A federal judge has ordered Johnson & Johnson (J&J) to face a lawsuit from a 24-year-old woman dying of cancer who claims that the company’s Baby Powder talcum products caused her illness. The ruling by US District Judge George Wu in Los Angeles allows the case to proceed to trial, which is set to begin in the coming months.
The plaintiff, who is from California and has not been named publicly, alleges that she used J&J’s baby powder and shower-to-shower products for years, beginning in her infancy.
In 2022, she was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer that affects the lining of the lungs and other organs. Mesothelioma cancer is caused almost exclusively by exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma is typically diagnosed in men over age 50 exposed to asbestos by working in the military or construction industries.
The woman’s case is one of the thousands of lawsuits against J&J related to its talcum powder products, which have been accused of causing cancer due to the presence of asbestos. J&J has denied the allegations.
In recent years, J&J has faced thousands of product liability lawsuits related to its talcum powder products. The company has been ordered to pay billions of dollars in damages to plaintiffs who claim that talcum powder caused their cancer.
J&J has also faced criticism for allegedly knowing about the cancer risks associated with its talcum powder products but failing to warn consumers.
The case of the 24-year-old plaintiff is significant because she is one of the youngest plaintiffs to sue J&J over its talcum powder products. The case also highlights the potential long-term health risks associated with using talcum powder products, particularly for infants and young children.
The ruling by Judge Wu means that the case will proceed to trial, where a jury will hear evidence and determine whether J&J is liable for the plaintiff’s mesothelioma. The trial is expected to last several weeks and could have significant implications for the future resolution of J&J’s talcum powder litigation.
The ruling by Judge Wu allowing the 24-year-old plaintiff’s mesothelioma case against J&J to proceed to trial is a significant development in the ongoing legal battle over the safety of talcum powder products.
