Chemical hair relaxers like ORS Olive Oil can increase a woman’s risk of developing certain types of cancer and reproductive health issues, such as uterine cancer or endometriosis. Namaste Laboratories, the makers of ORS Olive Oil hair relaxer, continue to stand by their product despite mounting evidence that women who use this product long-term are becoming sick. A growing number of product liability lawsuits are accusing Namaste of negligently selling chemical hair relaxers that contain cancer-causing chemicals without an appropriate warning label.
The plaintiffs are seeking compensation for damages including medical bills, lost earning capacity, and loss of quality of life. The product liability lawyers of Dolman Law Group want to speak with you if you have been diagnosed with reproductive health issues after frequently using Olive Oil hair relaxers. You can schedule a free consultation to discuss your claim with our personal injury lawyers and receive more information about our services.
How Can an Olive Oil Hair Relaxer Lawyer Help Me?
Hiring a chemical hair relaxer lawyer is the best way to ensure that you are fairly compensated for your damages in a product liability lawsuit. Plaintiffs who choose to represent themselves often walk away with a lower settlement than a personal injury attorney would have negotiated for them. Product liability attorneys are equipped to manage the demands of a personal injury lawsuit.
As your Olive Oil hair relaxer attorney, they will represent your interests by fielding calls from bill collectors, as well as any parties involved in the product liability lawsuit. This is critical to protecting your right to seek compensation for your damages because it will help you avoid inadvertently undermining your claim. Additionally, a product liability lawyer can help you gather evidence of your damages, compile your medical records, and prepare for depositions.
Another benefit of having a product liability lawyer represent you in negotiations is that your claim is more likely to be taken seriously by the representatives of the defendants. If they see that a reputable personal injury lawyer is willing to dedicate time and effort to championing your claim, they will be more inclined to offer a reasonable settlement.
Chemical Hair Relaxers Contain Carcinogenic Chemicals
Chemical hair relaxers are often used by women to straighten their naturally curly hair. Black women are the most common consumers, and they often begin using chemical hair relaxers at a young age. This repeated exposure over many years can cause a dangerous accumulation of carcinogens that lead to cancer of the reproductive system.
NIH researchers recently published a study using data from the Sister Study. They found that women who reported using chemical hair relaxers 4 or more times a year double their risk of developing uterine cancer as compared to women who don’t use chemical hair relaxers. More than half of the women in the group who reported higher rates of usage self-identified as Black.
Researchers have noted the presence of several toxic chemicals in hair relaxers that they believe may be damaging healthy cells. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are the likely cause of this increased risk of hormone-sensitive cancers. EDCs are linked to increased levels of estrogen, which is a common cause of cancer in the female reproductive system. Thus far, heavy use of chemical hair relaxers has been connected to:
Women Sue Namaste Laboratories in Olive Oil Hair Relaxer Lawsuits
Olive Oil hair relaxers are marketed as an alternative to lye-based products, which have been linked to an increased risk of cancer. Based on emerging research findings, ORS Olive Oil hair relaxers and other chemical hair relaxers still contain dangerous EDCs. Plaintiffs say that companies like Namaste Laboratories should have engaged in more extensive testing to ensure the safety of products like ORS Olive Oil and provided warning labels on their products.
Plaintiffs Request Their Claims Be Considered as a Multidistrict Litigation
Plaintiffs are engaged in an effort to consolidate their claims into a multidistrict litigation. In mass tort cases, claims may be considered in a multidistrict litigation (MDL) to streamline the process for the judicial system. Plaintiffs who have similar complaints of negligence and sustained similar injuries can file a motion for their claims to be considered a multidistrict litigation by the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML), as the plaintiffs in the chemical hair relaxer lawsuits have done.
A multidistrict litigation would enable them to pool their resources against the defendants. In addition to collaborating during the discovery and pretrial process, plaintiffs benefit from an MDL because they do not have to forfeit their ability to recover compensation that is directly correlated to their damages. Defendants like L’Oreal and Nasmaste Laboratories have objected to this effort. The JPML is currently deliberating after hearing oral arguments from both sides.
Recovering Damages in an Olive Oil Hair Relaxer Lawsuit
The reproductive cancers associated with heavy chemical hair relaxer usage may require a hysterectomy to treat, which prevents a woman from having children. Even when a hysterectomy is not necessary, cancer can still cause irreversible damage to a woman’s reproductive system. This has left plaintiffs to deal with the significant psychological impact in addition to considerable financial costs associated with treatment.
Namaste Laboratories May Owe Plaintiffs
The defendants named in the chemical hair relaxer lawsuits are standing by their products and vigorously resisting plaintiffs’ efforts to make progress, likely because they are aware that paying out the damages for these claims will be substantial if they are found liable. If beauty companies like Namaste Laboratories are found to be at fault, they or their insurance carriers may be directed to compensate plaintiffs in the form of economic and non-economic damages.
