Mesothelioma Lawsuit Blames Woman’s Illness on Asbestos-Containing Talc
Linda A. Stange was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma in September 2024. In seeking an answer to where she would have been exposed to asbestos, they concluded that it came from the decades that both she and her husband, Arlen, used talcum powder that was contaminated with asbestos. As a result, the couple has filed suit against Colgate-Palmolive, Coty, Inc., Gold Bond Company, and several other defendants that they blame for having failed to warn of the dangers of their products.
Washington State Couple’s Claim Cites Negligence
According to the couple’s filing in the Circuit Court of St. Clair County in Illinois, the mesothelioma victim had used talc products daily throughout her lifetime, from the 1940s to the 2000s, in the states of Illinois, California, Oregon, and Washington. They also cite Mr. Stange’s personal use of the products from 1987 going forward, as well as his workplace exposure, which they blame for her second-hand exposure to the carcinogenic material.
The couple has accused the manufacturers of the product of negligence, willful and wanton conduct deserving of punitive damages, and conspiracy, accusing them of having conspired with other manufacturers to keep the dangers of their products hidden from the public. They point to existing scientific information that the company could have or should have been aware of and shared or acted upon, including by issuing warnings, using other ingredients, or conducting testing on the product and then acting on concerning results. They also accuse some of the companies of having purposely destroyed evidence regarding their knowledge of the products’ dangers or of the dangers of exposure to asbestos in Mr. Stange’s workplace, including information about asbestos-related illnesses being diagnosed among the companies’ employees.
Company Moves Mesothelioma Claim to Federal Court
In response to being named as a defendant in the lawsuit in the Illinois courts, Colgate-Palmolive filed a motion to have the mesothelioma claim removed to federal court based on the variety of locations of the companies named in the suit. Though the couple objected to this action, the Illinois judge overseeing the case rejected their motion to remand, sending the case to federal courts for a decision.
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