Personal Care Products Council (PCPC) has been dismissed by the U.S. District Judge as a defendant in talc powder cancer lawsuits that alleged the organization's connection with talc powder products causing cancer.
PCPC, the trade association was also alleged by the plaintiffs in the talc powder lawsuits that it promoted the talc-based products as harmless even though the products were contaminated with cancer-causing substances.
U.S. District Judge Freda L. Wolfson dismissed PCPC from the group of litigation considering the trade association's motion for summary judgment. The jury even stated that the plaintiffs need to prove that PCPC is a seller or manufacturer of talc-based products.
The judge said that PCPC does not have control over the ingredients used in the cosmetic products as it is a voluntary trade association. It is neither liable to warn its members about the product's safety.
Judge Wolfson decided to dismiss PCPC from the lawsuit considering the final pretrial proceedings trials which are expected to start next year. The judge's decision will help with certain evidence and testimony in future litigations.
The outcome of these trials would not be forced on other lawsuits but will have a significant impact on the settlement amount to be paid by Johnson & Johnson to resolve the claims.
Currently, Johnson & Johnson(J&J) faces more than 30,000 lawsuits against its Baby Powder and Shower-to-Shower products with similar allegations that the manufacturer miserably failed to warn the users about the risks linked to talc and asbestos particles that are present in the company's products. Exposure to talc and asbestos has resulted in the development of ovarian cancer in the women who used J&J's talc products.
