Mesothelioma Lawyer Files Talc Lawsuit Against Johnson & Johnson

A man who is 24 years old and has mesothelioma pericardial has claimed that Johnson and Johnson's baby powder caused his cancer. The Oakland mesothelioma trial is the first trial to be held since J&J filed for bankruptcy and split off its Talc division.

This year, juries awards in New Jersey and California led to large settlements in talc-related lawsuits. Plaintiffs attributed their cancer to asbestos in J&J's Shower Baby and Shower Powder products.

What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a fatal form of cancer that affects the mesothelium or lining that surrounds organs and body cavities. It is usually found in the lungs, but it can also be found in the abdomen, the heart and chest cavity, as well as the testicles. Asbestos, the sole known cause of this illness, is asbestos. People who have been exposed are at an increased chance of developing it.

The first trial since J&J declared its Talcum Powder division bankrupt was opened this week and jurors in Oakland, California were emotional when they heard the story of the plaintiff. The plaintiff, who is just 24 years old, was diagnosed with malignant pericardial mesothelioma in 2022. He blamed his condition on childhood exposure to Johnson & Johnson baby powder. The jury awarded him $25 million.

J&J has been accused of concealing asbestos risks from the public for a number of years. The company has a history of obstructing asbestos research from regulators and funding asbestos tests to achieve the results it wanted. A number of the company's talcum powder suppliers have been named in these lawsuits, including Whittaker, Clark & Daniels and Imerys Talc America.

Women who used talcum to provide feminine hygiene on pads or condoms or in the genital region have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and ovarian cancer. The lawsuits claim that J&J was aware for more than forty years that the powder could trigger ovarian cancer and other illnesses, but did not take the time to warn consumers.

Symptoms of mesothelioma include abdominal pain and abdominal lumps, abdominal swelling and a persistent cough. Doctors can diagnose the disease through a physical examination and imaging scans. They can include CT (computer tomography) scans, MRIs and PET or X-rays.

When mesothelioma is discovered patients can undergo surgery, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy. The surgeons can remove the affected tissue based on the location of the tumors. Patients with mesothelioma may have a lifespan less than five. However aggressive treatments like extracorporeal tissue transplantation and the cytoreduction process using hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy can prolong the duration of survival.

What causes Mesothelioma?

Like all cancers, mesothelioma develops when a cell's DNA experiences mutations. These mutations can cause uncontrolled cell growth that creates tumors in the tissues. Asbestos is the leading cause of mesothelioma. Asbestos exposure can occur at work in a variety of industries such as manufacturing, mining, construction and transportation. Asbestos is usually exposed for 20 to 40 years prior to symptoms appearing. Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma than females. It is also found most often in those between the ages 50 and 70. The type of mesothelioma that a sufferer is usually determined by the region of their body where they were exposed to asbestos. Most people with mesothelioma are diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma which affects the lung. Some are diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma. This kind of mesothelioma affects the abdomen. Certain people are diagnosed with pericardial mesothelioma. This is a rare type of the disease which affects both the liner (pericardium) as well as the organ itself.

Mesothelioma symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath, abdominal pain and weight loss. In the last stages of mesothelioma, tumors can spread to other parts, causing severe discomfort and pain. Other signs of mesothelioma are fluid in the lung, a loss of appetite, difficulty eating and swallowing. Mesothelioma is a fatal illness, and it is often fatal.

The talcum powder trial in Oakland involved an individual of 24 who developed pericardial mesothelioma as a result of using J&J baby powder. His lawyers argued that J&J knew that talc contained asbestos, but did not warn consumers. They also cited a 1998 letter addressed to a J&J executive that revealed the possibility of asbestos being present in their products.

This is the latest in a string of high-dollar verdicts against J&J. In March, J&J's Talcum Powder caused ovarian mesothelioma lawsuit settlements in one woman. Last month, another jury in Missouri awarded $55 million in an identical case. Seven new cases have been added to the MDL talcum powder over the last month, bringing it to 37,522 the number of pending suits. The majority of these lawsuits involve women who have used J&J's talcum powder for feminine hygiene reasons.

