What Is Mesothelioma Talc Lawsuit And Why Is Everyone Dissing It?
Mesothelioma Lawyer Files Talc Lawsuit Against Johnson & Johnson
A 24-year-old man with mesothelioma of the pericardium has claimed that Johnson and Johnson's baby powder caused his cancer. The Oakland mesothelioma trial is one of the first to proceed since J&J has dissolved its Talc business and filed for bankruptcy.
This year, juries awards in New Jersey and California led to large settlements in talc-related lawsuits. Plaintiffs linked their cancer to asbestos in J&J's Shower Shower and Baby 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 most often found in the lungs but it can also be found in the abdomen, heart and chest cavity, as well as the testicles. Asbestos, which is the only known cause of this disease, is asbestos. People who have been exposed are at a higher chance of developing it.
The first trial since J&J declared its talcum powder division bankrupt opened this week, and jurors in Oakland, California were emotional as they heard the story of the plaintiff. The plaintiff, who is just 24 years old was diagnosed with malignant pericardial mesothelioma 2022. He attributed the reason for his illness to his early use of Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder. The jury awarded him $25 million.
J&J is accused of hiding asbestos-related risks from consumers for several decades. J&J has a history of withholding asbestos findings from regulators and funding asbestos tests to achieve the results it desired. Several 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 areas or on sanitary napkins or condoms have been diagnosed with an ovarian cancer and some have been diagnosed with mesothelioma. The lawsuits assert that J&J was aware for more than 40 years that the powder could cause ovarian cancer and other illnesses, but did not take the time to warn consumers.
Mesothelioma symptoms can include difficulty breathing, persistent coughing and abdominal pain, fatigue, and lumps or masses on the abdomen or chest. Doctors can detect mesothelioma with a physical exam and imaging scans. These could include CT (computer tomography) scans, MRIs and PET or X-rays.
When mesothelioma is discovered patients can undergo surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiotherapy. Depending on the location of their tumors surgeons may be able to remove the affected tissue. Certain patients with mesothelioma have a life expectancy less than five. However aggressive treatments like extracorporeal transplantation of tissue and cytoreduction using hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy can prolong the duration of survival.
What causes Mesothelioma?
Like most cancers, mesothelioma occurs when a cell's DNA experiences mutations. These mutations cause the cells to multiply rapidly and form tumors in the tissues of the body. Asbestos is a common cause of mesothelioma. Asbestos exposure is common in a variety of industries such as manufacturing, mining, and transportation. Asbestos exposure typically occurs 20 to 40 years before symptoms develop. Men are more likely to develop mesothelioma than females. alhambra mesothelioma attorneys is also diagnosed most often among those between the ages of 50 and 70. The kind of mesothelioma caused by asbestos that someone develops is often determined by where on their body they were exposed. The majority of patients diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma that affects the lung. Others are diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma. one type of mesothelioma which affects the abdomen. Finally, some people are diagnosed with pericardial mesothelioma, an extremely rare type of the disease that affects the heart's lining (pericardium) and the organ itself.
Symptoms of mesothelioma include fatigue, breathlessness, abdominal pain and weight loss. In the last stages of mesothelioma, the tumors can spread to other parts that cause severe discomfort and pain. Other typical symptoms of mesothelioma include fluid on the lungs (pleural effusion), loss of appetite, difficulty swallowing, and a blockage of the small intestine, referred to as a bowel obstruction. Mesothelioma can be fatal.
The talcum-powder trial in Oakland involved an individual of 24 years old who developed pericardial mesothelioma as a result of using J&J baby powder. His lawyers claimed that J&J knew that talc was contaminated with asbestos, but did not inform customers. They also cited a letter from 1998 to an J&J executive which revealed asbestos could be present in their products.
This is only the latest in a string of high-dollar verdicts against J&J. In March the jury handed down $18.8 million to a woman who was diagnosed with mesothelioma ovarian from J&J's talcum powder, and last month the jury in Missouri awarded $55 million in a different case involving the same issue. Seven new cases have been added to the MDL talcum powder over the last month, bringing it to 37,522 the total number of pending suits. Most of these lawsuits are filed by women who have used J&J talcum powder to maintain their feminine hygiene.
