Mesothelioma Lawyer Files Talc Lawsuit Against Johnson & Johnson
A 24-year-old man with mesothelioma pericardial has claimed that Johnson & Johnson's baby powder caused his cancer. The Oakland mesothelioma case is the first one to be held since J&J spun off its talc business and filed for bankruptcy.
In the beginning of the year, huge settlements were made in talc cases in New Jersey and California. Plaintiffs linked their cancer to asbestos found in J&J's Shower Baby and Shower Powder products.
What is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma, which is a fatal type of cancer that affects the mesothelium, or the lining surrounding organs and cavities inside the body. It is usually found in the lungs, however it can also occur in the abdomen, the heart and chest cavity, as well as the testicles. 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 following J&J declared bankruptcy on its talcum-powder division began in Oakland, California this week. Jurors were inspired by the story of the plaintiff. The plaintiff, who is just 24 years old was diagnosed with malignant pericardial cancer in 2022. The plaintiff attributed his condition to the use of Johnson & Johnson baby powder. The jury awarded him $26 million.
J&J has been accused of obfuscating asbestos-related risks from consumers for a number of years. J&J has a history of obstructing asbestos research from regulators and funding asbestos tests to generate the results it desired. Several 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 sanitary pads or condoms as well as in the genital area 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 as well as other illnesses, but did not take the time to warn consumers.
Mesothelioma symptoms include abdominal pain, abdominal lumps, abdominal swelling, and persistent coughing. Doctors can detect mesothelioma with physical examination and imaging scans. These include CT scans (computer tomography), MRIs, PET or X rays.
If a mesothelioma diagnosis has been confirmed, patients may undergo chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation. Depending on the location of their tumors, surgeons may be able to remove the affected tissue. Certain patients with mesothelioma have a lifespan less than five. However, aggressive treatments such as extracorporeal tissue transplantation or chemotherapy for cytoreduction that uses hyperthermic intraperitoneal therapy can prolong survival.
What is the cause of Mesothelioma?
Like many cancers, mesothelioma develops by DNA mutations. These mutations lead to uncontrolled growth of cells, which causes tumors to form in tissues. Asbestos is the most common mesothelioma-related cause. Exposure to asbestos can occur at work in a variety of industries such as manufacturing, mining construction, and transportation. Asbestos is typically exposed between 20 and 40 years prior to the onset of symptoms appearing. Mesothelioma is more common in males than women, and is usually diagnosed in people who are in their 50s to 70s. The type of asbestos-related mesothelioma that a person develops is often determined by the location they were exposed. The majority of mesothelioma patients are diagnosed with pleural msothelioma, which affects the lung. Some are diagnosed with peritoneal melanoma, which is a mesothelioma type that affects the abdomen. Finally, some people are diagnosed with pericardial melanoma, the most rare form of the disease that affects the heart's lining (pericardium) and the organ itself.
A lack of breath, fatigue and abdominal pain are all symptoms of mesothelioma. In the last stages of mesothelioma, the tumors may expand to other parts of the body, causing severe discomfort and discomfort. Other signs of mesothelioma are fluid in the lungs, loss of appetite, difficulty eating and swallowing. Mesothelioma is a debilitating illness that is usually fatal.
The talcum powder trial in Oakland involved a man aged 24 who developed pericardial mesothelioma from the use of J&J baby powder. His lawyers argued the company knew that talc contained asbestos, but didn't warn customers. They also cited an 1998 letter addressed to an J&J executive that revealed the possibility of asbestos being in their products.
This is the latest in a series of major verdicts against J&J. In March the jury awarded $18.8 million to a woman who contracted mesothelioma ovarian from J&J's talcum powder, and last month the jury in Missouri awarded $55 million in a separate case involving the same issue. Seven new cases have been added to the MDL talcum-powder over the past month, bringing it to 37,522 the number of lawsuits pending. The majority of these lawsuits are filed by women who used J&J talcum powder to maintain their feminine hygiene.
