A plaintiff, Heather M., has filed a lawsuit in New Jersey federal court against Johnson & Johnson due to her diagnosis of ovarian cancer, which she attributes to her use of the company’s products.

According to the baby powder cancer lawsuit, Heather is a resident and citizen of Copenhagen, N.Y.

She alleges that she began using the product’s talcum-based products in 1996 and continued to use it through May 2007. The talcum based powder product at issue areJohnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder and the company’s Shower-to-Shower product.

The plaintiff files the following counts against the defendant: 1) Products Liability- Strict Liability- Failure to Warn, 2) Strict Liability- Defective Manufacturer and Design, 3) Breach of Implied Warranty of Merchantability, 4) Breach of Implied Warranty of Fitness for a Particular Purpose, 5) Negligence, 6) Negligent Misrepresentation, 7) Fraud, Violation of State Consumer Protection Laws of the State of New York, 8) Fraudulent Concealment, 9) Civil Conspiracy, 10) Loss of Consortium, 11) Punitive Damages, and 12) Discovery Rule and Tolling.

Baby Powder Cancer Lawsuit Facts

Talc products like Johnson’s Baby Powder have been clinically studied and reported to increase the risk of an ovarian cancer diagnosis. Since 1971, more than 20 clinical studies have correlated the risks in becoming diagnosed with ovarian cancer from talc powder since 1971.

In 2003, an analysis of 16 of these studies concluded that women had a 33% greater chance of developing ovarian cancer from their use of talcum powder.

Claims are also being made that since 1982, Johnson & Johnson had known of the link and correlation in women becoming diagnosed with ovarian cancer and their use of their products such as their Shower-to-Shower product and Johnson’s Baby Powder product.

Plaintiffs claim that the company failed to warn their consumers of these alleged risks and adverse effects. Thousands of women, therefore, have sued Johnson & Johnson due to the omission of these warnings.

Talc Product Facts

Talc is one of the main components of J&J’s baby powder product and one of the softest minerals known to man. It has been used as a component in cosmetic products for decades.

The purpose of including talc is to absorb moisture and to reduce friction. Due to its natural softness, the traits of talc as a component and ingredient of Johnson’s Baby Powder product has allowed women to use it on their genitals for feminine hygiene.

Talc, moreover, once used near a woman’s genitals, may travel to a woman’s ovaries and become embedded in her tissue. Though talc is a natural mineral, it is difficult to remove it from the body. With an embedded talc particle, inflammation may occur and cancerous tumors may also form and develop as well.

The Baby Powder Cancer Lawsuit is Case No. 3:17-cv-08073-FLW-LHG. The Johnson & Johnson Talc Powder MDL is In re: Johnson & Johnson Talcum Powder Products Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation, MDL No. 2738, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.