A recent National Institute of Health study revealed a connection between consistent hair relaxer use and uterine cancer risk, prompting women to file hair relaxer lawsuits to hold manufacturers accountable. Hair relaxer products contain dangerous endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) that can lead to hormone imbalance and health issues like ovarian cancer, endometriosis, and uterine fibroids.
Those that suffer damages, such as medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering, from health issues caused by hair relaxer use can file a hair relaxer lawsuit. Recently, hair relaxer plaintiffs consolidated their lawsuits in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois before Judge Mary M. Rowland. If you suffered damages from hair relaxer use, you could still file a hair relaxer lawsuit to join the hair relaxer MDL to put yourself in a position to recover fair compensatory damages.
Hair Relaxer Users Who Suffered Hormone-Sensitive Health Issues Can File Lawsuits
You could file a hair relaxer lawsuit if you suffered a hormone-sensitive health issue because of consistent hair relaxer use. A National Institute of Health (NIH) study included data that drew a connection between hair relaxer use and uterine cancer, with hair relaxer users increasing their risk of suffering uterine cancer by more than double.
However, uterine cancer is not the only health issue associated with hair relaxer use. The endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in hair relaxers can upset the hormone balance in a woman’s body by blocking natural hormones from doing their job. This can lead to hormone imbalance which can cause hormone-sensitive health issues. Suffering these health conditions from hair relaxer use can be the basis for a hair relaxer lawsuit.
The following are hormone-sensitive health conditions caused by hair relaxer use:
- Uterine cancer
- Uterine sarcoma
- Endometrial cancer
- Uterine fibroids
- Ovarian cancer
- Endometriosis
Plaintiffs Must Prove Their Consistent Use of Hair Relaxer Products
The NIH study mentions that women who use hair relaxers at least four times a year expose themselves to double the risk of suffering uterine cancer. Part of proving your hair relaxer lawsuit is establishing you used hair relaxers consistently. It’s unlikely for you to recover compensation for damages if you barely used hair relaxers.
However, if you consistently used hair relaxers over a long period of time, you will have a case to file a hair relaxer lawsuit. You can prove that consistent use by presenting receipts for hair relaxer products or salon trips.
Those Who Suffered Damages from Hair Relaxers Can File a Lawsuit
Hair relaxer victims that suffer damages due to a hormone-sensitive health issue can also file hair relaxer lawsuits. Hormone-sensitive health issues can lead to economic damages, as they can result in expensive medical costs and can cause lost wages as the victim must take time off of work.
They can also cause non-economic damages that reflect how a victim’s quality of life was affected by their hormone-sensitive health condition. Hair relaxer victims can experience depression and anxiety about their medical condition, the long road ahead for their treatment, or the hysterectomy they may require.
The following are some damages a hair relaxer victims could pursue compensation for in a lawsuit:
- Medical bills
- Lost wages
- Lost earning potential
- Mental anguish
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of society
Hair Relaxer MDL Consolidation Approved by JPML
After the first wave of hair relaxer lawsuits were filed, the plaintiffs filed a motion to consolidate all hair relaxer lawsuits into a multi-district litigation (MDL). The defendants in hair relaxer lawsuits, including L’Oreal, Namaste Laboratories, and Strenght of Nature, didn’t believe the MDL was warranted, but the Judicial Panel on Multi-District Litigation (JPML) approved consolidation.
The hair relaxer MDL consolidated in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois before Judge Mary M. Rowland, with over one hundred pending cases and counting. The MDL forming is good for plaintiffs, as it can help streamline the discovery process, allows plaintiffs o share resources, and increase the chances of a global settlement.
Hair Relaxer Victims Can File Directly to Join the Hair Relaxer MDL
Those hair relaxer victims who have yet to file their hair relaxer lawsuit can directly join the MDL by filing a short-form complaint. This allows them to avoid the lengthy process of filing a lawsuit in their jurisdiction and waiting for their case to transfer to the hair relaxer MDL. Judge Rowland instituted this process for new plaintiffs after deliberation and pitches by the defendants and plaintiffs.
If you suffered a hormone-sensitive health condition because of hair relaxer use, you now have a clear path you can take to join the hair relaxer MDL. You can take advantage of the benefits of an MDL to possibly recover fair compensation for your damages through a global settlement.
Why Should You Hire a Product Liability Lawyer to Help With Your Hair Relaxer Lawsuit?
Hiring a product liability lawyer can help as you join the MDL and seek the benefits of a global settlement. MDLs can take a while and involve some complicated processes that a product liability lawyer can help you with. It’s vital to have someone in your corner that you trust and who can represent your interests as the MDL progresses.
The following are some ways a product liability lawyer can help with your hair relaxer lawsuit:
- Calculate the value of your hair relaxer lawsuit
- Determine whose products caused your damages
- File the paperwork to join the hair relaxer MDL
- Explain your rights
- Keep you up-to-date on how the MDL progresses
- Share resources with other plaintiff’s lawyers
- Represent you in settlement negotiations
Contact The Russo Firm for Help With Your Hair Relaxer Lawsuit
The product liability lawyers at The Russo Firm have decades of experience helping dangerous product victims recover fair compensation for their damages. We can assist you with your hair relaxer lawsuit and help you join the hair relaxer MDL. Our product liability lawyers pride themselves on collaborating with their clients to craft a personalized legal counsel plan that caters to their needs. Contact us for a free consultation regarding your hair relaxer lawsuit today at (561) 270-0913 or leave a message on our online contact page.
