Hair Relaxer Lawsuit FAQs

What Is The Hair Relaxer Lawsuit?

The hair relaxer lawsuit is a mass tort currently underway in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois. The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) agreed to consolidate this case into multidistrict litigation (MDL) and transferred the cases to the U.S. District Court on February 6, 2023. The mass tort is officially known as MDL 3060 IN RE: Hair Relaxer Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation.

This case is currently progressing through the MDL process as expected. The parties continue the discovery process as of August 2024. U.S. District Judge Mary M. Rowland is presiding.

Additional plaintiffs can continue to file lawsuits or have their attorneys file a short-form complaint to join the mass tort.

Who Is Eligible to Participate in the Hair Relaxer Lawsuit?

If you used one of the chemical hair relaxers listed in MDL 3060 continuously for several years and later received a cancer diagnosis, you should contact our team. We can connect you with a hair relaxer lawsuit lawyer representing plaintiffs in this case.

You should take action as soon as possible if you:

• Used hair relaxer products made by L’Oréal, Revlon, or Strength of Nature
• Used these products regularly for several years
• Last used one of these products within 10 years of your cancer diagnosis
• Received a diagnosis of uterine, ovarian, or endometrial cancer

Our co-counsels can also represent families whose loved ones would be eligible to participate in this lawsuit, but passed away from their cancer or related complications before they learned about this case.

How Long Do I Have to File a Hair Relaxer Lawsuit and Participate in the Mass Tort?

The deadline for joining the hair relaxer lawsuit is set by your state’s statute of limitations. Each state has a deadline for pursuing compensation based on negligence injuries. This is likely between one year and six years. Most states offer two or three years to act.

The clock will most likely begin ticking on the day you receive your diagnosis, although there are exceptions to these deadlines. Contact us for a free consultation, and we will determine the applicable timeline for your case.

How Much Is a Hair Relaxer Settlement Worth?

As of August 2024, it is too early in MDL 3060 to know if or when plaintiffs might receive settlement offers. Both sides are currently investigating the links between the products in question and the cancers that occurred. Hair relaxer settlement offers are more likely if the evidence shows a strong link or the jury sides with the plaintiffs in the initial bellwether trials.

If there is a settlement offer, plaintiffs and their attorneys will weigh their expenses and losses against the offer to determine if they should accept the agreement. For this reason, knowing a fair settlement range based on your recoverable damages is crucial.

The recoverable damages in these cases will likely include:

• Medical Care: Current and future medical bills and related costs for cancer treatment, management, and monitoring
• Lost Income: Missed income from time away from work and reduced earning ability for lasting disabilities
• Related Expenses: Additional costs directly related to the case or cancer
• Non-Economic Damages: Physical suffering, emotional pain, mental anguish, and other intangible losses
• Wrongful Death Damages: The expenses and losses suffered by families because of their loved one’s death from cancer or a related cause

What Is the Current Status of the Hair Relaxer Lawsuit (August 2024)?

In its August 2024 update, the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation indicated 7,946 active lawsuits in the hair relaxer MDL. This number could grow as more potential plaintiffs learn about their rights and legal options. This case is still in pre-trial motions and discovery, with bellwether trials tentatively planned for late 2025 and early 2026.

What Steps Should I Take If I Was Diagnosed With Cancer After Using Chemical Hair Relaxers?

If you used hair relaxer products and received a cancer diagnosis within approximately 10 years of using them, you should consider discussing your options with us. We have law firm partners with personal injury lawyers handling these cases in all 50 states. We can help you get the representation you need to manage your case properly and efficiently.

How Can Our Team Help With Your Hair Relaxer Lawsuit?

The Goldwater Law Firm has spent more than two decades helping individuals and families get justice after companies have taken advantage of them, caused harm, and profited off dangerous or defective drugs and products. We have earned a strong reputation for results, making us one of the most widely recognized firms in the nation.

We are working with co-counsels in all 50 states to help clients who want to participate in the hair relaxer lawsuit. Our law firm’s strategic partners are among the most successful firms in the United States. They have the skills, experience, and resources to secure compensation for you if it becomes available in this mass tort.

Our co-counsels manage these cases based on contingency. You should not need to pay anything upfront for legal representation. You only pay if and when you receive compensation in your case.