Recent studies have found a significant connection between the use of chemical hair straightening and relaxer products and the risk of uterine cancer in women. Women who use these products more than four times a year could have twice the risk of developing uterine cancer compared to other women.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with uterine cancer after using chemical hair straighteners, you may be eligible for financial compensation. Discuss a potential case with an attorney at Bailey & Glasser, LLP for more information about your legal rights.
Why Choose Bailey & Glasser, LLP?
- We have 20+ years of experience in complex personal injury and product liability litigation.
- Our law firm consists of trial lawyers who are prepared to go to court on your behalf.
- Our attorneys have recovered millions of dollars on behalf of injured consumers.
- Your lawyer will work closely with you for a personalized legal experience and tailored strategy.
- We operate on a contingency fee basis, meaning no fees unless you win your case.
Do You Need to Hire an Attorney?
Filing a lawsuit against chemical hair straightening product manufacturers and/or distributors is not easy. These are complex product liability lawsuits that involve powerful adversaries, such as L’Oréal – the world’s largest cosmetics company. The best way to protect yourself is by hiring an attorney to represent you.
The lawyers at Bailey & Glasser, LLP can begin by listening to your story and getting the basic facts. Then, we can investigate your claim to search for evidence of negligence, such as proof that the product manufacturer knew or reasonably should have known about the health risks associated with chemical hair straighteners but failed to warn consumers. Your medical records and other documents may be used as evidence.
If we believe your case has merit, we can help you file a claim against the manufacturing company and entities that assisted in the development, marketing and distribution of defective hair relaxer products. We have gone up against many large corporations and powerful defendants in the past and won. We have what it takes to help you through this difficult time.
What Are the Recent Chemical Hair Straightening Lawsuits About?
Lawsuits are currently being filed against the manufacturing companies and distributors responsible for chemical hair straightening products and hair relaxers for a connection to uterine cancer diagnoses in female consumers. These product liability claims allege that the straightening products are defective and put consumers at an increased risk of developing uterine cancer. So far, the majority of claims have involved products created by L’Oréal.
These lawsuits involve the following L’Oréal products:
- Motions
- Dark & Lovely
- Olive Oil Relaxer
- Organic Root Stimulator
L’Oréal’s subsidy SoftSheen Carson Professional is also facing litigation for its chemical hair straightening products, including the Optimum Salon Collection. However, as more becomes known about this developing issue, lawsuits against other manufacturing companies are predicted. For example, cases have already been brought against Strength of Nature Global, Justformehair, TCB Naturals and Namaste Laboratories for their hair straightening products.
Research Connecting Chemical Hair Straighteners and Relaxers to Uterine Cancer
On October 17, 2022, the National Institute of Health (NIH) published a news release detailing a new study that found an association between chemical hair straightening products and a higher risk of uterine cancer. This study aggregated data from 33,497 U.S. women ages 35 to 74 that was collected by following the women for almost 11 years. In this time, 378 of the women were diagnosed with uterine cancer.
The study concluded that women who reported frequent use of chemical hair straightening products (defined as more than four times in the previous year) were more than twice as likely to develop uterine cancer. The estimated risk is 1.64 percent for women who have never used chemical hair straighteners vs. 4.05 percent for those who use them frequently. Data shows that there has been an increase in the number of uterine cancer cases in the United States, particularly among Black women.
Black women are at a higher risk of being affected by defective chemical hair straightening products due to a higher prevalence of use. Approximately 60 percent of the women in the NIH study who reported using chemical straighteners in the previous year were Black. In addition to the new links to uterine cancer, previous studies have found certain hair products to be associated with a higher risk of other cancers, including breast and ovarian cancer, uterine fibroids, and endometriosis.
Although the NIH study did not collect information about the brands or types of hair straightening products used, it noted several chemicals found in most of these products that could be contributing to the increased risk of uterine cancer. They include formaldehyde, parabens, metals and bisphenol A. These chemicals could be absorbed through the scalp and affect estrogen levels, causing an increased risk of hormone-related cancers in women.
