Revlon Inc., a popular cosmetics company, is being sued by a couple from Maryland. The couple alleges that contaminated ingredients in some Revlon products caused the wife to develop mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is an aggressive type of cancer that usually occurs because someone inhaled asbestos fibers. The woman’s doctor diagnosed her with the condition in January.
Asbestos can easily contaminate talc
In the lawsuit, she alleges that her asbestos exposure occurred because of her father’s employment with Revlon and the Revlon products he would bring home for her. She specifically listed Jean Nate Silkening Body Powder, which Revlon introduced in 1935 and has since discontinued. One of the powder’s main ingredients was talcum.
Talcum, often shortened to talc, is a mineral that is smooth and absorptive. These qualities make it a desirable ingredient in many cosmetic products, especially powdery cosmetics.
Researchers do not consider talc a dangerous ingredient on its own. However, it forms under the same conditions that asbestos forms. This means that cancer-causing minerals can easily contaminate talc deposits.
Contaminated talc may be an industry-wide problem
Contaminated talc has been the subject of similar cases that were filed against Johnson & Johnson. So far, Johnson and Johnson lost two talc-related cases.
In one instance, a court ordered the company to pay a woman $9 million. In the other instance, a court ordered the company to pay $750 million to four people. However, a judge later reduced that amount to $186.5 million. Thousands of lawsuits against Johnson and Johnson have yet to be determined.
In the case against Revlon, she seeks $20 million of compensation and $40 million worth of punitive damages. Her husband seeks $5 million for mental anguish and loss of companionship.
If you believe you were exposed to asbestos that eventually led to mesothelioma, you and your loved ones may have options to pursue compensation. It can be helpful to understand these options, so you can choose a plan that makes the most sense for your situation.