Commonly Used Hair Relaxer Under Fire for Causing Cancer
- Author: William Asher
- Posted: 2024-09-17
Several hair relaxer products used commonly by African American women for hair care are under fire after two studies by the National Institutes of Health found that they can cause cancer in those who use them.
What Are Hair Relaxers?
Hair relaxers are products used to help straighten hair and keep it moisturized. These are often in the form of creams. They attack the protein structure of hair, forcing it to bend down and be more easily shaped.
Hair relaxers contain particles known as "phthalates." These "plasticize" hair. They are also endocrine-disrupting chemicals. These products are found in salons, grocery stores, gas stations, and other venues.
What Types of Cancer Can These Products Cause?
Unfortunately, there are a few different medical maladies that these products have recently been shown to help cause.
Uterine cancer is a huge issue caused by hair relaxing products. Cancer of the uterus is the fourth most diagnosed type of cancer found in females. Black women already face more than double the rate of white women in developing uterine cancer. This malady is the most-caused one by these products.
Endometrial cancer is the second most caused medical issue of these products. Uterine fibroids and breast cancer have also been linked to these products.
Do I Need to Have a Cancer Diagnosis for This Lawsuit?
Unfortunately, the criteria for this class action suit include having both bought a hair relaxer product (and to have used it) and also to have developed one of the medical issues listed above before the age of 70. You must have medical documentation that supports a diagnosis as one of those to qualify.
The office of the lawyers who are functioning for the plaintiffs in this lawsuit says that participants must have utilized the products for five or more years consecutively to qualify, as well.
What Is the Settlement Amount Per Person?
Class action lawsuits require there to be a set amount that each person gets. Of course, in practice, attorneys' fees are deducted first, which lessens the money pot by a bit.
In this case in particular, there is no set amount per person. This is because everything is still up for negotiation in a court of law. While pre-registration will be necessary to ensure you get the compensation you deserve, the amount has not yet been decided. When it is decided, it will be shared publicly by the offices of the lawyers representing the class in this suit.
The amount could be in the range of between a dollar and thousands per person. Unfortunately, class action lawsuits that have size increases in their classes have payout decreases, as there is typically a flat amount of settlement money put out. This then gets divided by the number of people in the class who is suing.
How Do I Get in Touch with the Lawyers for this Class Action Lawsuit?
Remember, in order to join the class in this class action lawsuit, you must be a person who used these products for five or more years, developed one of the medical issues we listed as a result of using it, and have medical documentation backing up that the diagnosis happened before you turned 70.
If you meet all the criteria, there is nothing to lose by applying to be in the class being represented. Remember, you do not have to pay the lawyers a cent to do their job. The lawsuit is already in motion, and the plaintiffs have picked their lawyers of choice for representation in federal district court.
Miller & Zois is currently representing the class in this lawsuit. The firm has experience representing class action lawsuit-holders in similar cases, as well. Here is the link to go to their website online and get started with a case evaluation.
What If I Don't Qualify?
Do you not qualify for this specific class action lawsuit? Fortunately, there are constantly class action suits being made for all facets of society, all the way from hair products to grocery products to electronics. If it exists, chances are that there has been a class action lawsuit for it! Don't give up hope, and remember to keep checking back to see the hottest new class action lawsuits.