How Much Money Could You Get From a Hair Relaxer Lawsuit?
If you have been diagnosed with uterine cancer or another health problem as a frequent user of chemical hair straightening products, you may be entitled to financial compensation from the manufacturer or another party. A product liability lawsuit could reimburse you for several costs or expenses associated with the tort. These are known as economic damages. It may also be possible to receive noneconomic damages for losses such as pain and suffering.
A successful chemical hair straightening lawsuit could result in the following types of compensation:
- Reimbursement for the purchase price of the product(s)
- Past and future related medical expenses
- Disability costs
- Mental anguish and emotional distress
- Physical pain
- Inconvenience
- Travel costs
- Attorney’s fees
- Lost quality or enjoyment of life
If a loved one tragically lost his or her life due to uterine cancer, your family may be eligible for wrongful death damages from a product manufacturer. This type of claim could result in payment for reasonable funeral and burial costs, lost wages and inheritance, loss of consortium, grief, and more. Although a settlement can never be guaranteed, any settlement or jury verdict achieved in the chemical hair straightening lawsuits is expected to be high. Discuss the value of your potential claim with one of our attorneys.
Latest Updates on the Chemical Hair Straightening Lawsuits
Bailey & Glasser, LLP is keeping up with the latest news on this developing situation:
- January 26, 2023: The judicial panel on multidistrict litigation will decide on the issue of whether or not to consolidate the lawsuits that have been filed for chemical hair straighteners into a class action multidistrict litigation.
- December 26, 2022: At least five more chemical hair straightener lawsuits were filed in federal courts from the beginning of December, bringing the total to at least 15 personal injury cases and 3 pending consumer class action lawsuits.
- November 29, 2022: A new hair relaxer lawsuit was filed against L’Oréal and other defendants on behalf of a plaintiff who was diagnosed with uterine fibroids at the age of 22 after using hair relaxer products beginning at the age of six.
- November 18, 2022: Lawyers representing a group of plaintiffs who filed hair relaxer lawsuits filed a motion with the judicial panel on multidistrict litigation requesting the consolidation of their suits into a new class action. This request was soon followed by opposition from the defendants.
You still have time to take action if you or a loved one was diagnosed with uterine cancer with a possible connection to chemical hair straightening products.
How Much Does it Cost to Hire an Attorney?
If you hire Bailey & Glasser, LLP to represent you for a chemical hair straightening case, you won’t pay anything upfront. We do not charge a retainer fee to start work on personal injury cases. We operate this part of our law firm on a contingency fee basis. This means we only charge attorney’s fees if and when we win the client’s case. If your chemical hair straightening lawsuit does not result in a financial settlement or judgment award, you won’t owe us a dime for the time already spent on your case.
If your case does succeed, we will charge our fees as a pre-agreed upon percentage of the overall amount won. That way, you never have to pay your attorney out of your own pocket, win or lose. The percentage collected depends on your specific case, such as its complexity and whether or not it has to go to trial. Our law firm is always honest and transparent about how we charge for our services. Contact us to learn more during a free, no-obligation case consultation.
How Much Time Do I Have to File a Lawsuit?
The statute of limitations, or deadline for filing, a product liability lawsuit for chemical hair straighteners can range anywhere from one to six years, depending on the law in the state where you live. Each state has a different time limit. If you miss your deadline to file, the courts will most likely reject your case. This is why it is important to seek legal advice from a product liability attorney as soon as possible.
Contact Bailey & Glasser, LLP Today
Many more lawsuits are expected to be filed regarding chemical hair straighteners and hair relaxers. Our lawyers at Bailey & Glasser, LLP are currently accepting cases. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, fibroids, endometriosis or another disease as a frequent user of chemical hair straightening products, you may be eligible for financial compensation. Our attorneys can help you understand your rights and file a lawsuit. Call ((618) 619-2881 today.