How Asbestos Shingles Started and Why They are so Dangerous When asbestos was considered a safe material, it was used in many different products because of its strength and insulating properties. One man, Lutwig Hatscheck, purchased an asbestos factory in 1893, and in 1900 invented asbestos cement. He was then able to patent the product […]
Johnson & Johnson Knew it had Asbestos in its Products
Johnson & Johnson Knew it had Asbestos in its Products Reuters has investigated and found that Johnson & Johnson has known that asbestos was in its baby powder since at least 1971. From 1971 to the early 2000s, the company’s raw talc and finished powders sometimes tested positive for asbestos. The company’s lawyers, doctors, scientists, […]
Growing Number of Talcum Powder Users File Lawsuits
Growing Number of Talcum Powder Users File Lawsuits A recent settlement between Colgate-Palmolive Co., and a plaintiff from Pennsylvania who developed mesothelioma after using their talcum-powder based products, is part of a growing number of lawsuits against health giants such as Colgate-Palmolive Co., and Johnson & Johnson for their failure to warn consumers that their […]
Asbestos Insulation
Asbestos Insulation Before people knew about the dangers of asbestos, asbestos was known as this “miracle mineral,” used in a myriad of ways. From fire and sound proofing, to caulking and brake linings, the mineral’s heat resistant qualities, high tensile strength, and abundance made it a popular building material in the mid-20th century. Its numerous application […]
$417 Million Awarded in Talcum Powder Lawsuit
$417 Million Awarded in Talcum Powder Lawsuit A California woman suffering from ovarian cancer received the largest sum to date against health giant Johnson & Johnson when a jury awarded her $417 million in a lawsuit claiming her use of talcum powder for decades caused her cancer. Talcum powder, more commonly known as baby powder, […]
Asbestos in Factories – The Armley Asbestos Disaster
Asbestos in Factories – The Armley Asbestos Disaster The job of a factory worker encompasses many responsibilities – from machine operation to line production, workers take raw materials to create new products. Asbestos containing products manufactured in factories were also frequently used in: pipe covering for steam lines and hot water lines, block insulation, cement, […]
Doctrine of Strict Liability
In 1965, the American Law Institute published the second edition of Restatement of the Law of Torts and set into motion a special rule on strict liability, which states in Section 402A “One who sells any product in a defective condition unreasonably dangerous to the user or consumer or to his property is subject to liability to […]
Keurig Reaches Settlement Three Years After Product Recall
Keurig Reaches Settlement Three Years After Product Recall In 2014, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) placed a recall on close to 7 million Keurig MINI Plus Brewing systems distressing millions of caffeine drinkers all over the county. Three years later, a settlement was finally reached as Keurig agreed to pay a $5.8 million civil […]
Asbestos-contaminated Dental Tape Linked to Mesothelioma in Dentists
Asbestos-contaminated Dental Tape Linked to Mesothelioma in Dentists Occupational asbestos exposure is one of the biggest factors in those suffering from asbestos-related illnesses such as lung cancer and mesothelioma. Steelworkers, chemical plant workers, tradesmen, and even those who worked in shipyards were most likely exposed to asbestos due to the nature of their work. Much […]
Early Asbestos Litigation
Early Asbestos Litigation The use of asbestos dates back thousands of years, but it wasn’t until the mid-20th century that asbestos use become widespread. With production in steel mills, chemical plants, paper mills, power plants, etc., on the rise, asbestos-containing products and equipment became standard in the industry. Its heat resistance made it useful in the […]