Economic damages compensate plaintiffs for losses that have a set price tag. A plaintiff can provide evidence of economic damages by presenting bills, pay stubs, or other receipts. Additionally, plaintiffs can pursue compensation for non-economic damages for their subjective losses resulting from their injuries, such as emotional distress.
Examples of Damages in an Olive Oil Hair Relaxer Lawsuit:
- Medical bills
- Lab tests
- Imaging
- Medication
- Surgery
- Radiation therapy
- Hormone therapy
- Chemo
- Hospital stays
- Job-related losses
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Missed promotions
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of quality of life
- Wrongful death
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Loss of services and support
- Loss of consortium
- Loss of parental guidance and instruction
Frequently Asked Questions About Olive Oil Hair Relaxer Lawsuits
1) How long will a chemical hair relaxer lawsuit take to settle?
The timeline of your claim will depend on a number of factors. First and foremost, you need to file a claim to potentially be eligible for compensation. The sooner you hire a product liability lawyer and start the claims process, the closer you are to securing a settlement. You should also keep in mind that states have a statute of limitations for product liability claims. After you have formally made a claim for damages, how quickly your claim is settled is largely determined by the speed of the judicial system and the willingness of the defendants to settle.
For example, if the JPML decides to consolidate the claims, it may be years before the discovery process and bellwether trials are complete. At any point during that process, the defendants may choose to settle with plaintiffs, which could shorten the timeline. You should expect that the process will take at least several months.
2) How much is a chemical hair relaxer lawsuit worth?
Assigning value to a type of claim is difficult without knowing the specific circumstances of how the plaintiff’s injuries have affected their life. Damages are not one size fits all. That is one of the benefits of an MDL. If the courts decide in favor of the plaintiffs, damages are awarded based on an individual plaintiff’s ability to demonstrate the value of the losses they have sustained as a result of their injuries.
In the context of the hair relaxer cancer lawsuits, two women could have both developed similar reproductive health issues from the use of Olive Oil hair relaxers, but one may have lost more based on how her injuries impacted her. For example, a woman in her 20s who underwent a hysterectomy before being able to have children, like one of the hair relaxer cancer plaintiffs Jenny Mitchell, would likely receive a larger settlement than a woman in her 40s who had already finished having children.
3) How much does it cost to hire a product liability lawyer?
Don’t be intimidated by filing a product liability claim because you think that you won’t be able to afford a personal injury lawyer. Personal injury lawyers do not require you to pay them before they represent you. Instead, they will evaluate your claim to determine whether or not it is valid and how likely it is to settle.
If they settle your claim, they recover a contingency fee that is around a third of the settlement or court awards. This system keeps legal resources accessible to injured plaintiffs and ensures that personal injury lawyers are motivated to maximize their clients’ compensation.
Why Should I Choose Dolman Law Group to Represent Me?
When you have been diagnosed with cancer, the last thing you need to have added to your plate is the pressure and expense of navigating a product liability lawsuit alone. The product liability lawyers of Dolman Law Group have the legal knowledge and resources to manage your Olive Oil hair relaxer claim and secure you a settlement that reflects your needs.
Our team specializes in product liability claims, which are notoriously complex. We have taken on other notable mass tort claims, such as the NEC baby formula lawsuits, which means that we can provide you with a clear idea of what to expect in a product liability lawsuit against an established company.
Over the last decade, Dolman Law Group has expanded from a Florida-based firm to serve injured clients nationwide. We have been able to accomplish this based on our results-driven approach and the recommendations from former clients. If you are looking for a formidable legal team with an unparalleled work ethic, the personal injury lawyers of Dolman Law Group are a perfect fit.
Dolman Law Group Secures Results for Our Clients
At Dolman Law Group, we make it a habit to exceed expectations. Our personal injury lawyers are diligent, capable negotiators who value client satisfaction. We have earned a reputation for excellence based on our track record of delivering fair settlements for our injured clients.
Our team understands that the compensation you receive from your claim can have a critical impact on your financial stability and ability to care for yourself. With the product liability lawyers of Dolman Law Group negotiating on your behalf, you can trust that we will dedicate the time and effort necessary to maximize your compensation.
Contact Dolman Law Group for Help With Your Olive Oil Hair Relaxer Lawsuit
At Dolman Law Group, we understand how overwhelming the prospect of filing a product liability lawsuit against a well-known company like Namaste can be, even without the added burden of managing cancer. You can feel confident that your needs will be our priority as we work to recover maximum compensation for your physical, emotional, and financial losses.
The product liability attorneys of Dolman Law Group have ample experience taking claims to trial. Our experience is often an asset in negotiations with stubborn defendants, as they are aware that we are not afraid to escalate your claim to a product liability lawsuit in order to secure a fair settlement.
If you have repeatedly used an ORS Olive Oil hair relaxer and received a cancer diagnosis, you may be able to recover compensation for your damages. We encourage you to reach out to our team to schedule a free consultation with one of our award-winning product liability attorneys. Our team will provide you with additional information about what to expect during the personal injury claims process and what damages may qualify for compensation in an Olive Oil hair relaxer lawsuit.