Shower-to-Shower Talcum Powder Lawsuit Attorney

Johnson & Johnson’s Shower-to-Shower body powder contains talc, a mineral that has been linked to an increased risk for ovarian cancer when applied to the female genitals.

Free Confidential Lawsuit Evaluation: If you or a loved one got cancer after using Shower-to-Shower, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to compensation by filing a suit against the manufacturer and our lawyers can help.

Update: NY Jury Awards Woman $25 Million in Talc Cancer Lawsuit

May 22, 2019 – According to the Justia US Law, a Supreme Court Jury in Manhattan, New York, has ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay a 66-year-old woman and her husband more than $25 million in compensatory damages in addition to punitive damages for the woman’s development of mesothelioma, which she claimed was caused by 50 years of using Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower-to-Shower body powder. The lawsuit is Donna A. Olson et al. v. Brenntag North America Inc. et al., case number 190328/2017, in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York [1].

Overview

Originally introduced by Johnson & Johnson, Shower-to-Shower is marketed as a feminine hygiene product that helps maintain smooth skin while absorbing moisture and odors. Early versions were made with talcum powder, which has been associated with ovarian cancer. However, some newer versions use cornstarch, which is considered to be a safer alternative.

In Oct. 2012, Valeant Pharmaceuticals purchased the rights to Shower-to-Shower from J&J. The product is now sold in the following formulations:

• Original Fresh
• Breeze Fresh
• Island Fresh
• Morning Fresh
• Sport

What’s the Problem?

According to a 2023 study from the National Center for Biotechnology and Information, women who use talcum baby powder on their genital area may face an increased risk of ovarian cancer [2].

This is particularly disturbing considering that nearly 40% of U.S. women report regularly using baby powder products for personal hygiene. Some of the most widely used talc powder products are Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower-to-Shower.

Several studies conducted over the past 25 years found an association between perineal talc powders and ovarian cancer, according to a critical review published in the European Journal of Cancer Prevention in April 2008. The summary relative risk is about 1.3 (95 percent confidence intervals 1.2–1.5) and these data have been interpreted as supporting a causal role.

Related Article: Talcum Powder Litigation Update

J&J Hit With Consecutive Multi-Million Dollar Talc Cancer Verdicts

According to Reuters, on May 2, 2016, Johnson & Johnson faced its second consecutive defeat regarding its talcum powder hygiene products, when the company was ordered to pay $55 million in damages to a woman who attributed her ovarian cancer to the use of the company’s Baby Powder and Shower to Shower products [3].

A St. Louis jury awarded $5 million in compensatory damages and $50 million in punitive damages to Gloria Ristesund, 62, who was diagnosed with Stage I ovarian cancer in 2011, after using the talc products for decades.

Johnson & Johnson was ordered by a U.S. jury on Monday to pay $55 million to a woman who said that using the company’s talc-powder products for feminine hygiene caused her to develop ovarian cancer, Reuters said. The verdict, which J&J plans to appeal, was the second straight trial loss for the company, which is facing about 1,200 lawsuits accusing it of not adequately warning consumers about its talc-based products’ cancer risks.

The decision came less than 3 months after J&J was slammed with a $72 million loss in a lawsuit filed on behalf of the family of Jackie Fox, a Birmingham, Ala., woman who died of ovarian cancer last year at the age of 62. According to the lawsuit, Fox used J&J Baby Powder and Shower-to-Shower body powder for over 35 years, which contributed to her development of ovarian cancer.

Ovarian Cancer Symptoms

As stated by the Cleveland Clinic study from 2022 [4], signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer include:

• Abdominal bloating, pressure, and pain
• Abnormal fullness after eating
• Difficulty eating
• Increased urination/urge to urinate
• Fatigue
• Indigestion
• Heartburn
• Constipation
• Back pain
• Menstrual irregularities
• Painful intercourse (dyspareunia)

Despite years of research, experts haven’t yet developed a successful ovarian cancer screening test, the Cleveland Clinic said. For this reason, the condition is often difficult to diagnose in the early stages. If your healthcare provider suspects ovarian cancer, they’ll ask about your symptoms and perform a pelvic exam. During the exam, they’ll check for any abnormal growths or enlarged organs.

Meta-Analysis concludes 20-30% Increased Risk of Cancer with Talcum Powder Use

April 24, 2019 – According to the Frontiers Organization, an analysis of nearly 40 peer-reviewed medical studies has found that women who use talcum powder have a 20 to 30% increased risk of developing the most common form of ovarian cancer [5].

