Preview Newsletter
Cosmetic Talc Litigation Media Coverage October 31, 2016
-
Johnson & Johnson Hit With Another Decision Over Product Causing Ovarian Cancer, St. Louis Jury Awarded $70.1 Million To Another Woman
Oct 31, 2016 | Parent Herald
By Chiara Leghler
A St. Louis Jury decided to award $70.1 million to a woman from Modesto, California. The said compensation is for the lawsuit she filed against Johnson & Johnson, claiming that she suffered from ovarian cancer for using the talcum powder for her feminine hygiene regularly. -
Johnson & Johnson faces third major setback in Baby Powder Issue
Oct 31, 2016 | Cosumens Connection
By Joanne Flower
For the third time this month, pharmaceutical conglomerate Johnson & Johnson has been hit with a multimillion-dollar jury verdict over whether the talc in its baby powder causes ovarian cancer. -
California woman awarded $70 million in Johnson & Johnson baby powder lawsuit
Oct 30, 2016 | United Press International (In Gephardt Daily)
A woman in California was awarded $70 million in a lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson claiming the company’s baby powder caused her ovarian cancer. -
JURY DECLARES THAT BABY POWDER CAUSED CANCER
Oct 30, 2016 | Mirror Daily
By Melissa Gansler
A lawsuit held in St. Louis established the health risks of baby powder. Deborah Giannecchini, from Modesto, California, started legal action to prove that products from Johnson & Johnson can cause cancer. Her particular case was ovarian cancer, and she won the lawsuit. -
Woman Wins lawsuit Against Johnson & Johnson’s, Gets $70 Million
Oct 30, 2016 | ITech Post
Modesto, California - Deborah Giannecchini was recently awarded $70 million as payment for the damages that has been caused to her after allegedly using a talcum powder produced by the Johnson & Johnson Company, which has triggered ovarian cancer. -
3rd loss for Johnson & Johnson after St Louis jury awards over $70 million to California woman diagnosed with ovarian cancer
Oct 31, 2016 | International Business Times (Australia Edition)
By Vittorio Hernandez
A 62-year-old California woman is the third ovarian cancer patient who won a lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson. With the more than US$70 million (A$92.15 million) award given to Deborah Giannecchini, the total damages that the manufacturer of baby powder which the women used on their intimate area is about US$197 million (A$259.3 million). -
Rio Tinto Dismissed From US Talc Lawsuits
Oct 31, 2016 | The Australian
Mining giant Rio Tinto has been dismissed from court cases in the US, where it had been named in a legal battle relating to claims Johnson & Johnson’s talcum powder caused ovarian cancer. -
Can Baby Powder Cause Ovarian Cancer?
Oct 30, 2016 | Saving Advice
By Amanda Stewart
Healthcare supply company Johnson & Johnson has been hit with a third lawsuit multimillion-dollar lawsuit over its baby powder. -
Baby powder remains on shelves despite cancer lawsuit
Oct 30, 2016 | Zimbabwe Daily
Despite losing a $70 million (R970m) lawsuit in the US courts this week, health care giant Johnson and Johnson (J&J) appears to have no plans to remove talcum powder products from local shelves.
Client Attorney Privileged/Attorney Work Product/At Request of Counsel
US Coverage
APAC Coverage
EMEA Coverage
-
Oct 31, 2016 | Parent Herald
By Chiara Leghler
A St. Louis Jury decided to award $70.1 million to a woman from Modesto, California. The said compensation is for the lawsuit she filed against Johnson & Johnson, claiming that she suffered from ovarian cancer for using the talcum powder for her feminine hygiene regularly.
The woman was identified as Deborah Giannecchini and she was diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer in 2012. The then-59-year-old woman upon filing said that she used Johnson's Baby Powder for more than 40 years to keep her genital area dry.
