Every day, many women turn to hair relaxers to get the straight hair they dream of. They often use chemical straightening products to break the bonds between the twisted protein levels at the hair’s core and reform them while the hair remains straight. African American women, who may be more likely to have naturally curly hair, use hair straightening products and chemical relaxers more often than other women. These products, however, may not offer the safe experience that women hope for. Instead, they may increase the risk of developing certain types of cancer.

Did you face a cancer diagnosis after using a chemical hair straightening product? You may have the right to compensation for the losses you have faced. Contact hair relaxer lawsuit attorney at Dolman Law Group today at (833) 606-3784 to learn more about your right to compensation. 

Updates on the Hair Relaxer Lawsuits

Read up-to-date information and insights into the Hair Relaxer Uterine Cancer MDL from Dolman Law Group.

December 11, 2024 – Discovery Disputes Escalate in Hair Relaxer MDL 

Tensions are rising in the hair relaxer MDL as plaintiffs accuse defendants of withholding key information critical to the case. Plaintiffs argue that despite court orders, the defendants failed to provide full and organized data regarding product ingredients, safety warnings, and manufacturing details. Instead, they claim they are sorting through incomplete and disorganized records, which is slowing progress as trial deadlines approach. 

Defendants, including companies like Revlon and L’Oréal USA, insist they are cooperating in good faith. Some point to the plaintiffs’ own lack of clarity in identifying gaps in discovery. The dispute now centers on a proposed December 20, 2024, deadline for defendants to complete all discovery responses—a timeline the plaintiffs say is long overdue, but the defendants argue is unrealistic due to the complexity of the case. 

December 4, 2024 – MDL Attorneys Receive an 8% Fee 

A recent update sets an 11% assessment on monetary recoveries in the MDL, with 8% allocated for attorney fees and 3% for case-related expenses. This ensures that the attorneys handling the MDL’s collective efforts—like managing discovery and trial preparation—are compensated for their work. For plaintiffs, the good news is that this fee will likely come out of their lawyer’s share, not their individual settlement. 

As discovery battles continue, the stakes remain high for both sides, with trial preparations gaining momentum.

December 2, 2024 – MDL Growth Slows Down: November Sees 161 New Cases

After October's surge of over 1,000 new filings, the hair relaxer multidistrict litigation (MDL) experienced a big drop in November. 161 new cases were added, which is an 85% decrease. The total case count now stands at 9,649. more hair relaxer lawsuits are being filed in state courts instead of joining the MDL. Also, people are pursuing claims about fibroids and hysterectomies , outside the MDL structure.

November 22, 2024 – Public Can Access Upcoming Status Conference

A status conference about the hair relaxer lawsuits will take place on December 12, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. The magistrate judge has set up a public phone line to call in. You can dial 650-479-3207 and use the code 2308 182 1801 to join. The hearing has strict rules. You can't record or share it. If you break these rules, you might face penalties. These could include not being allowed to join future hearings.

November 15, 2024 – Judge Says No to Revlon's Request to Throw Out Cancer Claims

In a crucial decision, Judge Rowland turned down Revlon's attempt to throw out lawsuits related to cancer from its hair relaxer products. The judge felt it wouldn't be right to dismiss all cancer claims for people who didn't have a diagnosis yet. Cancer-related claims filed before September 14, 2023, without a confirmed diagnosis, were thrown out without prejudice, giving plaintiffs six months from when they get diagnosed to file again. But non-cancer injury claims were dismissed with prejudice, which means they can't be brought to court again.

November 1, 2024 – Discovery Deadline Set for MDL Cases

The discovery phase in the federal MDL concerning hair relaxer-related cancer claims (MDL 3060) will end by February 28, 2024, as talked about during a status hearing on October 30, 2024. Magistrate Judge Beth W. Jantz stressed how crucial it is to meet deadlines to keep the case moving forward. During the discovery phase, both sides share evidence and information to get ready for trial.

