Despite numerous invitations to appear at the U.S. congressional hearing on talc powder cancer on Dec. 10, Johnson & Johnson’s CEO Alex Gorsky didn’t show up.

According to the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy, it had made “repeated attempts to accommodate the company” over the course of almost a month.

“Mr. Gorsky refuses to speak to the Subcommittee under oath, yet he has not refrained from making multiple public comments on the topic,” said Democrat Raja Krishnamoorthi, chairman of the House panel that’s tasked with investigating the potential risk of talc powder cancer in baby powder and other products, CNBC reports.

A spokesperson for Johnson & Johnson, Ernie Knewitz, said that the company had offered to send a talc texting expert or another J&J executive to the congressional hearing instead, but the subcommittee turned this offer down. The company’s reasoning for its CEO not appearing at the hearing is that he “is not, as we have repeatedly told the Subcommittee, an expert in the stated subject of the hearing.”

While Gorsky may not be an expert on talc powder or its potential risks, he has recently been very active in defending its talc powder product as safe, asbestos-free, and not capable of causing cancer. In the face of a $4.69 billion jury verdict in favor of 22 women who alleged they were diagnosed with ovarian cancer because of Johnson & Johnson talc-based powder, Gorsky again vouched for the safety of his company’s talc products.

Johnson & Johnson continues to insist that its talc-based products, including its baby powder, are safe, despite the litigation that continues to pile up (16,000 lawsuits and counting), and despite a December 2018 report in Reuters that the pharmaceutical giant had known for decades about asbestos being found in its talc-based powders. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has also noted that it has found traces of asbestos in a number of products, including baby powder.

Lawmakers often call on CEOs of companies to come testify if their products or services are involved in a hearing. For instance, the CEOs of Boeing and Facebook have each come before congressional committees to testify about their companies’ methods of safeguarding consumers.

Filing a Talc Powder Cancer Lawsuit

A growing number of people are coming forward with litigation over talc powder cancer claims against Johnson & Johnson. If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with cancer after exposure to baby powder, you may be able to file a lawsuit and pursue compensation.

Filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by a cancer diagnosis, nor can it bring a loved one back to life, but it can at least help to alleviate the financial burden incurred by medical expenses, lost wages, and more.

Pursuing litigation can be a daunting prospect, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork for you by connecting you with an experienced attorney. Consulting an attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.