Detroit Free Press reported that this is the third time that Johnson & Johnson was hit with a multi-million dollar and the jury awarded the women complaining about the matter. Earlier this year, two other St. Louis juries reached similar decisions. They awarded one woman with $72 million and the other with $55 million. However, in New Jersey, which is the home state of Johnson & Johnson, a judge threw out two similar cases claiming that there is no reliable evidence that talc causes ovarian cancer. It is believed that Johnson & Johnson faces 2,000 similar lawsuits.
More on the product, talc is said to be a mineral mined from deposits all over the world. It is then crushed into a white powder and is used for cosmetics and other personal care. The substance absorbs moisture and the Johnson & Johnson baby powder was introduced to the market in 1984.
It remains unclear if talc really causes ovarian cancer as there have been no definite studies regarding this, Hindustan Times reported. Factors know to increase the risk of ovarian cancer are age, obesity and use of estrogen after menopause.
Studies launched to determine the effect of the use of talcum powder also claims that there is no link between its usage and the illness. Other studies are saying that there is a 20 percent to 40 percent increased risk to ovarian cancer among talc powder users.
http://www.parentherald.com/articles/79254/20161031/johnson-johnson-hit-with-another-decision-over-product-causing-ovarian-cancer-st-louis-jury-awarded-70-1-million-to-another-woman.htm
-
Johnson & Johnson faces third major setback in Baby Powder Issue
Oct 31, 2016 | Cosumens Connection
By Joanne Flower
For the third time this month, pharmaceutical conglomerate Johnson & Johnson has been hit with a multimillion-dollar jury verdict over whether the talc in its baby powder causes ovarian cancer.
Giannecchini had been using the powder for over 40 years to keep her genital area dry, but stopped three years ago after contracting ovarian cancer.
Johnson & Johnson plans to appeal the verdict, claiming science shows the product is safe for use. Earlier, damages worth $72 million and $55 million have been awarded against J&J in similar cases.
The verdict Thursday in favor of Deborah Giannecchini, of Modesto, Calif., was for $575,000 in medical damages, $2 million in compensatory damages, $65 million in punitive damages against Johnson and Johnson and $2.5 million in punitive damages against Imerys Talc, the provider of the talcum powder.
The company now faces an estimated 2,000 lawsuits over culpability for ovarian cancer diagnoses.
And though many experts say there is no definitive link, three St. Louis juries disagree.
Onder has also accused Johnson & Johnson of marketing toward overweight women, blacks and Hispanics - the group most at risk of ovarian cancer. The family was awarded US$70 million by jurors as well in February this year.
Onder said he expects J&J won't put a warning on its products and will continue a "scorched-earth legal policy" despite the recent verdicts.
"We understand that women and families affected by ovarian cancer are searching for answers and we deeply sympathise with all who have been affected by this devastating disease with no known cause".
Two other lawsuits in New Jersey were, however, thrown out by a judge who said there was no reliable evidence that talc led to ovarian cancer, an often fatal but relatively rare form of cancer.
"We will appeal today's verdict because we are guided by the science, which supports the safety of Johnson's Baby Powder".
Talcum powder products contain the mineral talc that can absorb moisture and prevent chafing and rash.
Yesterday, the Cancer Association of South Africa (Cansa) said it was fully behind the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) which had classified "talc" as possibly carcinogenic to humans.
Most major health groups have declared talcum powder to be harmless, while some research has found no link or only a weak link between ovarian cancer and baby powder.
http://crcconnection.com/2016/10/31/johnson-johnson-faces-third-major-setback-in-baby-powder.html
-
California woman awarded $70 million in Johnson & Johnson baby powder lawsuit
Oct 30, 2016 | United Press International (In Gephardt Daily)
MODESTO, Calif., Oct. 30 (UPI) — A woman in California was awarded $70 million in a lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson claiming the company’s baby powder caused her ovarian cancer.
Deborah Giannecchini, 63, said she had used Johnson & Johnson for feminine hygiene for 45 years before she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Giannecchini alleged the talc in the powder was responsible for her cancer and accused Johnson & Johnson of negligence for not providing a warning on the product’s label.
