In a recent blog post, we alerted you to a civil suit that found corporate giant Johnson & Johnson (J&J) liable for an Alabama woman’s ovarian cancer—a cancer which she claimed in the lawsuit resulted from using J&J’s Baby Powder and Shower to Shower powder, both of which contain talcum powder.
Now, on Monday, May 2, a U.S. jury in a Missouri court has ordered J&J to pay $55 million to a 62-year-old South Dakota woman who stated that she too got ovarian cancer from using J&J’s talcum powder products. This is the second time in 2016 that J&J has lost a trial in which its talc-based products were accused of causing cancer.
Background
In this latest trial, Gloria Ristesund was awarded $5 million for compensation and another $50 million in punitive damages by state court jurors in St. Louis. Ristesund was diagnosed with cancer in 2011, which she stated was “a direct and proximate result of the unreasonably dangerous and defective nature of talcum powder,” for nearly 40 years of her life. Ristesund underwent a hysterectomy and related surgeries, and her cancer is thankfully currently in remission.
Currently, more than 1,200 civil suits are active against J&J alleging inadequate warnings about cancer risks for its talcum-containing products – most notably, its signature Baby Powder and Shower to Shower. In Ristesund’s case, the trial took only three weeks, and jurors deliberated for no more than a day, before the verdict was returned in her favor. J&J is planning to appeal the verdict.
In the earlier 2016 verdict against J&J, Jackie Fox, of Birmingham, Alabama, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2013 and subsequently sued J&J, claiming that the company failed to inform consumers like her about the dangers of talc. She died last fall at age 62 after her cancer returned.
In the wake of Fox’s death, her son, Marvin Salter, took over the case. On Feb. 22, a jury awarded Fox’s estate $10 million for compensatory damages and $62 million for punitive damages, according to the Associated Press (AP). Interestingly, both cases were tried in the same St. Louis courthouse.
No-Cost Evaluation
The attorneys at Nager, Romaine & Schneiberg are here to advocate on your behalf. If you or a loved one has — or you believe there is a risk of ovarian cancer — you may be entitled to compensation. Call the talcum powder lawsuit attorneys at Nager, Romaine & Schneiberg Co., LPA. We will evaluate the feasibility of a lawsuit and help determine whether you are entitled to compensation. Call NRS at 216-289-4740, or toll-free from Ohio at (855) GOT-HURT. You can also fill out our contact form for a free consultation.