October 7, 2024 – Bellwether Trials Set for 2025 and 2026

Two test cases have been picked for the hair relaxer lawsuits. The first will start on November 3, 2025, and the second on February 2, 2026. These test cases help to gauge how jurors respond to the proof and legal reasoning. The results can sway settlement talks or change plans for future court battles.

September 1, 2024 – Plaintiffs Want to Drop Some Cases; Defense Objects

In a surprising move, people suing over hair relaxers asked to drop cases not linked to ovarian, uterine, or endometrial cancers. They want to zero in on stronger claims. The defense fought this request, maybe worried the plaintiffs could sue again later. This tactic shows how tricky the legal battle has become.

August 2, 2024 – 200 Cases Thrown Out for Missing Plaintiff Fact Sheets

Judge Rowland tossed out almost 200 cases in the hair relaxer MDL because plaintiffs didn't turn in complete plaintiff fact sheets on time. The judge threw out these cases without prejudice, giving plaintiffs until June 25, 2025, to file their cases again. If they don't do this, these dismissals will change to with prejudice, which means they can't bring these cases to court ever again.

Dolman Law Group: Small Law Firm Feel, Big Law Firm Results

Finding yourself with an unexpected uterine cancer diagnosis potentially related to a product that you previously thought safe and reasonable can leave you reeling. Dealing with the lawsuit associated with that cancer diagnosis can feel even more frustrating, especially since you may not know how to file a lawsuit.

At Dolman Law Group, we understand the challenges you may face in dealing with a hair relaxer-related uterine cancer diagnosis. We aim to help our clients recover the compensation they deserve without adding to their stress. 

Get the Small-firm Support You Need

At Dolman Law Group, our personal injury attorneys prioritize offering our clients the support and communication they need to progress smoothly through the claim process. Our small-firm support helps our clients feel much more confident about the outcome of their claims and offers them ongoing support that can help with the emotional burden that often accompanies a serious diagnosis and extensive legal proceedings. 

Access Big-firm Support and Resources

As you navigate an injury claim, having the right resources can greatly affect your ultimate outcome. At Dolman Law Group, we have the resources our clients need to take on the big names in insurance companies, hair relaxer companies, and more. Thanks to our extensive pool of resources, we can help our clients achieve their goals and get better outcomes for their injury claims.

The Dolman Law Group works with local counsel in any jurisdiction outside Florida for the purpose of filing lawsuits in jurisdictions wherein we are not licensed. Thus, we will follow each State’s ethical rules and ensure a local attorney is involved.

Make the Legal Resources You Need More Accessible

At Dolman Law Group, our clients should have ready access to the resources they need to accomplish their injury claim goals. Getting legal support should not increase the difficulty of the process. We start with a free consultation to go over the details of your claim and give you a better idea of what might happen next, including your right to compensation. Then, we accept most claims on a contingent fee basis: you do not have to pay until we win. Furthermore, we make ourselves highly accessible to our clients, making it easier for them to get the full support they need.

Did you receive a cancer diagnosis after using a hair relaxer product regularly? Contact Dolman Law Group today to learn more about your right to compensation and get started on your claim.

The Hair Relaxer/Cancer Correlation

According to the Sister Study, a study that examined cancer likelihood among women whose sisters already had a breast cancer diagnosis, regular hair relaxer use (defined as four times or more per year) can substantially increase the risk of developing cancer for those patients. Around 1.64% of women who do not use chemical hair straightening products will develop uterine cancer before 70. However, the risk more than doubles among frequent users of hair relaxer products, to around 4.05%. Uterine cancer rates have risen significantly across the American population in the last several years, increasing more dramatically among Black women, who may use hair straightening products more often.

Hair straightening products can increase the risk of multiple types of hormone-related cancer in women. Several of the chemicals present in chemical hair straighteners may pose an increased cancer risk for regular users, including ingredients like bisphenol A, formaldehyde, and parabens. Furthermore, people who use hair straightener products may not realize that the scalp absorbs more chemicals, which can increase the risk of developing cancer.

