As Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D–CA) makes a statement, Attorney Benjamin Crump poses for a photo-op before a meeting to commemorate the one-year anniversary of George Floyd's death. The photo-op took place at the U.S. Capitol in Washington DC. Greg Nash-Pool/Getty ImagesLawyer Tuesday said that Ben Crump is suing Johnson & Johnson for a Black non-profit.According to the National Council of Negro Women, some people who used J&J baby milk were diagnosed with cancer.J&J has been sued in at least 255,000 cases relating to its Talcum Baby Powder.For more stories, visit Insider's homepage.According to a press release, Ben Crump, a national civil rights attorney, announced legal action against Johnson & Johnson over negligence allegations at a press conference held in Washington, DC on Tuesday.Crump is suing the National Council of Negro Women members (NCNW) on their behalf. This 1935 organization was founded with the mission of "leading, advocating for, and empowering women of African descent, as well as their families and communities."Insider has obtained a complaint alleging that some members of the non-profit organization were diagnosed with ovarian cancer following their use of powder products from Johnson & Johnson. Johnson & Johnson is accused of targeting Black women with their powder products, "knowing that Black women are more likely to use Powder Products and to use them frequently." However, these Powder Products were not safe."NCNW has thousands who have used J&J’s Powder Products. The suit claims that some of these members have been affected by the development of ovarian carcinoma caused by J&J’s Powder Products. "Others have a legitimate reason to believe they will develop symptoms. They are therefore suffering psychological harm and require immediate medical monitoring."According to Reuters internal documents, Johnson & Johnson's marketing strategies were geared towards overweight and African American women. The outlet reported this in 2019.According to the Washington Informer, Janice Mathis, executive director of the organization, stated that "This company, through their words and images, told Black woman that we were offensive to our natural state and needed their products to stay fresh." "Generations upon generations of Black women believed them. We made it a daily habit to use their products in ways that could put us at risk for cancer, and we also taught our daughters. Johnson and Johnson are shameful."Continue the storyAccording to the report the company denied any claims that its powder products were unsafe. According to Insider's Grace Dean, the company has been subject to at least 25,000 lawsuits over its talcum powder baby powder. Some consumers claimed that it caused cancer. According to Reuters J&J removed the product from US and Canadian shelves in 2020 due to a drop in demand. A court also ordered J&J to pay $2.2 billion to 22 women who had ovarian cancer due to their use of the product in the same year.Johnson & Johnson was investigated by the US Securities and Exchange Commission in 2019 after it was alleged that its talcum baby products were contaminated with asbestos, a human carcinogen according to the American Cancer Society.After a 2018 Reuters article, the SEC investigation was initiated. It revealed that the company knew of possible asbestos contamination going back to the 1970s.Insider has the original article.
