Talcum Powder Ovarian Cancer

A St. Louis jury yesterday awarded over $70M to a woman injured in Johnson & Johnson talcum powder ovarian cancer lawsuit.

Medical research and jurors found talcum powder Ovarian Cancer link.

Deborah Giannecchini of Modesto, California was awarded more than $70 million in her lawsuit alleging that years of using Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder made with talc caused her ovarian cancer.

Giannecchini has an 80 percent chance of dying in the next two years, and has undergone surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.

This is the third plaintiff verdict in a series of lawsuits to go to trial.

This trial began September 26, Giannecchini was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2012. The suit accused Johnson & Johnson (J&J) of “negligent conduct” in making and marketing its baby powder.

Juror: “J&J doesn’t care”

As reported in Bloomberg news, the company should have provided a warning label on the product to let consumers decide whether to use talc, one juror Billie Ray, 76, of St. Louis, said after the trial. “It seemed like Johnson & Johnson didn’t pay attention,” she said. “It seemed like they didn’t care.”

According to the Giannecchini’s attorney, “We are pleased the jury did the right thing, they once again reaffirmed the need for Johnson & Johnson to warn the public of the ovarian cancer risk associated with its product.”

Medical studies points to Talcum Powder Ovarian Cancer Link

Talcum powder ovarian cancer link was first discovered in 1971 in a study that revealed talc particles, the main ingredient used in Baby Powder, were found in the ovarian tissue of cancer patients.

This was the first instance in which medical researchers realized women were at risk when using the powder on their genitals, sanitary pads, diaphragms, and in condoms.

Talc particles easily made their way into the vagina and were able to travel deeper into the reproductive organs. One sample study demonstrated the ability of carbon particles to travel through the vagina and into the fallopian tubes in as little as 30 minutes, leading researchers to believe the same was possible with talc particles.

This study and subsequent studies are now at the heart of lawsuits filed against Johnson and Johnson, the makers of Baby Powder.

3rd Strike for J&J-Talc Powder Verdicts

Earlier this year, two other lawsuits in St. Louis ended in jury verdicts worth a combined $127 million. In February 2016 a Missouri jury ordered Johnson and Johnson to pay Jacqueline Fox’s family $72 million in actual and punitive damages.

Fox filed a lawsuit against the company after she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer three years ago. One juror said Johnson and Johnson should have done more to warn consumers.

“They could have at least put a warning label on the box but they didn’t. They did nothing.”

In May 2016 another jury decided against Johnson and Johnson and awarded $55 million to a woman who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer after using Baby Powder for feminine hygiene for nearly 40 years.

Case studies have indicated that women who regularly use talc on their genital area face up to a 40 percent higher risk of developing ovarian cancer. Johnson & Johnson has been accused of marketing toward overweight women, blacks and Hispanics — the very same women most at-risk for ovarian cancer.

There is also a federal court action in New Jersey (home state of J&J) that were dismissed by a judge who said there wasn’t reliable evidence that talc leads to ovarian cancer.

Ovarian Cancer Risks

Factors known to increase a women’s risk of ovarian cancer include age, obesity, use of estrogen therapy after menopause, not having any children, certain genetic mutations and personal or family history of breast or ovarian cancer.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies genital use of talc as “possibly carcinogenic.” The National Toxicology Program, made up of parts of several different government agencies, has not fully reviewed talc.

What is Talc?

Talc is a mineral that is mined from deposits around the world, including the U.S. The softest of minerals, it’s crushed into a white powder. It’s been widely used in cosmetics and other personal care products to absorb moisture since at least 1894, when Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder was launched.

Talcum powder is most commonly used among infants to prevent diaper rash and maintain smooth skin, the products are used by adult women and Johnson & Johnson has touted such use to maintain “personal freshness.”

Since its popularity of Johnson’s Baby Powder among adult women, the company introduced and marketed Shower-to-Shower body powder for this specific purpose.

Over 2,000 Talcum Powder Ovarian Cancer Lawsuits

There are several hundred other Baby Powder lawsuits pending against Johnson and Johnson. Our office is currently investigating talcum powder claims from across the country. If you or a loved one suffered from ovarian cancer after using baby powder for feminine hygiene, contact our office immediately.

The case is Hogans v. Johnson & Johnson, 1422-CC09012-01, Circuit Court, St. Louis City, Missouri (St. Louis).