Hair Relaxer Lawsuit Updates
Hair Relaxer Cancer Litigation Advances as Court Orders Key Witness Depositions
A federal judge has ordered beauty company Avlon to produce two former employees for depositions in the multidistrict litigation alleging chemical hair relaxers cause cancers. Plaintiffs, primarily women with curly or kinky hair, have developed uterine fibroids, ovarian cancer, and other conditions. This procedural step may reveal what Avlon knew about potential risks. The lawsuits cite studies, including a key National Institutes of Health finding, which show women using relaxers face a significantly higher risk of uterine cancer. The litigation claims manufacturers failed to warn consumers of these dangers.
Court Orders Revlon Consultant to Grant Access to Storage Unit in Hair Relaxer Litigation
A court has ordered Revlon consultant Patricia Grant Williams to provide plaintiffs' attorneys in the hair relaxer litigation access to her storage unit. The plaintiffs believe the unit contains critical evidence, including internal company memos and product samples, which could demonstrate what Revlon knew about the cancer risks associated with its chemical straighteners and when they knew it. This discovery is pivotal for the numerous lawsuits filed by women who allege that toxic ingredients in these products caused their cancer diagnoses.
Study Links Hair Relaxer Chemicals to Additional Cancers, Bolstering Litigation
New research published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute indicates that chemical hair relaxers may increase the risk of thyroid cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and pancreatic cancer. This finding significantly expands the scope of potential health risks beyond the reproductive cancers currently alleged in widespread litigation. The study calls for further investigation into these additional cancer types. This emerging scientific evidence is anticipated to strengthen existing lawsuits and potentially lead to new claims, as plaintiffs allege manufacturers failed to warn consumers of these dangers.
Georgia Court Ruling Allows Hair Relaxer Lawsuits to Proceed
A Georgia state court has clarified a key legal timeframe, ruling that the statute of limitations for hair relaxer injury claims begins after an individual's most recent product exposure, not their first. This interpretation allows hundreds of lawsuits alleging that chemical straighteners caused reproductive cancers to move forward. The decision enables many women who were previously time-barred to now pursue settlements within the consolidated group litigation in Georgia.
About the Hair Relaxer Lawsuit
Hair relaxer lawsuits have been filed by thousands of women who used chemical hair relaxers or straighteners for years and were later diagnosed with serious hormone-related cancers, including uterine, endometrial, and ovarian cancer.
A landmark 2022 NIH-funded “Sister Study” found that women who frequently used chemical hair straighteners had over twice the risk of developing uterine cancer compared to non-users, even after adjusting for other factors. Follow-up analyses and other research have raised similar concerns about breast cancer, fibroids, and other reproductive conditions in long-term users of these products.
Many major brands, including those marketed heavily to Black women, are now facing hair relaxer lawsuits. Complaints allege that manufacturers failed to warn consumers that frequent use of chemical hair relaxers could significantly increase the risk of uterine and other cancers, despite emerging evidence and internal awareness of endocrine-disrupting ingredients in these products.
Chemical hair relaxers often contain phthalates and other endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), which can interfere with hormone regulation and may contribute to conditions like uterine fibroids, endometriosis, uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, and breast cancer. These ingredients can be absorbed through the scalp during repeated applications over years or decades.
Class Action Lawsuits vs. Hair Relaxer MDL
Class action lawsuits and multi-district litigation (MDL) are both legal mechanisms used to handle a large number of lawsuits that share common issues, but they operate differently.
Class Action Lawsuit
In a class action, one or a few “class representatives” stand in for a large group of people with nearly identical legal claims. The result, whether settlement or verdict, typically applies to all class members. This works best when damages and facts are very similar across the group.
Hair Relaxer MDL (Multidistrict Litigation)
In an MDL like the hair relaxer lawsuit, each person keeps their own individual case, with their own injuries, medical history, and potential settlement value. Cases are consolidated in one federal court for pre-trial steps such as discovery and expert testimony, which makes the process more efficient while preserving each plaintiff’s right to an individualized outcome.
