Georgia Appeals Court Allows Hair Relaxer Lawsuit Against L’Oréal To Move Forward
MANHATTAN, NEW YORK (July 1, 2024) – A Georgia Appeals Court has ruled that a hair relaxer lawsuit against L’Oréal may move forward.
The lawsuit is brought by Kiara Burroughs, who claims that L’Oréal failed to warn the public about toxic chemicals in their products that can cause uterine fibroids.
Burroughs’ lawsuit claims that she used the chemical relaxers for nearly 10 years. She later developed uterine fibroids and filed a lawsuit after a study linked chemical hair straighteners to an increased risk of developing fibroids.
Defendants initially tried to get the lawsuit dismissed by claiming that it was filed past the statute of limitations. A trial court rejected the defendant’s motion to dismiss, and this ruling was upheld by the Appeals Court.
There are currently more than 8,100 hair relaxer lawsuits pending in Illinois.
Liability For Hair Relaxer Injuries
Chemical hair relaxer use is very common, particularly among black women. It is this group that has been disproportionately impacted by the illnesses associated with using hair relaxers. According to Boston University, “Compared to women who never or rarely used hair relaxers, those who reported using hair relaxers more than twice a year or for more than five years had a greater than 50% increased risk of uterine cancer.” There are a number of common symptoms associated with uterine cancer.
- Abnormal vaginal pain
- Pelvic pain
- Pain during intercourse
- Unusual vaginal discharge
- Unexplained weight loss
- Frequent urination
- Pain or a lump in the lower abdomen
Companies that manufacture hair products have a legal obligation to create products that are reasonably safe. They must follow all health and safety standards set forth by the Food and Drug Administration. When a company sells a product with design defects, they could be held liable if anyone is injured. They could also be liable for injuries if they failed to warn the public about the dangers associated with the use of their product. It is important that certain steps be taken after developing any illness associated with the use of chemical hair straighteners.
- Medical records related to the illness should be preserved.
- Evidence related to the use of the chemical straighteners should be collected.
- An experienced personal injury attorney should be contacted.
The companies that manufacture chemical hair straighteners have made billions of dollars by promoting certain standards of beauty. But it is quite clear that they have gotten away with selling unsafe products for a long time. That must come to an end. L’Oréal and other companies that sell chemical hair straighteners need to be held accountable for all of the people who have become ill from using these products.
Getting Legal Help After Using Chemical Hair Straighteners
We at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. extend our best wishes to all of the people who have become ill after using chemical hair straighteners. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what these companies know about the dangers of their products. It is our sincere hope that measures are taken to prevent other people from being harmed by these products.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured after using chemical hair straighteners? You may have legal recourse. Our team of personal injury attorneys is here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that people who are harmed by dangerous products get the support and justice that they are entitled to. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (516) 908-9792.
