The US judicial panel on multidistrict litigation mandated Recently that nearly 80 lawsuits claiming that hair relaxer products produced by L’Oréal and other companies are related to cancer and other medical issues be gathered in a Chicago federal court.
It has come to our attention that a number of lawsuits, totaling at least 77, have been filed in federal courts throughout the country regarding certain hair products that utilize chemicals to straighten textured hair. According to court records, these lawsuits allege that the companies were fully aware of the dangerous chemicals contained within their products, yet chose to market and sell them regardlessly.
In an effort to streamline the discovery process and address pretrial issues for these cases, it has been determined that they will be centralized into a multidistrict litigation before US District Judge Mary Rowland.
The US subsidiary of L’Oréal SA and subsidiaries of India-based companies Godrej SON Holdings Inc and Dabur International Ltd have been named in the cases. The companies, who have expressed their opposition to the centralization of the cases, have not yet responded to requests for comment.
In a statement released online subsequent to the initial lawsuits, L’Oréal expressed confidence in the safety of their products and stated that they believe the lawsuits lack legal merit.
The lawsuits have arisen following the publication of a National Institutes of Health study in October, which found that women who used the products multiple times a year were more than twice as likely to develop uterine cancer.
“We estimated that 1.64% of women who never used hair straighteners would go on to develop uterine cancer by the age of 70, but for frequent users, that risk goes up to 4.05%,” stated by Alexandra White, the study leader of the US National Institute of Environmental Health Safety.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, uterine cancer is a prevalent gynecologic cancer in the United States, with rates increasing, particularly among Black women.
During a hearing last month, Diandra Debrosse Zimmermann of DiCello Levitt, who filed the first case after the study was published, respectfully urged the judicial panel on multidistrict litigation to consider sending the cases to Rowland.
Debrosse Zimmermann expressed her belief that the panel’s decision recognized the clear benefits of centralizing the hair relaxer litigation. She anticipates that many more firms will file their cases in the coming weeks.
It is estimated that thousands of women, typically marketed to women of color, may pursue legal action over the products.
Who qualifies for a hair relaxer lawsuit?
You may qualify for a hair relaxer lawsuit if you:
- Ever used chemical hair straightening products or relaxers
- And Were later diagnosed with endometrial cancer or uterine cancer
How much money will you get from the hair relaxer lawsuit settlement?
As this class action lawsuit is in its early stages, it is premature to determine the precise value of this hair relaxer lawsuit.
However, it is important to note that settlement amounts for hair relaxer cases are contingent upon the unique circumstances of each case. Which includes:
- The type of illness you developed after using a chemical hair relaxer
- The severity of this illness
- Pain and suffering
- Medical expenses
- Lost wages
How much do lawyers for a hair relaxer cancer lawsuit cost?
At Legal Aly, we are pleased to offer our clients the convenience of no upfront or out-of-pocket costs when working with our hair relaxer attorneys. Our firm operates on a contingency fee basis, which ensures that the attorneys only receive payment if your case results in compensation.
What is the hair relaxer lawsuit statute of limitations?
Each state has its own distinct set of laws referred to as statutes of limitations, which restrict individuals from initiating legal proceedings beyond a specific period.
Upon expiration of this deadline, it will no longer be able to pursue legal recourse for damages resulting from hair relaxers.
So, It is important to promptly reach out to Legal Ally, as we can assist in reviewing whether you may still have the opportunity to file a lawsuit pertaining to certain resiponsible hair relaxers manufacture.