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Chemical Hair Straightener Lawsuit

If you have used chemical hair straighteners for years and subsequently developed cancer, Cutter Law P.C.’s top product liability lawyers can pursue a hair straightener lawsuit and fight for the fair compensation you deserve.

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Key Takeaways
  • The first hair straightener lawsuits against cosmetics companies were filed in October 2022.
  • Lawsuits continue as more women come forward claiming harm.
  • Chemical hair straighteners cause uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, breast cancer, endometriosis, and uterine fibroids.
  • You may qualify for compensation if you used hair straighteners and developed these cancers.
  • The products have largely been used by and marketed to Black women, putting them at higher risk.
  • Contact Cutter Law P.C. for a free case evaluation.

Women nationwide have filed hair straightener lawsuits alleging they have suffered serious illnesses, including uterine cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, endometriosis, and uterine fibroids, from using brands such as DAX, L’Oreal, Revlon, and Organic Root Stimulator. These claims have been consolidated into a multidistrict litigation, or MDL.

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Why Are People Filing Hair Straightener Lawsuits?

Women across America have filed lawsuits against major hair straightening and relaxing product manufacturers. These lawsuits allege that chemicals in popular brands such as DAX, Organic Root Stimulator, African Pride, and SoftSheen Carson cause serious illnesses in women, including uterine, ovarian, and breast cancer. 

The first hair straightener lawsuits were filed in October 2022 in California and Illinois by women who developed cancer after chronic use of chemical hair straighteners and relaxers. After a bombshell study revealed greater cancer risk, more lawsuits quickly followed. 

Thousands of cases against hair straightener manufacturers have been filed across the county. The plaintiffs claim the manufacturers knowingly sold dangerous products that put profits over consumer safety.

In February 2023, the United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation consolidated all hair relaxer product liability cases into a new multidistrict litigation, or MDL, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Over 8,000 cases are pending in the multidistrict litigation.

An MDL provides a more efficient process for litigating a large number of related lawsuits. A single federal judge manages all the cases, and the parties share discovery. A few test cases will go to trial in what are known as bellwether trials. The outcome of the bellwether trials will help determine whether the remaining cases will settle and for how much. The first bellwether trial in the hair straightener litigation is scheduled for November 2025. 

If you or a loved one developed cancer after long-time use of hair straightening chemicals, contact our firm to discuss your legal options. The experienced California injury lawyers at Cutter Law, P.C. offer free consultations for chemical hair straightener lawsuits.

Do I Qualify to File a Hair Straightener Lawsuit?

You may qualify for compensation if you meet the following eligibility criteria:

  • Used chemical hair straighteners or relaxers for many years
  • Subsequently diagnosed with uterine cancer, ovarian cancer, breast cancer, endometriosis, or uterine fibroids
  • Suffered complications and incurred treatment costs from diagnosis   

Our legal team can thoroughly evaluate your case details during a free consultation. To build your case, we will investigate and gather your medical records, product receipts, and other documentation. 

Cutter Law P.C. handles all legal work on a contingency fee basis. You pay nothing upfront or out of pocket. We only collect a few if we succeed in recovering compensation for you. 

Contact us to schedule your free case review. Our experienced product liability lawyers will determine if you qualify for a potential payout in the hair straightener litigation.

How Much Time Do I Have to File a Lawsuit?

Every state has statutes of limitations dictating filing deadlines for lawsuits. In California, the statute of limitations imposes the following deadlines:

More information about the link between hair straighteners and cancer is still coming to light. Many states have the so-called discovery rule, which pauses the filing deadline until you learn or should learn of the product’s link to your injury.

Determining the deadline for filing your claim can be complex. Meet with Cutter Law P.C. as soon as possible to avoid missing California’s deadline. Our lawyers act fast to secure the compensation you deserve. 

What Are the Steps to File a Claim?

You’ll need to file a legal action to pursue compensation. This involves a complicated and highly technical process. You’ll need guidance and representation from a skilled and knowledgeable product liability attorney to navigate the legal landscape. 

The experienced attorneys at Cutter Law P.C. will do the following:  

  • Conduct an intake interview to understand your case’s details
  • Investigate your claim to determine the products involved and identify the responsible parties
  • Gather medical records, receipts, and statements to prove damages 
  • Properly value your losses 
  • Conduct negotiations with manufacturers for settlement
  • Take your lawsuit to trial if the manufacturers refuse your fair offers

We will handle all aspects of your claim while you focus on health and family. Cutter Law’s attorneys have tried and true strategies to resolve cases like yours successfully.

