Multidistrict Litigation established to consolidate hair relaxer lawsuits

CHICAGO (February 7, 2023) – The United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation entered a Transfer Order on February 6, 2023, creating MDL 3060: In Re: Hair Relaxer Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation. The order transfers all filed cases from four different district courts to the Northern District of Illinois to be heard before the Honorable Mary M. Rowland, establishing the official hair relaxer MDL. The Court noted that since the Motion to Transfer was filed, they had been made aware of 44 additional hair relaxer cancer lawsuits in 15 different district courts. Romanucci & Blandin, LLC proudly filed one of these cases in the North District of Illinois last month against L’Oreal USA, Inc. in connection with L’Oreal USA Products, Inc., SoftSheen-Caron LLC, Godrej SON Holdings, Inc. and Strength of Nature, LLC, alleging their hair straightening products contain toxic chemicals that have been linked to causing hormone sensitive cancers including uterine and ovarian.

According to the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, frequent users of chemical hair straightening products (more than four uses a year) were more than twice as likely to develop uterine cancer. This statistic is particularly troublesome for the Black community, as one-in-twelve beauty and personal care products marketed to Black women tested were ranked as highly hazardous.

“Millions of women across the U.S. regularly use hair relaxer products, particularly within Black communities. We are proud to be a part of this significant litigation and to seek justice for those unknowingly harmed,” said Partner David A. Neiman.

To learn more about legal options involving the products previously discussed, please visit our hair relaxer and straightener health issues page.

About Romanucci & Blandin, LLC

Romanucci & Blandin is a Chicago-based national trial practice committed to fighting for victims of negligence, abuse and wrongful death. For 25 years, we have secured more than $850 million in verdicts and settlements for our clients - many for millions of dollars and others record-setting awards.  Our experience ranges from mass shootings, civil rights and police misconduct to medical malpractice, sexual abuse, motor vehicle accidents or workplace injury cases involving individual or institutional negligence. Romanucci & Blandin is a valuable legal resource to individuals and groups of people who have been injured by others’ wrongdoing. Referring attorneys and clients say several factors differentiate our firm: Our record of success, depth of experience, talented and dedicated legal team, tireless preparation and strategic use of communications to fight for the rights of those whose lives have been changed forever. We are different from other personal injury firms in that our work does not stop when a verdict or settlement is secured.  We are often inspired by our clients’ experiences and commit resources to create change in our communities. For more information about Romanucci & Blandin, please visit www.rblaw.net or call (312) 458-1000.