Many people in this country have a certain routine when it comes to personal hygiene. For some in Tennessee, for example, this often means daily use of the same product or products. Consumers use the products, trusting that they are safe and that manufacturers will notify them if there is a risk associated with their use. Unfortunately, some companies fail to notify consumers when discoveries are made regarding dangerous products.
For example, one out-of-state woman claims that daily use of certain products sold by Johnson & Johnson caused her cancer. The now 62-year-old woman was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2012. The cancer has since spread to her liver. She claims that her cancer was caused by using baby powder products and Shower to Shower daily for the past four decades. According to the lawsuit, talc in such products have been linked to ovarian cancer.
A federal jury has recently ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $110.5 million as a result of the woman’s lawsuit. The company has over 2,000 more cases pending against it. Earlier juries that ruled against the company claimed that it failed to warn people about the potential dangers of using products containing talc despite studies showing its risks. Although the company issued a statement indicating that it sympathizes with the woman, it has announced its intentions to appeal the verdict.
Unfortunately, even when companies have information regarding dangerous products, they make the risky decision of declining to inform consumers of risks associated with the use of such products. As a result, consumers in Tennessee and across the country are left coping with the consequences. Often, the only options that victims of such negligence have in the pursuit of justice is to file a personal injury lawsuit. A successful claim could not only result in a monetary award but could also ensure that others receive proper notifications about the dangers of certain products.
Source: timesnews.net, “Wise County woman awarded $110M in talcum powder cancer case“, May 5, 2017