Hair Relaxer Settlement

As of July 2024, over 9,000 lawsuits have been filed against hair relaxer manufacturers. These cases are currently being litigated and have not yet gone to trial, been settled or otherwise resolved at this time.

These lawsuits are taking a position against key manufacturers of chemical hair relaxers like:

Plaintiffs allege they were injured by products like Just for Me, Dark and Lovely, and ORS Olive Oil hair relaxers. They also allege the defendants used misleading labeling and marketing. Whether they called their ingredients “safe,” “natural” or “nourishing,” they all failed to disclose the serious health risks posed to consumers.

These lawsuits are brought on behalf of women who have developed ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer and uterine cancer after frequent use of hair relaxer products. The majority of cases against hair relaxer manufacturers will be handled in federal multidistrict litigation (MDL). In MDLs, the court will oversee many cases at once, and decide on issues common to all cases, but will determine individual decisions for each plaintiff.

These cases claim frequent use of chemical hair relaxers led to an increased risk of developing ovarian cancer, endometrial cancer and uterine cancer. Some plaintiffs experiencing these reproductive cancers have been left infertile. The lawsuits allege that women developed these conditions from unsafe chemical hair straightening products.

Lawsuits also allege that manufacturers intentionally targeted children, setting them up for a lifetime of exposure. As a result, they faced an increased their risk of developing ovarian cancer, uterine cancer or endometrial cancer. 

Every case is unique. In general, you may have a claim if you or a loved one:

• Used chemical hair relaxer products in the past
• Used hair relaxer products with frequency
• Developed ovarian cancer, uterine cancer or endometrial cancer after frequent use of chemical hair straighteners 

These products contain carcinogenic (cancer-causing) and endocrine disrupting chemicals. That means they may pose a risk to your health if you were frequently exposed to them.

Most of the plaintiffs suing hair relaxer manufacturers are Black women who have used these products for years. They allege that as a result of frequent use, they developed reproductive cancers. 

You may also be able to file a claim on behalf of a loved one who has passed from health issues caused by these products. Settlements can be part of the litigation process. At this time the federal MDL is in the Discovery phase of litigation and there are no settlement offers to plaintiffs. Speak with a hair relaxer attorney to learn more about case criteria, eligibility and how you might proceed if you or a loved one have a diagnosis and meet the MDL requirements.

What determines hair relaxer lawsuit payout amounts?

MDLs allow courts to hear the common facts of many cases at once. If cases are successfully decided in an individual jury verdict, each plaintiff’s award is determined separately. This means plaintiffs may receive payouts in different amounts even if their injuries are similar. The recovery for those harmed is based on their individual situation although the legal matter may be heard as a consolidated matter in multidistrict litigation.

To determine how much to award each plaintiff, the judge or jury may consider several factors. These factors could include the severity of the illness, how much that illness impacts a person’s life and the cost of medical care needed to treat or manage medical conditions.

Medical costs to treat different illnesses can vary. Individuals with higher expected costs over a lifetime may get higher jury verdict amounts or settlement offer amounts than individuals with lower costs.

The cost of medical care can also vary widely depending on more factors:

• Your insurance
• Your location
• The types of treatments you receive

The average price of treatments for women diagnosed with ovarian cancer can amount to $100,000 in the first year after ovarian surgery alone.

Ongoing treatment and care can add thousands of dollars more. The exact cost will depend on the particular cancer an individual is treating and the symptoms they are managing.

Judges and juries take these costs into account when determining award amounts. A settlement offer, which is not determined by a jury but instead negotiated between defendant and plaintiff attorneys, may also take similar factors into consideration.

Individuals who have filed claims against chemical hair straightening product manufacturers have developed one of the following health problems:

• Ovarian cancer
• Uterine cancer
• Endometrial cancer

Hair relaxer cases allege that endocrine-disrupting chemicals in the relaxer products led to the development of cancer in individuals who frequently used them.