The summary of data — 38 epidemiological studies over the past 40 years that asked women about their use of talcum powder on their genitals and tested associations with ovarian cancer — was compiled by University of Washington researcher Dr. Anne McTiernan, who determined that users of the products had a 22 to 31% increased risk of developing epithelial ovarian cancer compared to non-users.

Judge Upholds Record $4.7 Billion Talcum Powder Cancer Verdict

December 27, 2018 – According to AP News, Johnson & Johnson’s attempt to have a landmark $4.7 billion verdict overturned has been shot down by a judge in St. Louis Circuit Court, who sided with a group of female plaintiffs claiming the company’s Baby Powder contributed to their development of ovarian cancer [6]. In his written ruling, St. Louis Circuit Judge Rex Burlison cited evidence of what he called “particularly reprehensible conduct” by J&J, writing that:

Defendants knew of the presence of asbestos in products that they knowingly targeted for sale to mothers and babies, knew of the damage their products caused, and misrepresented the safety of these products for decades.

Evidence Linking Talcum Powder to Cancer Goes Back Decades

As claimed by the National Library of Medicine, the association between ovarian cancer and talcum powder was first identified in a 1971 study that revealed talc particles in the ovarian tissue of cancer patients who had regularly used talcum powder on their genitals [7]. Talc particles were found to easily make their way into the vagina and travel into the reproductive organs.

An extraction-replication technique was used to examine tissue from patients with ovarian and cervical tumours, the researchers said. In both conditions talc particles were found deeply embedded within the tumour tissue. The close association of talc to the asbestos group of minerals is of interest.

Yet despite these findings and numerous subsequent studies that have strengthened the original research, talc mining companies and Johnson & Johnson continue to argue against the scientific basis for the link between talc and ovarian cancer. J&J has even managed to keep its Shower-to-Shower and baby powder on the market for more than 40 years without a warning after the initial discovery.

Lawsuit Allegations

According to USA Today, both Ristesund and Fox’s complaints alleged that Johnson & Johnson was aware of the potential health risks of talcum powder, citing a 1997 internal memo from a J&J medical consultant who said that “anybody who denies” the risk of using hygienic talc and ovarian cancer is “denying the obvious in the face of all evidence to the contrary,” [8].

The company still faces approximately 1,200 additional lawsuits accusing it of failing to adequately warn consumers of the cancer risks associated with its talc-containing hygiene products.

Do I Qualify to File a Suit?

Even if you used Shower-to-Shower decades ago, you may qualify to file a lawsuit against J&J if you’ve been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. If you or a loved one was injured, you should act now to protect your legal rights. The settlement option will not remain open forever – funds are limited and you must register as soon as possible.

J&J Ordered to Pay $110 Million in 5th St. Louis Talc Cancer Lawsuit

May 5, 2017 – According to CNBC, a Missouri state court jury has awarded more than $110 million to a woman who claimed she developed ovarian cancer after using Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower-to-Shower body powder for decades, marking the largest verdict to date in 5 trials [9].

Slemp claimed she developed cancer after four decades of using talc-containing products produced by J&J, including J&J’s Baby Powder and Shower to Shower Powder, CNBC said. The jury awarded $5.4 million in compensatory damages and said J&J was 99 percent at fault while Imerys was just 1 percent. It awarded punitive damages of $105 million against J&J and $50,000 against Imerys.

Jurors deliberated for just over a day following the 3-week trial, awarding 62-year-old Lois Slemp $5.4 million in compensatory damages and $105 million in punitive damages. Imerys Talc America, the company that supplied the talc to J&J, was also ordered to pay $50,000 in punitive damages.

Talc Ovarian Cancer Lawsuit Filed in California

February 14, 2017 – A 94-year-old California woman who was allegedly diagnosed with ovarian cancer after using Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower-to-Shower has filed a product liability lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson [10].

Plaintiff Frances Escobedo claims she was diagnosed with cancer in 2013 after using J&J’s talc products her whole life. As a result of her diagnosis, she was forced to undergo chemotherapy and radical life-saving surgeries.

Related Article: California Talcum Powder Cancer Lawsuit

Mining Company Sued Over Talcum Powder Cancer Link

September 7, 2016 – According to S&P Global, a mining company involved in extracting talc is being targeted by plaintiffs who claim Johnson & Johnson’s talcum powder products caused them to develop ovarian cancer. The complaint was filed against Rio Tinto Minerals and its former subsidiary Luzenac America for allegedly supplying J&J with the talc that led to the development of plaintiffs’ ovarian cancer [11].