Schedule a free case evaluation so we can start building your claim today. The sooner we get involved, the more compensation we can seek for your injuries and losses.

What Compensation Can I Receive in the Hair Straightener Lawsuit?

If your hair relaxer lawsuit succeeds, you can receive compensation for your economic and non-economic damages. 

Economic damages

  • Medical expenses: bills from hospitalization, doctor visits, medications, medical devices 
  • Lost income: wages lost from missing work for treatment  
  • Future care costs: ongoing appointments, prescriptions  

Non-economic Damages

  • Pain and suffering: physical and mental anguish 
  • Loss of enjoyment: reduced quality of life after diagnosis
  • Loss of consortium: impact on marital relations
  • Wrongful death: losses from patient death   

Economic damages allow the injured party to regain their financial position before the accident. Meanwhile, non-economic damages generally compensate for the harder-to-quantify life impacts. Unlike some other states, California does not impose limits on non-economic damages. 

The amount you’re awarded will depend on various factors, including long-term effects and the strength of evidence. Settlement amounts vary case by case based on factors such as age and severity of diagnosis. Cutter Law P.C. will seek maximum compensation to cover all your damages.

Which Factors Can Impact the Settlement Amount?

Many elements determine potential recovery values, including the following:

  • Patient age: Younger plaintiffs may recover higher amounts.
  • Type of cancer: Advanced diagnoses warrant higher compensation.
  • The extensiveness of treatment: More procedures and care mean higher bills.
  • Brands used: There may be different damages related to specific products.

Our lawyers will thoroughly investigate all the details of your case to secure payouts covering all losses. We have recovered over $100 million for our clients to date. 

Why Should I Choose Cutter Law To File a Lawsuit?

With extensive experience in California courts, Cutter Law P.C. has obtained exceptional results for injured clients. Here are some key reasons to choose us to represent you:

  • We have 130+ years of combined legal experience. 
  • We have handled countless product liability cases.  
  • We have secured hundreds of millions for injured clients.   
  • We provide no-cost case evaluations. 
  • We don’t charge any fees unless we win damages for you. 

Let our accomplished attorneys fight for your right to compensation in your hair straightener cancer lawsuit. Schedule your free, no-obligation case review today.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some answers to questions our clients frequently ask:

What Cancers Are Caused by Chemical Hair Straighteners?

Research links long-term use of hair straightening chemicals to an increased risk of the following:

  • Uterine cancer 
  • Ovarian cancer
  • Breast cancer   
  • Endometriosis
  • Uterine fibroids

According to scientists, hair relaxers and straighteners contain hormone-disrupting compounds linked to these conditions.

Which Brands Are Named in the Lawsuits?

Major manufacturers facing hair relaxer lawsuits for dangerous hair straighteners and relaxers include:

  • DAX
  • Organic Root Stimulator
  • African Pride 
  • SoftSheen Carson
  • Strength of Nature
  • L’Oreal
  • Revlon

Hundreds of brands contain similar harmful ingredients. 

Why Are Black Women at More Risk?

Black women face a higher cancer risk from hair straighteners due to frequent and prolonged use. Due to the cultural practices promoting hair straightening, Black women use hair relaxers and chemical straightening products more often, beginning at a younger age than other races and ethnicities. 

Chemical hair straightening products contain alarmingly high amounts of endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Our bodies absorb chemicals through the scalp, skin, and hair follicles. Repeated exposure over many years can accumulate internal damage, eventually leading to illnesses such as cancer.  

Have More Questions? Contact Our Product Liability Lawyers Today

You deserve fair compensation if a chemical hair straightening product has harmed you or a loved one. If you have any other questions about hair straightener lawsuits or want to file a compensation claim, Cutter Law P.C. is here to help. 

Work with a dedicated chemical hair straightener lawyer to protect your rights, and join the thousands of victims who have already filed suit over these dangerous products. 

Call or contact us online for your free consultation today. Let our experience work for you.

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Cutter Law is the one to call for sound legal advise and the firm to rely upon for solid support.
There's this thing about lawyers ... they often forget the first word in their title, Counselor at Law. Well, Margo Cutter practices the full spectrum of her profession. Though she has not represented me in litigation, I have benefited from her kind support and sound counsel regarding a traumatic injury I sustained due the negligence of others and the subsequent unbearable pursuit for justice. Thank you, Margo.
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Phone: 916-290-9400

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Cutter Law P.C.
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