A federal judge has denied Johnson & Johnson’s request to transfer approximately 2,400 baby powder cancer lawsuits against the company from state courts to a federal district court in Delaware.

According to CNBC, Judge Maryellen Noreika decided that “the judges in the states who are already handling these cases are better suited to hear the claims before them than is this Court, which would have to hear thousands of cases and apply different state laws to each.”

This means that the Johnson & Johnson baby powder lawsuits will remain in dozens of different districts and states. This may result in a variety of different court rulings. Johnson & Johnson requested the transfer in order to streamline the litigation process. The company denies that its products are dangerous.

The Johnson & Johnson baby powder cases allege that the company’s popular baby powder is contaminated with asbestos.

Johnson & Johnson maintains that its baby powder products are safe for cosmetic and hygienic uses. However, approximately 14,000 pending lawsuits against the company claim otherwise.

One recent trial resulted in a $4.69 billion award to 22 women who claim that contamination from the baby powder caused them to develop ovarian cancer. Other lawsuits claim that the contamination led them to develop mesothelioma.

The BMJ reports that the Department of Justice has initiated a criminal probe “into what executives at Johnson and Johnson may have known or concealed about asbestos in their talcum products.”

Dangers of Asbestos-Contaminated Baby Powder

Asbestos is a fibrous, naturally occurring mineral that is often mined near talc, the main ingredient in many baby powder products. Because asbestos and talc are frequently found near each other, there is often cross-contamination.

Asbestos fibers and particles may be so tiny that they cannot be seen with the naked eye. However, these tiny particles can be very dangerous. Inhaling or ingesting asbestos particles may lead to inflammation and irritation in the lungs. Over time and years of exposure to asbestos particles, this inflammation may lead to scar tissue, which can eventually become cancer.

Asbestos-related cancers often take years, or even decades, to develop. Due to this slow growth, by the time the cancer is diagnosed, it may be too late to reverse the damage, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Many people with asbestos cancers do not discover that they’ve been exposed to asbestos until it is years too late.

Although these cancers are slow-growing, you may still be able to watch for symptoms. Symptoms of mesothelioma and lung cancer may include shortness of breath, chest pain, coughing, and a feeling of needing to clear your throat often. Symptoms of ovarian cancer may include abdominal swelling and pain, digestion issues, fatigue, and back pain.

If you have been diagnosed with lung cancer, mesothelioma, or ovarian cancer after using Johnson & Johnson baby powder products, you may be eligible to hire an attorney and file a lawsuit in order to pursue compensation for your injuries, medical expenses, and other costs associated with side effects from these products.