A mistrial was declared in a talc asbestos contamination case Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017. A woman who alleges she developed mesothelioma in her lungs after using Johnson & Johnson talcum powders took the stand and mentioned the possibility of a connection between the products and ovarian cancer, which was in violation of a court order.

Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge C. Edward Simpson announced to the jury that a new jury would need to be empaneled to hear the claims made by plaintiffs Tina and Douglas H. because Tina had mentioned rumors of talc being linked to ovarian cancer. The judge made the declaration before the second day of the trial began.

Because the case was not an ovarian cancer case, mentioning a possible link between that type of cancer and talc was not allowed.

Many lawsuits have alleged Johnson & Johnson’s talcum powders have caused ovarian cancer in women who used the powders in their genital area. Those lawsuits have pointed to talc as the culprit, though, and not asbestos.

The couple filed the talc asbestos contamination lawsuit in January against Johnson & Johnson and other companies, including Imerys, the company that mines talc used in Johnson & Johnson products.

Tina was diagnosed with mesothelioma in October 2016 after years of using Johnson & Johnson talcum powders during babies’ diaper changes and after showering.

The couple reportedly is seeking compensation in the tens of millions of dollars.

Talc Asbestos Contamination Lawsuit Alleges Coverup

The couple alleges that Johnson & Johnson’s talc products are tainted with asbestos and that the company has hidden that fact from consumers for nearly a hundred years.

Talc and asbestos are both mined, and are often found in tandem. Talc is a natural substance made of magnesium, silicon and oxygen. Freshly mined talc can contain asbestos and other minerals. Talc used in consumer products is supposedly purified for all traces of asbestos to be removed.

Asbestos is known to cause mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lungs. The disease can take 20 to 50 years after exposure to develop because tiny asbestos fibers become embedded in the tissue and irritate for years.

Some occupations put workers at an increased risk of asbestos exposure. Shipyard workers, auto mechanics, construction workers, insulation installers, and railroad workers all involve some degree of asbestos exposure.

While Tina was not associated with any of those occupations, she points to her talc asbestos contamination lawsuit alleges years of using Johnson & Johnson talcum powders as the root cause of her mesothelioma development.

The trial will resume once a new jury is chosen and seated.

If you or someone you love has suffered from mesothelioma as a result of talc asbestos contamination, you could benefit from speaking with an attorney regarding your legal options.

The Talc Asbestos Contamination Lawsuit is Case No. BC646315, consolidated in LAOSD Asbestos Cases, Case No. JCCP4674, in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles.