Johnson & Johnson is currently facing a baby powder cancer lawsuit alleging that talc-based hygiene products may cause ovarian cancer.

The baby powder lawsuit was filed by plaintiff Mona Estrada and she alleges that the company was aware of this risk, but marketed these products anyway. Estrada is seeking medical costs and related expenses related to ovarian cancer.

There are two main formulations of baby powder. One is made with cornstarch comprises and has no real health problems associated with it.

However, many baby powders include talc as their active ingredients. Talc is a naturally-occurring mineral, which can absorb moisture. However, the mineral is related to asbestos and is rich in silica, compounds the body cannot break down.

Earlier formulations of talc powders actually contained asbestos until new legislation banned this in the 1970s. However, newer research has alleged that even modern asbestos-free talc can cause serious health problems.

Estrada claims in her baby powder cancer lawsuit that talc-based baby powder and related products like Johnson & Johnson’s Shower To Shower can increase a woman’s chance of ovarian cancer when applied to the genitals.

As early as the 1970s, researchers found that as many as three-quarters of ovarian tumors contained embedded particles of talc.

More recent studies have confirmed the link between baby powder and ovarian cancer, lending credence to the baby powder lawsuit over alleged cases of talc-triggered ovarian cancer. These more modern studies used advance epidemiological survey methods to study the alleged link between these products and cancer.

The litigation over Johnson & Johnson talc products has taken the form of a class action lawsuit. Class action lawsuits are a type of group lawsuit, wherein a group of plaintiffs allege that they have suffered similar harm at the hands of the same defendant.

Group lawsuits like the Johnson & Johnson baby powder class action lawsuit are designed to help streamline the legal process, by combining tens, hundreds, or even thousands of potential individual lawsuits into a single class action lawsuit. This saves time, money, and resources for all parties involved. For example, the plaintiffs can share their legal costs, making the lawsuit much more cost-effective for those suing large corporations like Johnson & Johnson.

The Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder Lawsuit is Mona Estrada v. Johnson & Johnson, et al., Case No. 2:14-cv-01051, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California.

In general, baby powder cancer lawsuits are filed individually by each plaintiff and are not class actions.

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