“It’s been a long-fought battle,” she told NBC News after the trial in St. Louis. “I was just elated, so relieved it was over. I felt like I accomplished something. There were happy tears and just joy.”
Two other jury trials in St. Louis awarded plaintiffs similar sums of $72 million and $55 million, while two cases were thrown out in Johnson & Johnson’s home state of New Jersey where a judge determined there was not enough reliable evidence to link talc to ovarian cancer.
Giannecchini began her lawsuit in 2012 when her daughter saw an ad offering legal representation for people with ovarian cancer who had used talcum powder.
In addition to the monetary compensation she received, Giannecchini said she hoped Johnson & Johnson would more clearly present the risks associated with using talcum powder.
“I hope that Johnson & Johnson will step up and take responsibility and post a warning on their product that says this is not as safe as you may think it is and think about it before you decide to use this product,” she said.
Johnson & Johnson plans to appeal the verdict, claiming science shows the product is safe for use.
“We deeply sympathize with the women and families impacted by ovarian cancer,” the company said in a statement. “We will appeal today’s verdict because we are guided by the science, which supports the safety of Johnson’s Baby Powder.”
The spokesperson added evidence also does not support the addition of a warning label to the product.
“In fact, in 2014, the Food and Drug Administration concluded in a response to a Citizen’s Petition that such warning labels were not warranted on cosmetic talc products and no regulatory agency has ever required labeling to reflect a risk of ovarian cancer associated with talcum powder products,” the company said.
http://gephardtdaily.com/business/california-woman-awarded-70-million-in-johnson-johnson-baby-powder-lawsuit/
-
JURY DECLARES THAT BABY POWDER CAUSED CANCER
Oct 30, 2016 | Mirror Daily
By Melissa Gansler
(Mirror Daily, United States) A lawsuit held in St. Louis established the health risks of baby powder. Deborah Giannecchini, from Modesto, California, started legal action to prove that products from Johnson & Johnson can cause cancer. Her particular case was ovarian cancer, and she won the lawsuit.
Deborah Giannecchini had been using baby powder from Johnson & Johnson for years. However, four years ago she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Ever since she has been trying to raise awareness about the health risks brought about by the care products. Now she proved her point, and also won seventy million dollars as compensation for damages.
The trial against Johnson & Johnson started on September 26. Only a month later, the woman succeeded in proving her claim. Her lawyer, Jim Onder, was also pleased with the jury’s decision.
There were similar trails in New Jersey too. Two women tried to demonstrate that products such as baby powder can pose health threats. They were also diagnosed with ovarian cancer. However, the New Jersey trials didn’t benefit the accusers. Winning the lawsuits would also have brought to them millions of dollars as compensation.
Many studies were conducted by specialists to determine whether baby powder can trigger ovarian cancer or not. However, no explicit connection between the two was found. The products were declared safe on several occasions.
Statistics show that about 1.7 million people in the United States who will be diagnosed with cancer this year alone. Out of all the cases, approximately twenty-two thousand will be identified as ovarian cancer. The rate makes this type of the disease be classified as rare. However, it is still a dangerous form of the disease, which can lead to the death of the patient in most of the cases.
Specialists explain that certain women are more prone to develop the disease than other. Hispanics, African-Americans, and overweight women are more likely to have ovarian cancer than white women. Moreover, senior women and those who never had babies are also more vulnerable to the disease than young women and mothers.
Although there are no certain causes which trigger cancer, it is common knowledge that the medical history of the family is highly important. So if there are cases of ovarian or breast cancer in the families, other members can develop the disease too.
