Johnson & Johnson faces a recent talc powder lawsuit filed by a woman joining a continuously increasing number of complaints being filed against the company.

Plaintiff Shenieka J. filed the talc powder lawsuit in California federal court. The lawsuit was filed on July 3, 2018, demanding a trial by jury.

According to the talc powder lawsuit, Shenieka says that she became diagnosed with ovarian cancer as a direct and proximate cause of the company’s baby powder product. Born in 1982, Shenieka says that she used the baby powder product for almost her entire life. She was “diagnosed with ovarian cancer by pathology following her laparotomy and left ovarian cystectomy on July 20, 2016,” the talc powder lawsuit states.

According to the talc powder lawsuit, she continued to use the baby powder product following her initial diagnosis of ovarian cancer in 2016. According to the complaint, “There was never any indication, on the Products, packaging or otherwise, that this normal use could and would cause … [Shenieka] to have developed or to develop ovarian cancer.”

Since her diagnosis, she says she has undergone chemotherapy and surgery, including her left ovarian cystectomy and laparotomy.

The talc powder lawsuit was filed on multiple counts including failure to warn, design and/or manufacturing defect, negligence, breach of express warranty, breach of implied warranty, punitive damages, negligent misrepresentation, fraudulent concealment, intentional misrepresentation, violation of the UCL, restitution of disgorgement based on unjust enrichment, consumer legal remedies act, false advertising law, and tolling of statute of limitations.

Overview: Talc Powder Lawsuit

Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder, composed of a mineral known as talc, has been linked in some studies to an increased risk of developing ovarian cancer. As a result, thousands have filed talc powder lawsuits in federal courts.

Talc is a mineral composed of magnesium, silicon, hydrogen, and oxygen. It is a naturally occurring mineral frequently added to hygiene and other cosmetic products for its ability to reduce friction, and absorb odors and oils.

However, studies have long linked ovarian cancer to talcum powder surprisingly since the 1970’s. According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), a meta-analysis of 21 studies (2006) statistically found that talc “used regularly in the genital area was associated with a 33% increase in ovarian cancer risks overall while no apparent risk was associated with talc used only in nongenital areas.”

While talc is a naturally occurring mineral, the body has difficulty eliminating talc particles. Another study published in the International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, titled Talc and Carcinoma of the Ovary and Cervix, found talc particles within tumor tissue. Additionally, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) determined that “perineal use of talc-based body powder is possibly carcinogenic to humans” (Group 2B).

According to the American Cancer Society, moreover, they emphasize just how talcum powder causes ovarian cancer. They report that “It has been suggested that talcum powder might cause cancer in the ovaries if the powder particles (applied to the genital area or on sanitary napkins, diaphragms, or condoms) were to travel through the vagina, uterus, and fallopian tubes to the ovary.”

The Talc Powder Lawsuit is Case No. 5:18-cv-01416, in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.