Latest Chemical Hair Relaxer Lawsuit Updates
As of September 2024, there are 8,489 pending chemical hair relaxer lawsuits consolidated in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. A total of 9,799 cases have been filed, with many more expected as lawyers continue accepting new claims. To date, no trials or global settlements have been reached in the Illinois multidistrict litigation (MDL).
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Latest Updates of Chemical Hair Relaxer Lawsuits
October 1, 2024
- 200 new cases were added last month. This follows a decline in September, during which the multidistrict litigation (MDL) saw a reduction of 98 cases, resulting in a total of 8,393 pending cases. This fluctuation highlights the ongoing legal challenges faced by plaintiffs alleging health risks associated with hair relaxer products.
September 30, 2024
Plaintiffs have filed a motion to compel Strength of Nature (SON) to release non-privileged documents from the “uterine study,” stored in specific digital folders. SON, a manufacturer of African Pride, Soft & Beautiful, and Just For Me, had agreed to produce these by July 2024 but has withheld them without providing a privilege log. SON claims these documents are protected under the work product doctrine, but plaintiffs argue that these are standard business records, not created specifically for litigation, and should be disclosed according to discovery rules.
August 2024
- Plaintiffs in the MDL responded to dismissal motions from several defendants, including John Paul Mitchell Systems’ renewed motion. Plaintiffs argue that the JPMS motion misinterprets the master complaint and is without merit.
July 2024
The FDA postponed its proposed ban on formaldehyde in hair care products from July to September, following multiple delays. The ban aims to protect consumers and salon workers from formaldehyde’s known cancer risks.
June 2024
L’Oréal, SoftSheen-Carson, and Strength of Nature lost an appeal to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Kiara Burroughs in Georgia. Her lawsuit alleges that these companies failed to warn consumers about toxic chemicals in their products that can cause uterine fibroids.
May 2024
The court appointed Professor Maura Grossman as a special master. Revlon and related companies filed their notice of appearance as discovery continued.
February 2024
The discovery phase of the lawsuits began, with thousands of cases still being processed.
January 2024
Plaintiffs continued to file lawsuits, and both sides worked on developing bellwether trial protocols. A motion to compel discovery from L’Oréal USA was filed.
November 2023
- The number of pending lawsuits surged to 7,967 in the Illinois MDL.
October 2022
Jenny Mitchell became one of the first plaintiffs to file a lawsuit against L’Oréal after being diagnosed with uterine cancer. Around the same time, a National Institutes of Health (NIH) study linked hair relaxer use to increased risks of uterine cancer, breast cancer, fibroids, and other serious health conditions.
Why Are Chemical Hair Relaxer Lawsuits Being Filed?
Thousands of people have filed chemical hair relaxer lawsuits after being diagnosed with uterine, endometrial, and ovarian cancers, which they claim were caused by toxic chemicals in hair straightening products. The lawsuits allege that manufacturers failed to warn consumers of these risks.
The filing of these lawsuits accelerated after a 2022 NIH study found that women who used chemical hair straighteners more than four times a year had double the risk of developing uterine cancer. Studies have also linked these products to uterine fibroids, endometriosis, and breast cancer.
Who Is Eligible to File a Chemical Hair Relaxer Lawsuit?
If you used a chemical hair relaxer and were diagnosed with uterine, endometrial, or ovarian cancer, you may qualify to file a lawsuit. Attorneys are currently accepting cases related to these cancers. If you’re unsure about your eligibility or diagnosis, consult a licensed attorney, who can guide you through the process.
Be sure to gather any medical records, receipts, or other evidence related to your chemical hair relaxer use before speaking with an attorney. Timely action is important as there may be deadlines for filing claims.
Diagnosed with cancer after using chemical hair relaxers?
Increased Cancer Risks Linked to Chemical Hair Relaxers
Research has shown that chemical hair relaxers contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), which are associated with higher risks of developing uterine, endometrial, and ovarian cancers. Women who use these products frequently—more than four times a year—are at the highest risk.
According to a 2022 NIH study, women who reported regular use of hair straighteners had higher rates of uterine cancer than those who did not. Another 2023 study published in Environmental Research found that long-term use of chemical hair relaxers was linked to an increased risk of uterine cancer in postmenopausal women.
Brands Involved in Chemical Hair Relaxer Lawsuits
Several major hair care brands, including L’Oréal, SoftSheen-Carson, and Strength of Nature, have been named in these lawsuits. Other popular brands such as Dark and Lovely, Just for Me, and Motions are also facing legal action. The lawsuits claim that these products, often marketed to Black women, contain harmful chemicals like phthalates and parabens, which increase the risk of cancer.
Popular hair relaxer brands involved in lawsuits include:
- Dark and Lovely
- Just for Me
- L’Oréal
- Motions
- Namaste
- Olive Oil Girls
- Optimum
- Soft & Beautiful
- Strength of Nature Global LLC
- TCB Naturals
When will Hair Relaxer Lawsuit be Settled?
The hair relaxer lawsuits are currently progressing through the courts, but no settlements have been reached yet. The first trials in the multidistrict litigation (MDL) are not expected to begin until 2025. As of mid-2024, there are over 8,000 claims pending, and discovery is still underway as lawyers from both sides gather evidence (Motley Rice) (Sokolove Law).
Since this is a complex case involving thousands of plaintiffs, it might take time for settlements or verdicts to be reached, but many expect significant developments in 2025.
Chemical Hair Relaxer Marketing Controversy
The lawsuits also highlight how these products were heavily marketed to Black women, promoting a European standard of beauty through straightened hair. Legal claims assert that companies knowingly targeted Black communities despite the dangers posed by their products.
Future of Chemical Hair Relaxer Lawsuits
Lawyers are currently only accepting cases related to uterine, endometrial, and ovarian cancers. However, this may change as more research links chemical hair relaxers to other types of cancer and health conditions.
If you or a loved one has been affected by the use of chemical hair relaxers, it’s important to consult an attorney as soon as possible to understand your legal rights and options.