How do I know if I have mesothelioma or not?

A diagnosis of mesothelioma may be devastating. Patients must always consult a doctor to get the most precise diagnosis and to avoid mistakes that could result in unnecessary treatment and spread of cancer.

A physical examination and blood test could be an excellent way to determine whether mesothelioma has caused symptoms. These tests can be used to look for asbestos fibers in blood or the health of a patient's internal organs. The most reliable method of diagnosing mesothelioma settlements amounts is the procedure of a biopsy. Doctors take tissues or fluids from the affected area, and then look at them under a microscope for mesothelioma cancerous cells.

The type of mesothelioma that a person has also affects the prognosis of their patient. Pleural mesothelioma is by far the most commonly encountered type of disease, and accounts for the majority of cases diagnosed. Peritoneal cancer, which forms in the lining around the abdomen, is a less common type. The pericardial mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer that occurs in the lining of the heart, is more rare and only makes up around 1percent of cases.

A shortness of breath that becomes worse over time, and a bloody cough are among the first symptoms. Asbestos patients can also experience fluid accumulation in the chest cavity, which is called pleural effusion. The fluid can be removed from the chest cavity by inserting a needle into the affected area. In more severe cases, doctors may use a procedure known as pleurodesis, which seals the area to prevent reaccumulation of fluid in the pleura.

Getting an accurate mesothelioma diagnosis is the best way to determine a patient's treatment options and the survival rate. There are a variety of options for treatment, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Other options include immunotherapy which boosts the immune systems to fight mesothelioma and cancer treating fields that employ a magnetic field in order to kill cancerous cell.

A mesothelioma specialist may also assist patients in understanding various mesothelioma cell types, which determine the extent of the cancer as well as the outlook of the patient. Patients should discuss with their doctor their experiences with asbestos exposure to determine whether mesothelioma is an option and what treatment options are available.

How Can I get help?

If you have used Johnson & Johnson talcum and developed ovarian or other illnesses like mesothelioma after using the powder, you could be entitled to a substantial amount of compensation. Contact us today to receive an obligation-free, no-cost case evaluation. We can assist you in bringing mesothelioma suits against J&J to hold them accountable for negligence.

Mesothelioma, a rare and fatal disease caused by asbestos exposure is a rare disease. Asbestos was once widely used in a range of consumer and industrial products, including baby powder. In talcum-powder lawsuits, plaintiffs claim that exposure to asbestos through inhalation of the powder led to the development of mesothelioma and other health issues.

J&J believed to have known about the dangers of talcum powder and asbestos for decades but failed to warn consumers. Plaintiffs have filed lawsuits seeking punitive damages and compensatory damages against the company. These lawsuits have been amalgamated into federal and state multidistrict litigations, or MDLs.

In 2018, one of the largest Talc cases resulted in a $4.7 billion settlement in favor of the plaintiff. The news made headlines across the country and set the stage for the rest of the litigation. Last month, a court denied J&J's request to dismiss the lawsuits filed by the state.

However, in an effort to derail the lawsuit, J&J tried again. The company created an additional subsidiary entity to assume its talc liabilities and LTL Management filed for bankruptcy. The bankruptcy stayed thousands of talc lawsuits, but the 3rd Circuit rejected this strategy.

The lawsuits brought by the state of Mississippi are founded on the same allegations that were a part of the individual lawsuits filed against J&J that claim that the company's inability to warn of the dangers of ovarian cancer caused by talcum powder was negligent and violated the law of the state.

J&J has submitted its motion to dismiss the lawsuits to another bankruptcy court. A hearing is scheduled for June in order to determine if the lawsuits against J&J will be allowed to be pursued. If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another condition which could be caused by talcum powder you should seek legal advice immediately. Our skilled lawyers will assist you in getting the compensation you deserve.