The second New Jersey trial for pharmaceutical Johnson & Johnson over talc and asbestos in its popular baby powder products has begun with its opening statements. Another, similar talc and asbestos is running concurrently in California, as that jury is now in deliberations.

This New Jersey trial is the second of its kind to take place in the pharmaceutical giant’s home state, and comes five months after the previous such trial. In that first New Jersey trial, the court brought a $117 million verdict against Johnson & Johnson.

The new lawsuit was filed by plaintiff Rosalind H., who alleges she was diagnosed with mesothelioma cancer after her use of Johnson & Johnson baby powder products for decades. In 2016, she was diagnosed with mesothelioma after using the powder from the late 1960s.

According to the lawsuit, Rosalind’s mesothelioma was a direct result of the relationship between talc and asbestos in the baby powder.

Thousands of lawsuits have been filed over cancer caused by talc-based baby powder products, but these are some of the few that allege the cause was asbestos in the powder rather than the talc itself.

According to the lawsuit, Johnson & Johnson failed to warn both Carolyn and consumers as a whole about the risk associated with its product, alleging that the talc used was contaminated with asbestos, a known carcinogen.

According to the lawsuit, Johnson & Johnson avoided having the baby powder product tested for asbestos on purpose in order to avoid the financial losses that could occur if consumers were aware of the possibility.

Baby Powder Cancer Risk

Thousands of lawsuits have alleged that Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder can cause ovarian cancer, and now more are being filed alleging that asbestos in baby powder caused mesothelioma cancer.

Some baby powder products are (or used to be) based off of a substance known as talc. However, studies have linked risk of ovarian cancer and talcum powder. Furthermore, the use of talcum-based powders—including Johnson & Johnson’s popular Shower to Shower—in the genital area has been linked with an increased risk of ovarian cancer diagnosis.

While Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder products have been popular for decades, and have even been advertised and used as a feminine hygiene product, an ever-growing pile of litigation claims that using the product in this manner may put women in danger of developing ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer is the fifth highest ranking in cancer deaths among women, affecting mainly older women, and is difficult to detect early on. This means it is often diagnosed after it has reached its later and more dangerous stages.

Filing a Baby Powder Lawsuit

Lawsuits allege that Johnson & Johnson failed to give adequate warning about the link between talc and asbestos fibers in its baby powder products, and even misrepresented the safety of the products in its advertising, despite knowledge of the connection between ovarian cancer and talcum powder.

Jurors have ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay millions to injured plaintiffs and their families so far.

If you or someone you love has used baby powder as part of a regular feminine hygiene routine, and have since been diagnosed with ovarian cancer or mesothelioma cancer, you may be able to file a baby powder lawsuit.

While filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by cancer diagnosis, and cannot bring a loved one back to life, it can help to alleviate the financial burden caused by medical expenses and lost wages.