Mesothelioma Lawyer Files Talc Lawsuit Against Johnson & Johnson
A man who is 24 years old and has pericardial mesotheliom claims that Johnson & Johnson baby powder is responsible for his cancer. The Oakland mesothelioma trial is one of the first one to be held since J&J separated its talc business and filed for bankruptcy.
In the early part of the year, substantial settlements were made in talc suits in New Jersey and California. Plaintiffs have linked cancer to asbestos that was found in J&J products Shower to Shower and baby powder.
What is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a deadly type of cancer that affects the mesothelium, the lining around organs and body cavities. It is usually found in the lungs but it can also occur in the abdomen, heart, chest cavity and testicles. Asbestos, the sole known cause of this disease is asbestos. People who have been exposed to asbestos are at a higher risk of developing it.
The first trial since J&J declared its Talcum Powder division bankrupt began this week and jurors in Oakland, California were emotional as they listened to the plaintiff's story. In 2022, the plaintiff who was just 24 years old at the time, old at the time, was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma of the pericardium. He attributed his illness to childhood exposure to Johnson & Johnson baby powder. The jury awarded him $25 million.
J&J has been accused of concealing asbestos risks from consumers for many years. The company has a history of obstructing asbestos research from regulators, and even supplying asbestos tests to achieve the results it desired. A number of the company's talcum powder suppliers have been named in these lawsuits and include Whittaker, Clark & Daniels and Imerys Talc America.
Many women who used talcum powder to maintain feminine hygiene in the genital area or on sanitary napkins, or condoms have gotten an ovarian cancer and some have been diagnosed with mesothelioma. The lawsuits claim that J&J knew for more than 40 years that using the powder led to mesothelioma and ovarian cancer but failed to warn customers of this danger.
Mesothelioma symptoms may include difficulty breathing, persistent coughing and abdominal pain, fatigue, and lumps or masses on the chest or abdomen. Doctors can diagnose mesothelioma through physical examination and imaging scans. These include CT scans (computer tomography), MRIs, PET or X rays.
If mesothelioma has been diagnosed patients can undergo chemotherapy, surgery, and/or radiotherapy. The surgeons can remove affected tissue depending on the location of the tumors. Patients with mesothelioma can be given an expected life expectancy of less than five years. However, aggressive treatments like extracorporeal membrane transplantation and cytoreduction using hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy can extend the life expectancy.
What is the cause of Mesothelioma?
Like most cancers, mesothelioma occurs by DNA mutations. These mutations cause the cells to multiply uncontrollably and form tumors in the tissues of the body. Asbestos is the most common cause of mesothelioma. Asbestos exposure can be found in many different industries such as mining, manufacturing construction, and transportation. Asbestos exposure is typically seen in the 20 to 40 years preceding symptoms develop. Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma compared to women. It is also most often diagnosed among those between the ages 50 and 70. The type of mesothelioma that a sufferer is usually determined by the region of their body in which they were exposed to asbestos. The majority of patients diagnosed with pleural msothelioma which affects the lung. Other patients are diagnosed with peritoneal msothelioma. This type of mesothelioma affects the abdomen. Certain people are diagnosed with pericardial mesothelioma. This is an extremely rare type of cancer that affects both the lining (pericardium) and the organ itself.
The symptoms of mesothelioma are shortness of breath, fatigue, abdominal pain and weight loss. In the later stages of mesothelioma, tumors may expand to other parts of the body which can cause extreme discomfort and discomfort. Other signs of mesothelioma are fluid in the lung, a loss of appetite and difficulty swallowing and eating. Mesothelioma is a debilitating illness, and it can be fatal.
The talcum-powder trial in Oakland involved a person who was 24 years old who developed pericardial msothelioma following the use of J&J baby powder. His lawyers argued the company knew that talc contained asbestos but did not inform customers. They also cited a 1998 letter addressed to a J&J executive that revealed the possibility of asbestos in their products.
