December 2, 2024 – 161 New Cases Added to MDL in November
Following a significant surge of over 1,000 new cases in October, the hair relaxer multidistrict litigation (MDL) saw a notable slowdown in November, with only 161 new filings—an 85% decrease. The current total of cases in the MDL now stands at 9,649. While the volume of filings within the MDL has decreased, there has been an increase in the number of hair relaxer lawsuits being pursued in state courts.
Additionally, all lawsuits related to fibroids and hysterectomies, which are often associated with the use of hair relaxers, are now being handled outside of the MDL, as plaintiffs continue to seek justice in individual proceedings.
November 22, 2024 – Listen in to the Status Conference
The next status conference for the hair relaxer MDL is scheduled for December 12, 2024, at 9:30 a.m. The magistrate judge emphasized public accessibility, allowing both the public and media to join the hearing via phone. Interested listeners can dial 650-479-3207 and use access code 2308 182 1801 to listen in.
However, the judge reminded attendees that photographing, recording, or rebroadcasting court proceedings is strictly prohibited. Violating these rules could lead to sanctions, including restricted access to future hearings.
October 1, 2024: MDL Sheds 98 Cases
In August, the chemical hair relaxer class action MDL saw the addition of 200 new cases. However, September brought a decline, with 98 cases being removed from the MDL, reducing the total number of pending cases to 8,393. This adjustment reflects the ongoing fluctuations in case filings and the legal process surrounding the hair relaxer litigation.
September 30, 2024: New Hair Relaxer Lawsuit
A new lawsuit has been filed in the MDL by an Indianapolis woman against several hair relaxer manufacturers, including L’Oréal, SoftSheen-Carson, and Strength of Nature. The plaintiff alleges that using the defendants’ products, such as Dark and Lovely, Optimum Salon Haircare, and Africa’s Best, from the early 1970s to 2018, led to her developing endometrial cancer in 2021.
The complaint claims the products contained harmful chemicals that increased her cancer risk and includes causes of action for negligence, strict liability, failure to warn, breach of warranties, and consumer protection violations. The plaintiff is seeking compensatory and punitive damages and a jury trial.