A Chicago family has been awarded $24.4 million in a lawsuit against Avon Products, Inc. The jury found that the company's talc products, contaminated with asbestos, caused the mesothelioma diagnosis of Cipriano Ramirez, a former janitor at Avon's Illinois manufacturing facility.
Ramirez worked at the Morton Grove plant in the 1980s and was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma in 2023. His lawyers argued that Avon was aware of the asbestos contamination in its talc products but failed to warn consumers about the potential health risks.
Jennifer Alesio, lead trial attorney for the Ramirez family, stated: âAfter careful review of the facts, the jury rejected Avonâs attempts to discredit Mr. Ramirez and found them responsible for his cancer. While no amount of money can restore Mr. Ramirez's health, we are proud that the jury held Avon accountable.â
James Kramer, another attorney for the family, added: âMr. Ramirez dedicated his life to working hard for his family. He should be enjoying retirement, but instead, heâs fighting a preventable cancer.â
This is not the first time Avon has faced a hefty verdict related to asbestos in its products. In 2022, Rita-Ann Chapman was awarded $52.1 million after being diagnosed with mesothelioma. Chapman claimed she had used Avon's talc-based cosmetics throughout her life.
Court documents show Avon faced nearly 200 asbestos-related lawsuits in 2021. Despite continuing to claim its talc-based products are safe, documents indicate the company was aware of the potential contamination. While Avon stopped using talc in its products in 2020, the company has been accused of deliberately concealing the dangers of asbestos in its talc.
Chapman's lawsuit also named Hyster Company, a forklift manufacturer, as a defendant. Her husband, Gary, had worked at Hyster and handled asbestos materials, potentially exposing Chapman to secondary asbestos exposure through his work clothes.
The recent verdict against Avon adds to a growing body of evidence highlighting the dangers of asbestos-contaminated talc products. These lawsuits underscore the importance of holding companies responsible for protecting consumers from harmful products.