Raleigh, NC: (919) 277-9299
Toxic Hair Relaxer
Bell Legal Group is holding manufacturers responsible for the harm caused by their products
Chemical hair relaxer products from well-known cosmetics brands have been discovered to contain harmful, endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Consistent exposure to these hazardous compounds can potentially lead to severe health problems, including:
If you have utilized chemical hair relaxer products and experienced the development of ovarian cancer, uterine cancer or endometrial cancer, we encourage you to reach out to our office without delay.
Schedule your case evaluation with us
Contact Bell Legal Group Today
Toxic Hair Relaxer Brands
Some of the common hair relaxer brands include:
Litigation Timeline
August 3, 2023
236 Cases total in the MDL
July 1, 2023
Motion filed by the Defendants
Motion filed by the Defendants
The Defendants attempt to delay by pushing for limits on discovery.
June 1, 2023
New Study
New Study
Researchers at Boston University School of Public Health have demonstrated a link between the usage of chemical hair straighteners and declines in fertility and highlights racial discrepancy indicating Black, Hispanic, and mixed-race people are more likely to use these products and potentially be exposed to their harmful chemicals. The findings were published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.
May 23, 2023
Master Complaint
Master Complaint
A Master Complaint was submitted to the Court. A Master Complaint is a consolidated document that outlines the common allegations raised in multiple individual lawsuits. Its primary purpose is to streamline the litigation.
April 21, 2023
Across the Pond Push to Ban Hair Relaxers
Across the Pond Push to Ban Hair Relaxers
Politicians and activist groups in the UK are calling for cosmetic companies to take all hair relaxer products off the shelves.
March 31, 2023
Direct Filing Order
Direct Filing Order
A new order from the MDL in Chicago in the chemical hair straightener class action lawsuit allows plaintiffs to file directly in the MDL instead of filing in their home state and waiting for the court to transfer the claim.
March 27, 2023
Revlon Bankruptcy
Revlon Bankruptcy
Revlon has not been pulled into the hair relaxer class action lawsuit as a defendant because Revlon Inc. filed bankruptcy shortly before the hair relaxer litigation got started. As a result, the automatic bankruptcy stay has protected Revlon from being sued.
March 11, 2023
First Status Conference
First Status Conference
Judge Mary Rowland held the first status conference with all parties in the new hair relaxer class action MDL.
February 6, 2023
MDL Location Confirmed!
MDL Location Confirmed!
All federal hair relaxer lawsuits will be housed in Illinois after the class action lawsuit was approved by the JPML (Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation).
February 5, 2023
EPA Announcement
EPA Announcement
The EPA announced it will list certain chemicals found in hair relaxer products to its list of harmful toxic chemicals.
January 27, 2023
Class Action Hearing Today
Class Action Hearing Today
The MDL (Multi District Litigation) hearing took place in Miami.
December 14, 2022
Defendants Oppose any Lawsuit
Defendants Oppose any Lawsuit
The Defendants oppose any consolidated MDL, arguing that a class action would “breed inefficiency” because the hair straightener lawsuits share little in common.
November 26, 2022
A Medical Monitoring Class
A Medical Monitoring Class
A second type of class action was filed requesting the Defendants pay for a medical monitoring program for women who may be at risk from the harms of chemical hair relaxers. It seeks regular medical exams or tests for potential health problems due to exposure to harmful substances.
November 18, 2022
Class Action Requested
Class Action Requested
A motion requesting consolidation of all the hair relaxer lawsuits into a new class action MDL was filed. The motion requests that the MDL be assigned to Judge Mary Rowland in the Northern District of Illinois (Chicago).
Frequently Asked Questions
If you used chemical hair relaxer products and developed ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, or endometrial cancer, please contact our office today.
All hair relaxer claims have been consolidated into an MDL (Multi District Litigation). An MDL aims to reduce the burden on the courts, make litigation more convenient and efficient, and speed up the process of handling complex lawsuits. The cases remain separate, but discovery, depositions, and decisions about common factual issues are addressed at the same time. The hair relaxer class action litigation has been assigned to Judge Mary Rowland in the Northern District of Illinois in Chicago. MDLs move all lawsuits into one court while Mass Torts consolidate all claims and plaintiffs into one lawsuit.
MDL and class action lawsuits are both used to group plaintiffs with similar claims against the same Defendants for efficiencies purposes. However, they do have differences.
- MDL cases exist only in federal court while class action lawsuits can be filed in either state or federal court.
- MDLs are often used for people who suffer from similar injuries, but the extent of those injuries differ from case to case. Whereas Class Actions are generally used when the members of the class have experienced the same losses.
- In a Class Action, a representative group goes through the judicial processes together. An MDL is made up of a bunch of individually filed consolidated cases.
The compensation you’re entitled to depends on the circumstances surrounding your case such as:
- The level of exposure to hair relaxers
- Long-term prognosis and seriousness of your illness
- The extent of pain and suffering
- If you experienced lost earning capacity caused by any disability that you suffered as a result of exposure
The two basic types of compensatory damages are usually medical bills and pain and suffering.
J. Edward Bell III
Founder and Senior Partner
Awards & Accolades
