You may have heard about two large lawsuits that have recently made the headlines. Both involve products that you use or are used by millions of people every single day. There are mass ramifications if it turns out – as it did in these specific cases – that these widely available products actually pose a danger to your health. Let’s go over the details.
The Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder Case
In March of 2019, a California jury found that the plaintiff’s mesothelioma was caused by her use of Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder back in the 1960s and 1970s. The baby powder contained talc, which sometimes contain asbestos. Although the powder no longer contains this particular compound, it’s too late for Terry Leavitt, who was diagnosed with mesothelioma back in 2017. In exchange for her pain and suffering, as well as the lifetime of medical bills she faces in order to treat the disease, the jury awarded her $29.4 million dollars. The jury determined the baby powder was defective, and therefore awarded Mrs. Leavitt and her husband for damages. This verdict opens up the possibility that other plaintiffs who used the product and now have mesothelioma or other lung damage, may qualify for monetary damages as well.
Roundup Weed Killer Causes Cancer
Ironically, the same time the above jury reached their verdict, a similar judgment was reached in California as well. This verdict found that a commercial herbicide used by consumers every day – the weed killer Roundup – caused Edwin Hardeman’s Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma. This form of cancer sometimes occur due to exposure to glyphosate, one of the key ingredients in Roundup. Hardeman was exposed to the weed killer for years through his work as a landscaper. This is the second case of its type. In the first, the plaintiff, Dewayne Johnson, received a final verdict of $78 million due to his exposure to the herbicide. He was originally rewarded $289 million, but a judge reduced the amount. The important takeaway here is the Roundup label should contain a warning that the product contains cancer causing chemicals.
Products You Use Every Day
In both of these cases, consumers were seriously injured by things that they use every single day. In one, Johnson’s baby powder caused mesothelioma and in another, Roundup weed killer caused cancer. What products do you use – or have used – that might cause you to become sick in the future?
If you suspect that an ordinary product may have caused your illness please contact me. I’ll look into your case to determine if you have the grounds for a lawsuit of this type. If you do, I’ll Make Them Pay!®
