A California jury recently awarded a dying woman $12 million in the resolution to her mesothelioma lawsuit claiming that Johnson & Johnson and Colgate-Palmolive products caused her to develop cancer.

Johnson & Johnson Mesothelioma Lawsuit

According to the recent ruling by a 12 member California jury, Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder and Shower to Shower products may be contaminated with asbestos. The same contaminant may also be present in Colgate-Palmolive’s product Cashmere Bouquet.

After five days of deliberation, the jury found both companies liable for failure to warn, concealment, design defect, and negligence, although they were unable to conclude whether the companies acted with malice or committed fraud.

Plaintiff Patricia S. was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2018 after decades of using talc-based cosmetic products manufactured by Johnson & Johnson and Colgate-Palmolive as reported by People. According to Patricia, her doctors do not expect her to live past summer 2019.

Patricia’s mesothelioma lawsuit claims that internal corporate documents dating back to the 1960s prove that executives at Colgate-Palmolive and Johnson & Johnson have known about the possibility of asbestos in their talc products. Asbestos has been recognized as a carcinogen since the 1970s.

About Asbestos

Asbestos is a naturally occurring fibrous mineral that is often mined near other minerals, including talc. Due to its close proximity, talc is often contaminated with tiny asbestos particles. Asbestos is very dangerous when inhaled, ingested, or absorbed.

The tiny particles may be inhaled into the lungs, where they can cause irritation, fluid build-up, and inflammation. Over time, according to WebMD, this inflammation may turn into scar tissue, and eventually to mesothelioma or lung cancer. This cancer may take over a decade to develop, often making it difficult to diagnose the side effects of asbestos exposure until it is too late.

Symptoms of mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure may include a dry cough, shortness of breath, pain in the chest or abdomen, wheezing, respiratory problems, fever or night sweats, fatigue, fluid in the lungs, or muscle weakness. The most common symptoms of the condition are shortness of breath and fluid build-up in the lungs.

Asbestos Litigation and Settlements

There are over 13,000 pending lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson and Colgate-Palmolive regarding possible carcinogens in their products.

In addition to Patricia’s mesothelioma lawsuit, several other recent lawsuits filed by victims of asbestos-related cancers have won their suits against these corporations. One recent talc lawsuit resulted in damages totaling $300 million for the victim according to CNBC.

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related cancer due to years of using talc products made by Johnson & Johnson or Colgate-Palmolive, you may be able to file a class action lawsuit and pursue compensation.

Cancer victims who win asbestos lawsuits may be able to collect damages for injuries, pain and suffering, medical expenses, and in some cases, punitive damages.

Patricia’s Asbestos Mesothelioma case is Case No: RG18923615, in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Alameda.