead was based on multiple grants, including a grant from the National Cancer Institute and NIH.
In 2014, the study was first announced in a peer-reviewed journal article explaining that African-American women would be selected in eleven states, and the research was to be conducted through hospitals in those areas. Interviews were conducted, and then test subjects and case-control persons were selected and this became the largest epithelial ovarian cancer case controlled study of African-American women ever done in the world. The results were peer reviewed before being published.
The study found that African-American users of genital talc baby powder had a greater increased risk of contracting epithelial ovarian cancer but that women who only used non-genital baby powder also had the increased risks.
Those women who applied baby powder to their genital region for a prolonged time period suffered an increased risk of ovarian cancer. The authors examined the non-genital talc baby powder use versus genital use and noted the following:
In the largest EOC case-control study in AA women to date, we observed a positive association between regular use of powder and epithelial ovarian cancer regardless of the route of application. Users of genital powder were shown to have greater than a 40% increased risk of…compared to an increased risk of more than 30% among those who used only non-genital powder.
In other words, there was increased risk of ovarian cancer, even with use of baby powder notapplied to the genitals, such as with use on babies. The actual key conclusions are included below:
In summary, we found that the application of genital powder is associated with serous and non-serous epithelial ovarian cancer in African American women, a novel observation in this population that is consistent with some large studies in whites. Our data are consistent with the notion that localized chronic inflammation in the ovary caused by exposure to genital powder contributes to the development of epithelial ovarian cancer.
The report also states that the use of baby powder is an especially important “modifiable risk factor” for ovarian cancer in African-American women and I would urge women to examine the product they buy if they use a talc based baby powder to switch to a corn starch based product right away.
http://virginiabeach.legalexaminer.com/defective-dangerous-products/health-update-2016-african-american-ovarian-cancers-due-to-talc-baby-powder-use/
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