How Can I tell whether I have mesothelioma or not?
A diagnosis of mesothelioma can be devastating. Patients should always see an expert to obtain the most accurate information available and avoid misdiagnosis that could lead to unnecessary treatment and allow cancer to spread more.
A physical examination and a blood test is a good start to identify whether mesothelioma may be causing symptoms. These tests can detect the presence of asbestos fibers in blood or to assess the way in which the organs of a patient are functioning. The most accurate method to diagnose mesothelioma is the procedure of a biopsy. Doctors extract tissues or fluids from an affected area and then examine them under a microscope for mesothelioma tumor cells.
The type of mesothelioma a sufferer has also impacts his or her prognosis. Pleural mesothelioma, that forms in the thin lining that surrounds the lungs, is the most common form of mesothelioma and accounts for the majority of diagnosed cases. Peritoneal mesothelioma is a type of cancer that forms in the abdomen's lining, is less common. In addition, pericardial mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that is found in the lining of the heart. It is only 1% of all cases.
The breath is short, and is more severe with time, and a bloody cough are a few of the initial symptoms. Asbestos patients may also experience fluid accumulation in the chest cavity. This is known as Pleural effusion. The fluid can be eliminated from the chest cavity by inserting a needle into the area affected. In more serious cases, doctors may perform pleurodesis, which is a procedure that seals the cavity to prevent the fluid from accumulating within the pleura.
Getting an accurate mesothelioma diagnosis is the most reliable way to determine the patient's treatment options and the survival rate. Surgery, chemotherapy and radiation are all options. Other options include immunotherapy. It is a form of treatment that enhances the immune system to fight mesothelioma cells and tumor-targeting fields, which employ an electromagnetic field to eliminate cancerous cells.
A mesothelioma specialist who is specialized can also assist patients in understanding the different mesothelioma cell types that determine how aggressive the cancer is and what the prognosis for the patient is. Patients should discuss with their physician their experience with asbestos exposure to determine if mesothelioma is a possibility and what treatment options are available.
How Can I Get Help?
If you have used Johnson & Johnson talcum and suffered from ovarian or other diseases such as mesothelioma following the use of the powder, you may be eligible for significant compensation. Contact us now for a no-cost, non- obligation case evaluation. We can assist you in bringing mesothelioma suits against J&J to ensure that they are held accountable for their negligence.
Mesothelioma is a rare, but fatal disease that is caused by exposure to asbestos. Asbestos used to be widely utilized in a variety of industrial and consumer products like baby powder. The plaintiffs in talcum powder cases claim that inhaling talcum powder caused to asbestos exposure which led to mesothelioma and various other health issues.
J&J allegedly knew about the dangers of talcum powder and asbestos for a long time, but failed to warn consumers. Plaintiffs have filed lawsuits seeking punitive damages and compensatory damages against the company. These claims have been combined 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. In the last month, a judge denied a motion by J&J to dismiss the lawsuits brought by the state of Mississippi.
J&J however, attempted again to halt the litigation. The company set up a new subsidiary entity to take on its talc liability and LTL Management filed for bankruptcy. The bankruptcy ended hundreds of talc suits but the 3rd Circuit rejected that strategy.
The lawsuits filed by Mississippi are based upon the same allegations as those of the individual lawsuits brought against J&J. They assert that the company was negligent in failing to warn consumers of the possibility of ovarian cancer from talcum-powder and that this resulted in an infraction to the law of the state.
J&J has submitted its motion to dismiss the lawsuits to an alternative bankruptcy court. A hearing is scheduled for June to determine if the lawsuits against J&J are able to proceed. If you or someone you know is diagnosed with mesothelioma or another condition which could be caused by talcum powder you should seek legal advice immediately. Our experienced attorneys will assist you in getting the compensation that you deserve.