Not only will Californians be watching how this talcum powder lawsuit will advance, but also the world. When the bellwether trial begins on July 10, it will be televised on a live webcast by Courtroom View Network. Also, viewers can see this week’s critical pre-trial hearings live. These involve the admissibility of expert witness testimony.
Talcum Powder Lawsuit Pre-Trial Hearings
This week, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Maren Nelson will convene a 5-day “Sargon” hearing. This is the California equivalent of a “Daubert” hearing. A Daubert hearing is where parties argue over which expert witnesses will be permitted to testify in a trial. It will also show the scope of their testimony.
When a lawsuit goes through pretrial proceedings like the Daubert or Sargon hearings, it can be as important as the actual trial. A New Jersey court judge proved this last October. The judge canceled what was to be the first talc powder trial in the state. He stopped the trial because of a refusal to permit testimony from experts for the plaintiffs over alleged causal links between talc and ovarian cancer.
This Sargon hearing precedes what will be the first talcum powder trial in California. Over 300 lawsuits filed there allege that baby powder manufacturer, Johnson & Johnson and their talc supplier Imerys Talc America had known for decades about talc’s alleged carcinogenic properties. However, they failed to warn consumers in order protect their sales. Johnson and Johnson insist these studies proving the connection are flawed.
Studies Prove Talcum Powder Dangers
A 2013 Journal of Cancer Prevention Research study showed that women who dusted their groin area with talcum powder had a 20-30% increased risk of developing ovarian cancer than women who did not use talc products. Manufacturer, Johnson & Johnson knew of these risks and still have failed to warn consumers of the danger of talc powder. They continue to market its baby powder as a safe product for use in infants and women despite this growing body of evidence linking it to ovarian cancer.
During the court case of the Estate of Jacqueline Fox v. Johnson & Johnson, internal company memos from Johnson & Johnson medical consultants surfaced. The 1997 memo stated “anyone who denies risks between hygienic talc use and ovarian cancer would be publicly perceived in the same light as those who denied a link between smoking cigarettes and cancer. Denying the obvious in the face of all evidence to the contrary.”
Helping Talcum Powder Victims
If you or someone you know has suffered an adverse event after using talcum powder, you may be eligible for compensation to ease the financial and emotional burdens you are experiencing. Contact us today to set up a free consultation, during which we will listen to your story, answer any questions you may have and discuss your legal rights and options. If you choose us to represent you, we will work with you on a contingency fee basis; this means you pay nothing until we have secured compensation for you, either through a jury verdict or settlement.