Colgate-Palmolive was ordered to pay $12.4 million in damages to a woman with a deadly form of cancer after a Los Angeles jury found that an asbestos-contaminated talcum powder was the main cause of her disease.

Judith W., 73, told the court she used the popular scented talcum powder from 1961 to 1976. It wasn’t until 1973 that federal laws required commercial talcum products to be asbestos-free. Judith was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2014.

The two-week trial in Los Angeles Superior Court was the first to weigh allegations that, in past decades, the talc in Colgate’s popular Cashmere Bouquet powder came from asbestos-contaminated mines, and that inhalation of asbestos fibers from the powder might have caused mesothelioma in victims who had no other significant asbestos exposure.

According to the talcum powder lawsuit, Judith regularly used Cashmere Bouquet powder from about 1961 to the mid-1970s. Colgate-Palmolive denied that Cashmere Bouquet was tainted by asbestos. Jurors did not agree, and took only about two hours to reach their verdict.

Although researchers have debated the connection between talc powder and cancer for years, the talcum powder mesothelioma verdict was the first against Colgate-Palmolive for asbestos exposure from commercial talcum powder.

Talc, one of the world’s softest minerals, has been mined from deposits interwoven with asbestos fibers. Asbestos exposure can cause mesothelioma, an often terminal cancer.

Judith and her husband, both of Santa Barbara, Calif., will receive $12.4 million from Colgate-Palmolive, which was deemed 95 percent responsible for her mesothelioma diagnosis. Four other companies that might have exposed her to asbestos are responsible for the other 5 percent. The couple, in a separate out-of-court settlement that followed, also received undisclosed punitive damages.

Talcum Powder Used in Many Products

Talc still is used widely today in many products, including pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. It is coveted for its ability to improve textural feel and to absorb moisture.

Microscopic asbestos fibers can be inhaled or ingested unknowingly and sit dormant for decades before causing any health programs. The latency period for mesothelioma can range from 10-50 years.

Studies have shown a possible link between ovarian cancer and the feminine hygiene use of talcum powder. There are hundreds of cases pending against talc suppliers and companies that market talc products such as Johnson & Johnson.

Talc can collect in the ovaries of women and some researchers have said the use of talcum powder on the genitals could lead to ovarian cancer.

Talcum Powder Lawsuits

Mounting evidence indicates that many women may be at risk for ovarian cancer due to their use of talcum powder product for genital hygiene. Despite evidence linking talcum powder to ovarian cancer going back to the 1970s, many manufacturers have failed to provide consumers with warnings about this potential danger, and continue to manufacture and market talcum and baby powder products to unsuspecting women throughout the United States.

If you or a loved one has suffered from ovarian cancer and have a history of using talcum powder, you may be eligible to participate in a talcum powder ovarian cancer lawsuit.