These conditions can be diagnosed and treated by a doctor. If you are suffering health problems, schedule an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible. They can assess your condition and see if you have cancer or another health concern.

If you or a loved one used hair relaxers frequently and have not yet developed cancer, you should at least let your doctor know about your specific usage. They may be able to set up regular screenings to catch cancers early.

Endometrial cancer

According to the American Cancer Society, endometrial cancer develops in the uterus. It is the most common type of uterine cancer. Individuals suffering from endometrial cancer may experience symptoms such as the following:

• A physical mass in the uterine area
• Feelings of fullness
• Pelvic pain
• Unexplained weight loss
• Unusual bleeding outside of regular menstrual cycles

Ovarian cancer

Ovarian cancer develops in the ovaries. The cancer can grow and spread to the uterus and other surrounding tissues. Some symptoms women experience include:

• Bloating or swelling in the stomach and abdomen
• Changes in bowel movements
• Fatigue
• Feelings of fullness
• Frequent urination
• New or worsening back pain
• Pain in the pelvic area
• Unexplained weight loss

Uterine sarcoma

Uterine sarcoma is a severe type of uterine cancer that forms inside the uterus. This cancer may have the following side effects:

• Feelings of fullness
• Frequent urination
• Irregular periods
• Pain in the pelvic area
• Pressure in the pelvic area
• Unusual bleeding

Has anyone received a settlement from the hair relaxer lawsuit?

As of June 2024, no hair relaxer cases in this litigation have gone to trial and no settlements have been reached. New cases are still joining the MDL every day. Once the cases go to trial, verdicts and settlements are possible outcomes.

The exact timeline for these cases to be resolved has not been determined. The case is still in the Discovery Phase of litigation. As of today, no plaintiff settlements have been negotiated.

Motley Rice’s hair relaxer lawsuit attorneys are still evaluating potential cases and the links between using chemical hair relaxers and the increased risk of developing endometrial, ovarian and uterine cancers.

Will there be a hair relaxer lawsuit settlement?

Compensation isn’t guaranteed despite the specifics of a case, and some verdicts and settlements could take significantly longer than others. There is no settlement in the federal hair relaxer multidistrict litigation at this time.

If you or a loved one has developed negative health conditions after continued use of a chemical hair relaxer from companies like L’Oréal or Revlon, speak with a Motley Rice hair relaxer attorney as soon as possible. They can explain how a lawsuit may be handled.

What is the average settlement for a hair relaxer lawsuit?

No settlements or verdicts have been reached in these cases at this time. The average settlement for a hair relaxer lawsuit has not been determined. The cases could go to trial and go to verdict vs. settlement. Lawsuit payouts typically depend on the types of injuries and similar factors. Right now, it is too early in the process to speculate how much plaintiffs may receive for their injuries.

The exact amount of a potential hair relaxer lawsuit settlement depends on the circumstances of a plaintiff’s case and the severity of their injuries. Be cautious of anyone who promises a certain award, as settlement amounts and jury verdict award amounts can’t be guaranteed. Even after both parties agree to a settlement amount or a jury reaches an award amount, a judge has to approve the final amount.

For decades Motley Rice attorneys have helped individuals and families struggling with health conditions related to defective products and toxic ingredients. Our attorneys are committed to holding manufacturers and companies accountable for their actions.

Attorneys in our law firm have experience litigating cases against manufacturers whose products have harmed women through the use of dangerous or toxic ingredients and misleading labeling and marketing.

We’ve represented women who:

• Used talc-based baby powder products and developed ovarian cancer after repeat use
• Experienced severe complications after using intrauterine devices (IUDs) and other permanent or semi-permanent birth control devices like Paragard, Essure, NuvaRing and Mirena.
• Developed breast cancer relating to defects in breast implants manufactured by Allergan.

Our attorneys understand that dealing with severe health complications can be life-altering and difficult. They’ll help you weigh your legal options.

Read more on our toxic exposure litigation experience.