Hair Straightener Cancer Lawsuits

Hair straighteners or hair relaxers are common cosmetic products used to “relax” or “straighten” curly hair. There are countless hair straightener products on the market, with many companies selling their own version.

This past October saw several women initiating lawsuits against the manufacturers of these hair straightener products, alleging the products caused them to develop various medical conditions, including uterine cancer.

Why are people suing L’Oréal?

Popular French cosmetic company L’Oréal is among the companies being sued. The plaintiffs claim components in the hair straightener products were unsafe and increased their risk of the various medical conditions they suffer from, suffered from, or have an increased chance of suffering from.

These lawsuits follow the release of a study identifying the chemical in hair straighteners as the cause of an increased risk of uterine cancer. At least two class actions have been filed, and a motion has been made for multidistrict litigation. These lawsuits are beginning to catch the attention of law firms, meaning many are starting to attempt to gain new clients.

Lawyers interested in attracting clients for this mass tort potential multidistrict litigation need to start thinking about their marketing strategies to gain new clients. As more potential clients begin coming forward to seek legal advice, your firm must differentiate itself in the personal injury attorney market and attract potential clients.

What is the current status of L’Oréal hair straightener cancer lawsuits?

A growing number of lawsuits are being filed in district courts across the country against cosmetic companies. These lawsuits are being brought by women who used hair straighteners and subsequently developed uterine cancer, breast cancer, fibroids, and other medical conditions.

On November 15, 2022, four plaintiffs filed a motion with the United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation to centralize all the cases (and others that may join) in multidistrict litigation in the Northern District of Illinois.

The plaintiffs argue that multidistrict litigation is warranted because it eliminates duplicative discovery, harmonizes pretrial rulings, and preserves court resources. They argue that the lawsuits “involve materially identical facts, the same or similar Defendants, and the same or similar legal claims. The number of cases grows by the day. Unless these cases are transferred for pretrial proceedings, the parties will incur excessive costs due to duplicative discovery, and will face the risk of inconsistent rulings on a variety of matters.”

The Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation will hear the motion to centralize the cases in multidistrict litigation on January 26, 2023, in Miami, Florida.

Current L’Oréal Hair Straightener Cancer Cases

Over 10 cases have been filed in district courts across the country. In all cases, the women allege the chemicals in the hair relaxer products caused them to develop medical conditions later in life, including uterine cancer, fibroids, and endometriosis, or that they have an increased risk of developing those medical conditions.

The following are examples of cases filed in courts:

Plaintiffs - Class Action
Angela Burton, Natasha M. Ca