How can I tell whether I have mesothelioma or not?
A diagnosis of mesothelioma may be devastating. Patients should always consult a specialist for the most accurate diagnosis and to prevent misdiagnosis, which could result in unnecessary treatment and cancer spreading.
A physical exam and blood sample can help identify mesothelioma symptoms. These tests can check for asbestos fibers in blood or to look at the extent to which a patient's organs are functioning. The most reliable method of diagnosing mesothelioma involves a biopsy. Doctors take tissue or fluids from the affected area, and examine them under a microscope to look for mesothelioma cancerous cells.
The type of mesothelioma that a sufferer has also impacts the prognosis of their patient. Pleural mesothelioma is by far the most commonly encountered type of disease and is responsible for the majority of cases that are diagnosed. Peritoneal mesothelioma, a cancer that develops in the lining of the abdomen, is less common. In addition, pericardial mesothelioma is a rare type that is found in the lining of the heart. It's only 1percent of all cases.
Turlock mesothelioma attorneys of the first symptoms include a shortness of breath which gets worse with time and coughing up blood. Asbestos victims might also experience fluid buildup in the chest cavity, which is known as pleural effusion. The fluid can be drained from the chest cavity by inserting a needle into the affected region. In more severe cases, doctors might perform a procedure called pleurodesis, which seals the area to prevent reaccumulation of fluid in the pleura.
Getting an accurate mesothelioma diagnosis is the most reliable way to determine a patient's treatment options and the survival rate. There are a variety of treatments available which include chemotherapy, surgery and radiation. Other options include immunotherapy. It is a kind of treatment that increases the immune system to fight mesothelioma cells and tumor-targeting fields, which use a magnetic field to destroy cancerous cells.
A mesothelioma expert can also assist patients in understanding different mesothelioma cells which determine the severity of the cancer and the patient's outlook. Patients should discuss their history of exposure to asbestos with their doctor to determine if they're a mesothelioma candidate and find out what types of treatment might be available to them.
How Can I Get Help?
If you have used Johnson & Johnson talcum powder and have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer or a different illness such as mesothelioma, you could be entitled to significant compensation. Contact us today for a no-cost, non- obligation case assessment. We can assist you in filing mesothelioma claims against J&J and make them accountable for their actions.
Mesothelioma is a rare, but fatal illness that is caused by asbestos exposure. Asbestos was widely used in many industrial and consumer products, including baby powder. In talcum powder cases plaintiffs assert that exposure to asbestos from inhaling the powder caused them to develop mesothelioma and other health issues.
J&J failed to warn the public about the dangers of asbestos and talcum, despite knowing them for many years. Plaintiffs have filed mesothelioma lawsuits against the company seeking compensatory and punitive damages. These lawsuits have been combined into federal and state multidistrict litigations, or MDLs.
In 2018, one of the first large trial involving talc resulted in an $4.7 billion verdict for the plaintiff. This made national headlines and set the stage for the rest of the litigation. In the last month, a judge denied J&J's motion to dismiss the lawsuits brought by the state.
J&J, however, tried to stop the litigation. LTL Management, a subsidiary of J&J was forced to file for bankruptcy after the company created a new entity to assume its obligations. The bankruptcy stayed thousands of talc lawsuits however, the 3rd Circuit rejected this strategy.
The lawsuits brought by Mississippi are based on the same allegations of the individual lawsuits brought against J&J. They claim that the company acted negligently in failing to warn of the risk of ovarian carcinoma from talcum-powder and that this was an infraction of the law of the state.
J&J has submitted its motion to dismiss lawsuits to a different bankruptcy court. A hearing has been scheduled for June to decide whether the lawsuits against J&J will be allowed to proceed. If you or someone you know is diagnosed with mesothelioma, or any other condition that could be caused by talcum powder you should seek legal assistance immediately. Our skilled attorneys can help you receive justice you deserve.