Johnson & Johnson is one of the best labels on the market. However, there were some issues related to the company’s products in the past too, and developers had to change the formula.
http://www.mirrordaily.com/baby-powder-caused-cancer/29813/
-
Woman Wins lawsuit Against Johnson & Johnson’s, Gets $70 Million
Oct 30, 2016 | ITech Post
Modesto, California - Deborah Giannecchini was recently awarded $70 million as payment for the damages that has been caused to her after allegedly using a talcum powder produced by the Johnson & Johnson Company, which has triggered ovarian cancer.
Giannecchini, 63 years of age, claimed that she had been using the talcum powder for 40 years as part of her feminine hygiene, but has recently stopped after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer, three years ago. The 63-year-old was reported to firmly believe that Johnson & Johnson should be blamed for her condition due to negligence with the production process and marketing of the said product.
Despite having series of treatments, doctors are now saying that Giannecchini has an 80 percent chance of dying in the next two years. In one of their statements reported by Daily Mail, Atty. Jim Onder said that they are pleased after receiving the jury's decision of doing the right thing. Giannecchini's camp are said to be reaffirming the need to provide cautionary measures to the public with the use of Johnson & Johnson and the health risks that it brings.
On the other hand, as per MSN, spokesperson to Johnson & Johnson's Carol Goodrich has claimed that they are currently on the move in making an appeal with regards to the verdict. Goodrich said that their products are all guided by science which supports the safety of Johnson's Baby Powder.
Earlier this year, reports have it that there are also two other lawsuits in St. Louis which ended in a jury verdict with a combined worth of $127 million. However, these two lawsuits from New Jersey are said to be dismissed by a judge who claimed that there wasn't much of reliable evidence that can prove that the use of talcum powder can lead to ovarian cancer.
According to reports, Johnson & Johnson was allegedly ordered to pay $65 million to the 63-year old Giannecchini as part of the inflicting damages and another amount of approximately $2.5 million for the medical bills, pain and suffering. Imerys Talc America, co-defendant and supplier of the talc for Johnson & Johnson's has also been ordered to pay a total amount of $2.5 million as part of the punitive damages as well.
http://www.itechpost.com/articles/48280/20161030/woman-wins-lawsuit-against-johnson-s-gets-70-million.htm
-
Oct 31, 2016 | International Business Times (Australia Edition)
By Vittorio Hernandez
A 62-year-old California woman is the third ovarian cancer patient who won a lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson. With the more than US$70 million (A$92.15 million) award given to Deborah Giannecchini, the total damages that the manufacturer of baby powder which the women used on their intimate area is about US$197 million (A$259.3 million).
The Thursday verdict follows previous juries’ grant of US$72 million (A$100 million) to the family of Jacqueline Fox and US$55 million (A$71.6 million) to Gloria Ristesund in the early part of 2016. The three court victories – with Johnson & Johnson appealing the first two decisions – are just a drop in the bucket out of the 1,700 lawsuits filed against the talc manufacturer in state and federal courts that the company ignored studies linking baby powder and ovarian cancer and its failure to warn consumers.
Giannecchinni has been using Johnson’s Baby Powder for feminine hygiene for more than 40 years until she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2012. Her lawyers say despite surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, she has 80 percent chance of dying in the next two years, Bloomberg reports.
The bulk of her award was for punitive damages, which 90 percent of about US$2.5 million (A$3.29 million) are for medical costs, pain and suffering. While Giannecchini was apparently overwhelmed by the jury’s decision in her favour which she says she has waited for a long time and she wanted it so badly, Johnson & Johnson spokeswoman Carol Goodrich says the company would appeal the jury verdict because “We are guided by the science, which supports the safety of Johnson’s Baby Powder.”
Giannecchini was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer when she had no family history of the ailment and was not considered a high risk. She only thought of talc powder she has been using since she was 15 as the likely culprit when months after Giannecchini’s diagnosis, her daughter saw a television advertisement advising ovarian cancer victims who used talc powder in their intimate area to come forward, Associated Press reports.