This is the latest in a string of major verdicts against J&J. In March, J&J's Talcum powder caused ovarian mesothelioma to a woman. In March, a jury in Missouri handed down $55 million in a similar case. In addition, seven cases were added to the talcum powder MDL over the course of the month which brought the total number of lawsuits pending to 37,522. Most of these lawsuits were brought by women who have used J&J talcum powder to maintain feminine hygiene.
How Can I Tell If I Have Mesothelioma?
A diagnosis of mesothelioma could be devastating. Patients should always seek out a specialist for the most accurate diagnosis and to avoid misdiagnosis, which could lead to unneeded treatment and the spread of cancer.
A physical examination and a blood sample can help identify mesothelioma-related symptoms. These tests can be used to look for asbestos fibers in blood or to assess the health of the patient's internal organs. The most precise method to diagnose mesothelioma is a biopsy. Doctors extract tissues or fluids from an affected area, and then look at them under a microscope for mesothelioma tumor cells.
The type of mesothelioma is present in a patient can influence the prognosis of a patient. Pleural mesothelioma is by far the most common type of the disease and is responsible for the majority of cases diagnosed. Peritoneal mesothelioma, which is a cancer that is found in the abdomen's lining, is less common. Finally, pericardial mesothelioma, a rare type of cancer that develops in the heart's lining, is much less common and accounts for around one percent of cases.
Some of the first symptoms include shortness of breath that gets worse over time, and then coughing up blood. Asbestos patients may also experience fluid accumulation in the chest cavity. This is known as pleural effusion. The fluid can be drained from the chest cavity by inserting a needle into the affected region. In more severe cases, doctors may opt to perform pleurodesis, which is a procedure which seals the area to prevent the accumulation of fluid in the pleura.
Getting an accurate mesothelioma diagnosis is the best method to determine the patient's treatment options and survival rate. There are a myriad of options for treatment that include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Other options include immunotherapy which boosts the immune systems to fight mesothelioma and cancer treating fields that employ magnetic fields to kill cancerous cells.
A mesothelioma expert can also help patients understand different mesothelioma cells which determine the severity of the cancer and the patient's outlook. Patients should discuss their experience of asbestos exposure with their doctor to determine if they are a mesothelioma candidate and discover what kinds of treatment might be available to them.
How Can I get help?
If you have used Johnson & Johnson talcum powder and have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer or a different illness such as mesothelioma or other cancers, you could be entitled to significant compensation. Contact syracuse mesothelioma lawyer for a free, no obligation case evaluation. We can help you bring mesothelioma suits against J&J to hold them accountable for negligence.
Mesothelioma is a rare but fatal disease caused by asbestos exposure. Asbestos was widely utilized in a variety of industrial and consumer products, including baby powder. The plaintiffs in talcum powder cases claim that inhaling talcum powder caused to asbestos exposure and subsequently mesothelioma and other health problems.
J&J did not warn the public about the dangers of talcum and asbestos even though they had been aware of their dangers for many years. Plaintiffs have filed mesothelioma lawsuits against J&J seeking compensatory and punitive damages. These claims have been amalgamated into federal and state multidistrict litigations, or MDLs.
In 2018 one of the biggest talc cases resulted in an $4.7 billion settlement in favor of the plaintiff. This was a major news story and set a tone for the remainder of the litigation. In the last month, a judge denied a request by J&J to dismiss the lawsuits filed by the state of Mississippi.
J&J, however, tried to stop the litigation. The company created an additional subsidiary entity to take over its talc liabilities, and LTL Management filed for bankruptcy. The bankruptcy stopped thousands of talc lawsuits but the 3rd Circuit rejected this strategy.
The lawsuits brought by Mississippi are based on the same allegations of the individual lawsuits brought against J&J. They allege that the company was negligent in failing to warn of the risk of ovarian carcinoma due to talcum-powder, and that this resulted in an infraction of the law of the state.
J&J has resubmitted its motion to dismiss the lawsuits to another bankruptcy court. A hearing has been scheduled for June in order to determine whether the lawsuits against J&J will be allowed to proceed. If you or someone you love is diagnosed with mesothelioma or another condition that could have been caused by talcum powder you should seek legal representation immediately. Our experienced attorneys can help you receive justice you deserve.