Hair relaxer and chemical hair straightener lawsuits were consolidated into an MDL, rather than a single class action, because:
- Injuries vary (uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer, fibroids, etc.).
- Medical histories and exposure patterns are different for each person.
- Potential compensation amounts can vary significantly by diagnosis, severity, and impact on the person’s life.
This structure lets the court handle shared issues (like science and corporate knowledge) one time, while still allowing customized outcomes for each plaintiff.
Why Are Hair Relaxer Lawsuits Consolidated Into an MDL?
The hair relaxer lawsuit is considered an MDL because the varied injuries, potential contributing factors, and unique medical histories of each plaintiff necessitate a more flexible approach. This allows for individualized assessments of damages, liability arguments based on specific cases, and tailored discovery while still achieving efficiency through shared pre-trial procedures.
How to Pre-Qualify for the Hair Relaxer Lawsuit
To pre-qualify for the hair relaxer lawsuit, individuals must meet specific criteria related to the use of certain hair relaxer products and the subsequent development of certain cancers:
Pre-Qualifying Injuries:
- Uterine Cancer
- Endometrial Cancer
- Ovarian Cancer
- Uterine Fibroids
- & Other Pre-Qualifying Cancers
Hair Relaxer Products Linked:
- Dark & Lovely
- Just for Me
- Motions
- Africa's Best
- African Pride
- Bantu
- Creme of Nature
- Luster's
- Mizani Rhelaxer
- TCB or TCB Naturals
- Ultra Precise
- Ultra Sheen Supreme
- Elite Bristo
- Optimum
- Soft & Beautiful
We encourage you to speak with a lawyer to determine eligibility. Factors such as how long you used hair relaxers, how frequently you applied them, your age at use, and your diagnosis date all play a role in whether you may qualify under current hair relaxer lawsuit criteria..
While you will need to speak to an attorney to determine eligibility, claimants must typically provide concrete evidence of their use of one or more of the specified hair relaxer products. This documentation can include purchase receipts, photographs, or testimonies that clearly demonstrate a history of using these products.
Additionally, claimants must typically have a medically confirmed diagnosis of one of the specified cancers: Uterine Cancer, Endometrial Cancer, or Ovarian Cancer. Medical records, such as diagnostic reports, treatment records, and statements from healthcare professionals, are crucial in substantiating this aspect of the process.
The stronger the documentation, the easier it is for attorneys to build a case.
What Brands Are Being Investigated in the Hair Relaxer Lawsuits?
Several manufacturers and their respective products are commonly implicated in the hair relaxer lawsuit, including:
- L’Oreal - manufacturer of Dark & Lovely, Ultra Sheen, and other chemical hair products
- Strength of Nature Global, LLC - manufacturer of Motions
- Namaste, LLC - manufacturer of ORS Olive Oil Hair Relaxer
- TCB Naturals/Godrej Consumer Products - manufacturer of Just For Me
What Are Your Next Steps?
If you or a loved one has been affected by Hair Relaxers or other products, now is the time to take action. Thousands of women are seeking justice for the harm they’ve suffered, and you may be entitled to compensation.
Joining a class action lawsuit is about more than obtaining a settlement. It’s also about holding these companies accountable for the products they sell.
Join a Hair Relaxer / Chemical Hair Straightener Lawsuit
If you’ve used hair relaxers or chemical hair straighteners and are now facing serious health issues, you’re not alone. The growing hair relaxer MDL shows that thousands of women have raised similar concerns and are seeking justice.
If you’ve used Hair Relaxers and are now facing health issues, you’re not alone. Class action lawsuits offer a way to seek justice and compensation for the suffering and associated risks of using Hair Relaxers.
Don’t wait. Consult with your doctor, explore your legal options, and take steps to protect your rights. We encourage you to start the process of finding out if you may qualify for a Hair Relaxer class action lawsuit.
Add Comment