Compensation for Cancer Caused by Hair Relaxer Use

Dealing with the impact of uterine cancer can cause substantial physical and emotional suffering. You may wonder how much compensation you can get for the suffering you have faced due to hair relaxer use. At Dolman Law Group, we cannot guarantee the compensation you can recover. However, we can work with you to provide a better idea of your likely compensation and the elements you should include in your claim.

Your Medical Costs

Dealing with cancer often means high medical costs. In many cases, patients with uterine cancer or other cancers caused by hair relaxers will need chemotherapy or radiation treatments, which can prove incredibly expensive. In addition, patients often need hospitalization during cancer treatments, which may mean that they have continuing medical bills for the duration of that treatment. Some patients with uterine cancer will require a hysterectomy to remove the cancer and improve their overall outcomes. A hysterectomy can mean a long recovery period and multiple medical charges.

Talk to your lawyer about all the medical costs from your cancer treatment and how they have affected you, especially regarding any long-term impact. Your lawyer can help you determine what future medical expenses you may encounter and how to include them as part of your claim.

Any Wage Losses

In many cases, cancer, and the associated treatments, can prevent patients from working throughout their treatment. Many patients end up going on disability. Even those who continue to work may find that they miss time at work because of treatments.

Talk to your lawyer about the wage losses you have faced because of cancer treatment. At Dolman Law Group, we help our patients calculate the value of lost wages and include them as part of a comprehensive injury claim.

Pain and Suffering

A cancer diagnosis can mean significant, long-term physical suffering. It can mean that you need more help with basic self-care tasks or require more rest than usual, preventing you from engaging in the hobbies you once enjoyed. Furthermore, many cancer patients find it harder to interact with friends and loved ones. In many cases, relationships will decline during cancer treatment, which can prove catastrophic for the entire family.

Cancer treatment can also have other side effects and challenges that can make things very difficult for many patients. For example, many treatments associated with hormone-based cancers can interfere with a woman’s fertility, which can cause significant emotional challenges. A hysterectomy can permanently prevent a woman from having children.

Fighting for Compensation After a Cancer Diagnosis: What You Need to Know

Getting the compensation you deserve following a devastating diagnosis caused by hair relaxer use can prove more difficult than you may anticipate. Many people find themselves fighting aggressively for acknowledgment of their losses and resulting compensation. You may often find yourself dealing with the company’s insurance company. In others, you may have to deal with the company directly as you pursue compensation for the losses caused by the company’s negligence.

You may find yourself dealing with numerous tactics intended to limit the compensation you can recover for your losses.

• The company may insist that it did not cause your cancer diagnosis and that, as a result, you do not deserve compensation. The company may try to point to numerous other factors that may have led to your diagnosis.
• You may have trouble establishing the full medical treatments you need to recover after a cancer diagnosis, especially if you require aggressive treatment. You may also have difficulty showing that you need more aggressive treatment due to the nature of your specific symptoms. 
• You must lay out all the suffering you dealt with after your cancer diagnosis, and the company may insist that you did not suffer these damages or that you do not deserve compensation for your losses.

Dealing with the insurance company or the hair relaxer company alone makes it difficult to recover the full compensation you deserve. You may even get a settlement offer that does not reflect the losses you suffered, making it more difficult for you to manage your finances into the future. At Dolman Law Group we have the resources you need to help you deal with the challenges you face as you pursue compensation for your cancer diagnosis. 

Hair Relaxer Cancer Lawsuit FAQ

Contact Dolman Law Group for Help with Your Hair Relaxer Cancer Lawsuit

Handling a hair relaxer cancer lawsuit on your own can prove frustrating, especially in the midst of treatment. By working with a lawyer, you can increase your odds of successfully navigating that lawsuit and make it easier to get the full compensation you deserve. Contact Dolman Law Group today at (833) 606-3784 to learn more about your rights and next steps.