While three ovarian cancer patients convinced the courts that their ovarian cancer was because of their regular use of the powder, a New Jersey judge threw out two cases due to lack of reliable evidence linking ovarian cancer to talc powder. Other known factors that boost a woman’s risk of ovarian cancer include age, obesity, use of estrogen therapy after menopause, not having any children, genetic mutations and personal or family history of ovarian or breast cancer.
-
Rio Tinto Dismissed From US Talc Lawsuits
Oct 31, 2016 | The Australian
Mining giant Rio Tinto has been dismissed from court cases in the US, where it had been named in a legal battle relating to claims Johnson & Johnson’s talcum powder caused ovarian cancer.
The company’s name has been removed from five separate lawsuits launched by women or relatives of women who developed ovarian cancer after using the powder, court papers filed in the Louisiana District Court show.
“Rio Tinto Minerals, which sold its talcum powder business in 2011, was improperly named as a secondary defendant in these cases,” a Rio Tinto spokesman said on Monday.
“Rio Tinto has been previously been dismissed from similar cases in the United States.”
The five cases are among 1,700 lawsuits launched in state and federal courts in the US, that have accused Johnson & Johnson of ignoring studies linking its baby powder and Shower-to-Shower talc products to ovarian cancer - and of failing to warn customers about the risk.
Earlier this month, a St. Louis court awarded more than $US70 million ($92 million) to a California woman in a related trial. J&J had already been ordered to pay a total of $US127 million to two ovarian cancer sufferers in separate legal cases, earlier this year.
Rio had been dragged into the legal fight because its former subsidiary, Luzenac America, mined the talc used as the main ingredient in Johnson & Johnson products.
Rio Tinto Minerals was previously dismissed in two other talc lawsuits - in 2010 and May 2016, and has not been named in the other ongoing cases so far. It sold Luzenac to French group Inmerys in 2011.
The lawsuits have sparked calls for Australian women to reconsider using talcum powder.
Health experts say, while there is no definitive evidence of talc causing ovarian cancer, women who are concerned about its possible risks should avoid it.
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/business/mining-energy/rio-tinto-dismissed-from-us-talc-lawsuits/news-story/3227780b0c35055e8a5a581304c2504c
-
Can Baby Powder Cause Ovarian Cancer?
Oct 30, 2016 | Saving Advice
By Amanda Stewart
Healthcare supply company Johnson & Johnson has been hit with a third lawsuit multimillion-dollar lawsuit over its baby powder. There have been questions that have come up surrounding Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder and whether or not it can cause ovarian cancer if it is applied regularly for feminine hygiene purposes. Can baby powder cause ovarian cancer?
Lawsuits Against Johnson & Johnson
According to the India Times, a jury in St. Louis awarded Deborah Giannecchini $70.1 million. Giannecchini was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2012. At the time she said that she used the company’s baby powder for over 40 years to keep her genital area dry, something many woman practice. Giannecchini blamed the baby powder and accused Johnson & Johnson of negligence.
Two separate trials in St. Louis also awarded plaintiffs $72 million and $55 million. Like Giannechhini, the women believed that their ovarian cancer was caused by the J&J powder. However, in the company’s home state of New Jersey, judges have thrown out two cases blaming Johnson & Johnson for the ovarian cancer. Judges in Jersey say that there is not enough evidence to prove causation.
Since the lawsuits have arose, scientists have begun taking a closer look at J&J baby powder. What have they found? Can baby powder cause ovarian cancer?Can Baby Powder Cause Ovarian Cancer?
Like most health-related science questions, there is no clear answer as to whether baby powder causes ovarian cancer or not. Most of the biggest studies have shown that there is no evidence to claim that baby powder causes ovarian cancer. In fact, one study showed that baby powder users had a decreased risk of developing ovarian cancer.
While they have not found any direct causation, they have shown a slight correlation. Over the span of about 30 years there has been a slight increase in ovarian cancer among baby powder users (20 to 40 percent).
