Revlon has suffered a setback in its battle to dismiss cancer-related lawsuits connected to its hair relaxer products.
A judge recently ruled against the company’s motion to dismiss these cases, as the cosmetic giant faces mounting legal challenges linked to health risks associated with its hair relaxers.
As Revlon navigates the final stages of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, Judge Rowland of the U.S. District Court issued a significant decision in favor of plaintiffs, rejecting Revlon’s attempt to have cancer claims dismissed outright.
The ruling specifically addressed lawsuits filed before September 14, 2023, where plaintiffs did not have a confirmed cancer diagnosis at the time of filing.
These cases were dismissed without prejudice, allowing plaintiffs six months from their diagnosis date to refile. However, any non-cancer injury claims linked to hair relaxers were dismissed with prejudice.
This legal decision comes as the multidistrict litigation (MDL) related to hair relaxer lawsuits continues to expand. According to Miller & Zois, LLC, the firm actively tracking updates in these cases, the MDL now includes nearly 9,500 cases.
Over 1,000 new cases were added in just one month, marking the largest monthly surge in filings since the litigation began.
As more plaintiffs come forward with allegations linking their health issues—primarily uterine fibroids and various cancers—to the use of chemical hair relaxers, pressure is mounting on defendants as the case progresses.
Miller & Zois also reported a significant rise in uterine fibroid claims, with hundreds of new plaintiffs joining the lawsuits. Although these claims are expected to have less settlement value than cancer-related cases, the firm remains optimistic that these lawsuits will eventually lead to payouts for victims.
“We are committed to keeping victims informed and continue to aggressively pursue justice for those impacted by hair relaxer products,” said the law firm.
The lawsuits claim that prolonged use of certain hair relaxer products, including those produced by Revlon, has caused serious health problems, including various cancers and uterine issues.
As these lawsuits unfold, the focus remains on achieving fair compensation for those affected by the alleged harmful effects of these chemical treatments.
