A woman who has allegedly developed ovarian tumors after using Johnsons & Johnson’s powder files a lawsuit alleging the company of hiding “the cancer-causing nature” of its talcum based product.

The talc powder cancer trial alleges Johnson & Johnson and the co-defendant Imerys Talc America Inc. knew that talc had a link to ovarian cancer, but that the defendants disregarded that knowledge to increase their own sales and revenue.

The product in question is Johnson & Johnson’s “Shower to Shower.”

The attorney representing plaintiff Lois S., a Virginia resident, stated in his opening statement that, pertaining to the alleged relationship between talc and ovarian cancer and the case at hand, the case has, “far reaching consequences and deals with life and death matters,” according to Law360.

He had further stated to the jury that, “this case is about corporate profit and maintaining a corporate image over human life.”

Moreover, he contended that, “your verdict could prevent potentially hundreds of thousands of women from contracting one of the most deadly forms of cancer for women.”

According to the talc powder cancer trial, Lois S. contends that she had been using the talcum based product for more than 40 years before being diagnosed with ovarian cancer in August 2012.

The attorney for Lois told the jury, alluding to the claims made against the defendants that, “you’ll hear this on the stand, they targeted women… when their profits were falling.”

Claims made by the attorneys for the plaintiff further allege that asbestos and heavy metals are also present in the powder, not just talc.

The talc powder lawsuit alleges that tissue from the plaintiff’s fallopian tubes and ovaries that were removed during her cancer treatment show that all three substances were undoubtedly present.

The defendant’s attorney countered the claims and in his opening statements stated that Johnson & Johnson had been “dragged into court and attacked, vilified.” And more so, that the accusations made against the defendants are unfounded and unsubstantiated, the talc powder cancer trial explains.

The arguments made by the defendant’s attorneys further explained that the evidence that the plaintiffs are relying upon are studies that only correlate some relationship between talc and ovarian cancer for women who use the products for feminine hygiene, but do not show how talc causes ovarian cancer. Conclusively, he explained that the defendants have studied talc and determined the mineral’s safety for use.

Plaintiffs from cases tried before a jury in February, May, and October, were each awarded $72 million, $55 million, and $70 million, respectively.

Johnson & Johnson “broke its losing streak in St. Louis, convincing a jury that… [plaintiff’s] ovarian cancer was not connected to her daily use of talcum powder over several decades,” in March.

The first California trial for Johnson & Johnson is set to begin in July.

The Talc Powder Cancer lawsuit is Case No. 1422-CC09326-01, in the 22nd Judicial Court of Missouri.