That slight increase does not prove that baby powder causes ovarian cancer though and there’s science backing that up. There is no proof (yet) that baby powder interacts with chemicals or cells or even travel up the reproductive tract to the ovaries. If baby powder doesn’t cause ovarian cancer, what does?What causes ovarian cancer?
Well, there are a number of factors at play when anyone develops cancer of any kind. There are a number of know factors that increase a woman’s risk of developing ovarian cancer. Factors such as age, weight, estrogen, children, genetic mutations and family history all come into play.
While ovarian cancer is one of the most deadly types of cancer around it is relatively rare. Out of the 1.7 million cases of cancer expected to be diagnosed this year it out accounts for about 22,000 (of which baby powder likely caused zero).
Although there have been no scientific findings to back up the claims that J&J baby powder is causing this type of cancer it seems Johnson & Johnson is taking the heat. The next trial regarding J&J baby powder is slated for January and will also be set in St. Louis.
Johnson & Johnson has publicly stated that its product is safe to use and has appealed its three loses in court. The company stands to face 2,000 similar suits in the future, however, J&J investors don’t seem to be concerned about the lawsuits affecting the company’s finances. Johnson & Johnson fell 0.3 percent on Friday, closing at $115.33.
https://www.savingadvice.com/articles/2016/10/30/1044956_can-baby-powder-cause-ovarian-cancer.html
-
Baby powder remains on shelves despite cancer lawsuit
Oct 30, 2016 | Zimbabwe Daily
Durban – Despite losing a $70 million (R970m) lawsuit in the US courts this week, health care giant Johnson and Johnson (J&J) appears to have no plans to remove talcum powder products from local shelves.
J&J said it would be appealing against the finding and would maintain its stance that the baby powder is safe for use.Yesterday, the Cancer Association of South Africa (Cansa) said it was fully behind the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) which had classified “talc” as possibly carcinogenic to humans.
This follows the verdict for an American woman who took J&J to court, alleging years of use of their baby talcum powder caused her ovarian cancer.
Commenting on the win, Cansa’s Professor Michael Herbst said: “We support the agency findings that there is limited evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of perineal use of talc-based body powder, and Cansa will continue to respect and endorse the IARC classification of talc’ as a Group2B carcinogen.”
Deborah Giannecchini, 62, used J&J baby powder for 40 years until she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer three years ago, according to her lawyers.
The St Louis court heard that she had undergone surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, and had an 80% chance of dying.
The jury returned the verdict after three hours of deliberations.
J&J spokeswoman Carol Goodrich said “Unfortunately, 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.
“We understand that women and families affected by ovarian cancer are searching for answers and we deeply sympathise with all who have been affected by this devastating disease with no known cause.”
She added that multiple scientific and regulatory reviews had determined that talc was safe for use in cosmetic products and that the labelling on Johnson and Johnson’s Baby Powder was appropriate.
For J&J, this is the third trial in a row over claims their talcum powder causes cancer, with two previous lawsuits this year, also in St Louis, and which saw more than $120m being awarded in damages.
Both findings have been taken on appeal.
There are currently hundreds of claims against the company in the St Louis State Court, which has been described as “becoming a magnet” for product defect claims, as well as another estimated 300 cases in Los Angeles and another 200 in New Jersey.
But a judge in New Jersey has already dismissed two talc cases, finding the claims had inadequate scientific support.
According to Bloomberg News, Giannecchini’s lawyer, Allen Smith, slammed the lack of warnings on the product’s labels, saying J&J has been aware of studies over 30 years which show an increased risk of ovarian cancer from talc.
Most major health groups have declared talcum powder to be harmless, while some research has found no link or only a weak link between ovarian cancer and baby powder.
http://www.thezimbabwedaily.com/health-fitness/87287-baby-powder-remains-on-shelves-despite-cancer-lawsuit.html
Client Attorney Privileged/Attorney Work Product/At Request of Counsel
US Coverage
APAC Coverage
EMEA Coverage
Add recipients
Suggested