August 5, 2019 | Litigation Updates
Johnson & Johnson is being investigated by the U.S. Department of Justice for its rumored omission of vital information regarding the use of cancer-causing asbestos fibers in its talcum powder products.
The company announced in February 2019 that the U.S. Justice Department was launching a federal probe. The probe is essentially a criminal investigation to determine whether the company lied about the cancer risks of its products and failed to warn consumers about the risk.
As far back as the 1960s and 70s, J&J had business intelligence confirming the company’s talcum powder products were ‘severe health hazards.’ The federal probe announcement comes after some 14,000 lawsuits have been filed nationwide, and juries have even awarded punitive damages to plaintiffs in the multi-millions. In fact, recent reporting has confirmed that J&J has set aside nearly $15 billion for possible talc lawsuit settlements.
According to the National Center for Health Research, women who use talcum powder are 30% more likely to develop ovarian cancer than those who do not.
Most of today’s current evidence comes from case-controlled studies, which includes women with ovarian cancer, who serve as 
the cases, and women without, who serve as the controls.
Case controlled studies in the U.S. and in other countries have documented similar increases in ovarian cancer among women who use talc genitally. The International Agency for Research on Cancer-IARC, of the World Health Organization, also reported an ‘unusually consistent’ increase in ovarian cancer for women who reported talcum powder use genitally.
Have you or a loved one been diagnosed with ovarian cancer? Contact us to speak to one of our experienced case management specialists about your potential claim. Our team can investigate your case and determine your potential for compensation to help with medical bills, lost wages and pain and suffering.