A Florida man has filed a talc powder wrongful death lawsuit against the makers of Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder on behalf of his deceased wife.

Plaintiff Timothy E. has filed this talc powder wrongful death lawsuit because his wife, Lori E., died from ovarian cancer that Timothy believes was as a direct result of her use of Johnson’s Baby Powder.

Lori was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, according to this baby powder lawsuit, in July 2013. He claims that because she was exposed to talc powder manufactured by Johnson & Johnson for such a long period of time, it caused the cancer that she died from.

For the last 40 years, Lori allegedly used talcum powder for feminine hygiene purposes. In July 2013, Lori was diagnosed with a “high-grade carcinoma of the left ovary.” Lori was forced to undergo surgery to remove this ovarian tumor. She received an ovarian cancer diagnosis at St. John’s hospital in Springfield, Illinois.

However, about seven months later, in February 2014, according to this talc powder wrongful death lawsuit, Lori died from ovarian cancer. She was only 52 years old.

This talc powder wrongful death lawsuit was filed by her husband, who is still living and claims that he has “suffered injuries due to the loss of his wife.”

Talc Powder and Ovarian Cancer

Timothy is not the only one who has filed a talc powder wrongful death lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson. Johnson & Johnson has been hit with many talcum powder lawsuits over the years regarding ovarian cancer.

According to his talc powder wrongful death lawsuit, Johnson & Johnson has been marketing their talc-based baby powder as a symbol of freshness and comfort. It is supposed to eliminate wetness and help skin feel dry and comfortable. As advertised, baby powder is supposed to be gentle and mild.

In fact, Johnson & Johnson promoted their product to women for application in the genital region and as something that they can use on a daily basis safely. One of their promotional materials said, “For you, use every day to help feel soft, fresh, and comfortable.”

However, as early as 1971, there were connections made between talc use and ovarian cancer. Multiple studies since then have placed strong correlations between the use of baby powder and ovarian cancer.

Indeed, Timothy’s lawsuit mentions a 1982 epidemiologic study that looked at talc powder use on the female genital area. It found that there was a 92% increased risk of ovarian cancer in women who used talc powder for their feminine hygiene.

Many lawsuits, including Timothy’s, claim that Johnson & Johnson had a long history of keeping information about possible cancer risks private from doctors and customers. In fact, instead of warning customers, the company allegedly continued to market their products as safe and gentle.

This Talc Powder Wrongful Death Lawsuit is Case No. 1:18-cv-01077-JBH-JEH in United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois.