According to a woman who recently testified in a baby powder lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson, the company hid the presence of asbestos in the talc.

According to that woman, Johnson & Johnson had known for decades that their talcum powder products had asbestos inside but chose to instead hide this information from the public. Talc powder is one of the company’s most popular products, marketed as a way to stay clean and fresh.

The woman in that baby powder lawsuit has since developed mesothelioma and provided these allegations in front of a California jury recently during the opening statements for a retrial on her initial claims. One year ago, a jury deadlocked in her same case.

According to that baby powder mesothelioma claim, Johnson & Johnson circulated internal documents throughout the 1960s and 1970s with information indicating that the company was well aware of asbestos fibers present in the talcum powder. A letter was sent approximately 50 years prior from a Johnson & Johnson doctor to an executive.

The letter includes a statement that the presence of tremolite in Johnson & Johnson’s talc could position the company for problems with litigation in which cancer could be potentially attributed to their products.

The claims in this baby powder lawsuit argue that the company knew that the baby powder contained asbestos and failed to make appropriate choices to notify the public about the possible dangers of being exposed to these asbestos fibers.

For example, according to the lawsuit, Johnson & Johnson could have discontinued the sale of their talcum based baby powders and moved to safer alternatives, such as corn starch, or have at least informed the public about the possibility of developing cancer due to exposure to asbestos but chose not to.

The woman who initiated this talcum powder lawsuit states that Johnson & Johnson also attempted to remove, transform or destroy asbestos after discovering that it was present in the talc but was not successful in these experiments.

The plaintiff in this lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson says that she has been exposed to Johnson & Johnson talcum powder for decades ever since she was a baby. The woman is now 60 years old and admits to having used it daily in multiple locations since age 13. In 2016, she was diagnosed with mesothelioma due to a tumor that she believes was caused by asbestos exposure.

Numerous lawsuits have been filed against Johnson & Johnson, including one in NJ that recently ended in a $37.3 million verdict for the plaintiff. Most of the legal claims against the cosmetics and personal care giant allege that the plaintiff developed medical issues like cancer or mesothelioma due to ongoing use of the talc powder products manufactured and marketed by J & J.

If you or someone you know has developed cancer after using Johnson & Johnson baby powder products, you could be eligible to file litigation on your own. Getting started can be difficult; Top Class Actions can help you identify an attorney who can assist you with your claim.

The Baby Powder Lawsuit is Case No. BC656425 in the Superior Court of the State of California for the County of Los Angeles.

Read More About Baby Powder and Cancer:

Is There Asbestos in Baby Powder?

Is Johnson’s Baby Powder Safe to Use?

Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder Lawsuits Allege Cancer Connection

Newly Revealed Documents Raise Concerns About Asbestos in Baby Powder

Cancer Patient Wins $29.5 Million Verdict in California Baby Powder Case