Johnson & Johnson faces another recent baby powder lawsuit raising allegations of ovarian cancer development from long term use of talcum powder.

Plaintiff Gail A. files the baby powder lawsuit in California federal court. She alleges that after long term use of talcum powder made by J&J, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer on Feb. 19, 2016.

She claims that she used Johnson’s Baby Powder for “nearly her entire life,” and says that her mother began applying the baby powder to her as an infant.

Gail claims that despite all her years of product use there was never “any indication … packaging or otherwise, that this normal use could and would cause [her] to develop ovarian cancer.”

The baby powder lawsuit is filed on multiple counts including failure to warn, design/manufacturing defect, negligence, breach of express warranty, breach of implied warranty, punitive damages, negligent misrepresentation, fraudulent concealment, intentional misrepresentation, among others.

Ovarian Cancer Reported with Long Term Use of Talcum Powder

The accusations against J&J purport that the company knew of the side effects stemming from long term use of talcum powder, but failed to disclose the findings to the public. They also accuse the company of continuing to sell and market the product while knowing of the potential development for these complications.

According to the American Cancer Society, talc has been widely used in a vast majority of cosmetic products, including Johnson’s Baby Powder. The reason for this has been the powder’s ability to reduce friction, absorb moisture, and help prevent the development of skin rashes.

However, studies have found and looked at the possible link between ovarian cancer and talcum powder. Researchers believe that if particles of talcum powder sweep through the vagina, uterus, and fallopian tubes to the ovaries, the development of ovarian cancer may be likely.

Any substance that helps in the development for cancer or that causes cancer to develop is called a carcinogen. In fact, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), part of the World Health Organization (WHO), classified talc as a possible human carcinogen.

According to the American Cancer Society, “[b]ased on limited evidence from human studies of a link to ovarian cancer, IARC classifies the perineal (genital) use of talc-based body powder as ‘possibly carcinogenic to humans.’”

The Long Term Use of Talcum Powder Lawsuit is Case No. 5:18-cv-00514-NC, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. The Johnson & Johnson Talc Powder MDL is in re: Johnson & Johnson Talcum Powder Products Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 16-2738, in U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.