All three companies “failed to inform its customers and end users of its products of a known catastrophic health hazard associated with the use of its products,” according to the lawsuit.

Talcum Powder Wrongful Death Claim Filed in Texas

August 17, 2016 – A wrongful death lawsuit was recently filed against Johnson & Johnson by a Texas woman whose daughter allegedly died from ovarian cancer after decades of using Shower-to-Shower and Johnson’s Baby Powder. The plaintiff alleges that her daughter’s death and many other cases of ovarian cancer could’ve been prevented if J&J had placed warning labels on its products about the risk of using talc powder around the genitals.

Shower-to-Shower Ovarian Cancer Lawsuit Filed in Illinois

July 18, 2016 – As stated in a PR Newswire, a Chicago woman who claims she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer after years of using Shower-to-Shower and Johnson’s Baby Powder has filed a product liability lawsuit against J&J. Plaintiff Barbara Ross was just 39 years old in 2014 when she was diagnosed with the disease, which required the removal of both her ovaries and Fallopian tubes [12].

Barbara Ross used Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower to Shower as part of her daily routine from 1992 through 2014 for hygienic purposes, the complaint states. Following her 2014 Ovarian Cancer diagnosis, Barbara Ross was required to undergo removal surgery for both of her ovaries and fallopian tubes at the young age of 39.

Ross alleges that J&J knew or should have known about the potential health risks of using its talcum powder products, yet failed to place warnings on the products.

Related Article: Illinois Talcum Powder Lawsuits

California Woman Sues J&J, Alleges Uterine Cancer from Talcum Powder

July 12, 2016 – A woman from California who allegedly got uterine cancer from Shower-to-Shower and Johnson’s Baby Powder has filed a lawsuit against the manufacturer.

Plaintiff Dolores Gould says she was diagnosed with the disease in 2006, following years of using J&J’s talcum powder products around her genitals. The case was filed last Friday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California under case number 3:16-cv-03838-DMR [13].

FAQs

What symptoms should I watch for if I have used Shower to Shower talcum powder?

Symptoms to watch for include pelvic pain, bloating, changes in menstrual cycles, and respiratory issues. If you experience any of these symptoms, consult a healthcare professional promptly.

Can I still join a lawsuit if I no longer have the product or receipts?

Yes, you can still join a lawsuit even if you no longer have the product or receipts. Other evidence, such as witness testimony or medical records linking your condition to talcum powder use, can support your case.

What is the success rate of lawsuits against Shower to Shower talcum powder?

The success rate of lawsuits varies, but many plaintiffs have won significant settlements or verdicts. The success often depends on the quality of evidence and legal representation.

Get a Free Shower-to-Shower Lawsuit Evaluation With Our Lawyers

The Product Liability Litigation Group at Schmidt & Clark, LLP law firm is an experienced team of trial lawyers that focus on the representation of plaintiffs in Shower-to-Shower lawsuits. We are handling individual litigation nationwide and currently accepting new ovarian cancer cases in all 50 states.

Free Confidential Case Evaluation: Again, if you were diagnosed with ovarian cancer after using J&J Shower-to-Shower, you should contact our law firm immediately. You may be entitled to a settlement by filing a suit and we can help.

References:

1. https://law.justia.com/cases/new-york/other-courts/2020/2020-ny-slip-op-51315-u.html
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3621109
3. http://www.reuters.com/article/us-johnson-johnson-talc-verdict-idUSKCN0XT20L
4. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4447-ovarian-cancer
5. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/ftox.2023.1157761/full
6. https://apnews.com/article/business-health-4fca02659e41423aa847a46b59f11847
7. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/5558843/
8. https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/nation-now/2016/05/03/johnson-johnson-baby-powder-talc-ovarian-cancer-case-55-million/83865636/
9. https://www.cnbc.com/2017/05/05/johnson-johnson-ordered-to-pay-110-million-in-us-talc-powder-trial.html
10. https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/USCOURTS-njd-3_16-md-02738
11. https://www.spglobal.com/marketintelligence/en/news-insights/trending/p6cdp74kew2qastruwxf3q2
12. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chicago-law-firm-files-first-lawsuit-against-johnson–johnson-on-behalf-of-chicago-woman-who-was-diagnosed-with-ovarian-cancer-following-her-use-of-talcum-powder-based-products-300300008.html
13. https://www.schmidtandclark.com/wp-content/uploads/2016-08-05-JJ-Response.pdf