Colgate Palmolive Is Ordered To Pay $13 Million To Mesothelioma Victim

Oral care goods producer to pay Santa Barbara resident, after it was found to be “95% responsible” for a disease.

Colgate Palmolive (NYSE:CL) was found to be 95% responsible for Santa Barbara resident, Judith Winkel’s mesothelioma cancer, and has been ordered by the Los Angeles Superior Court to pay $13 million, including more than $1.5 for her husband, John Winkel, damaged to cover for the damages to the couple’s (more so to Judith) for past medical bills, economic loses, pain, etc.

The company’s Cashmere Bouquet talcum powder was found the reason why Mrs. Winkel was exposed to the side effects of cancer when she was contracted with asbestos. Talcum powder is the most softest minerals that is widely used in beauty products, medicines, and is sometime used as a food additive too. Factory workers in the past were paid settlements for the contraction of asbestos-related sickness if they have encountered one.

Before the discovery of the source of asbestos, Mrs. Winkel said that neither she, nor her family, could recall her working in any shipyard, which leads them to the possibility that the only source could be the Cashmere Bouquet type of talcum powder that she had used from about 1961 to the mid-1970s.

Tests were then performed on other talcum powders, using samples ranging from the ones that existed 50 years ago to the ones that are available to retailers for the last few years. All 50 of the tested samples came out positive.

In a statement issued on behalf of the Winkel family, the attorney representing them stated that this should serve as an example as to what the company should have been honest about 50 years ago, when it sold those products that were risked with potential diseases.

After several hours of deliberations, it was concluded that Colgate Palmolive Company was negligent in its design, manufacturing, and sales of the Cashmere Bouquet, and failed to point out the dangers of the product.

Colgate was disappointed by the outcome, pointing out the facts, evidence presented at the trial does not bear any involvement of Colgate in causing illness, and that there was no clear proof connecting the disease to their product.

Despite that, a confidential agreement was agreed upon between Winkle and Colgate Palmolive. However, that is not the end of the story for oral care producer, as it has to deal with similar other law suitcases pending against it in relation to the Cashmere Bouquet.

Colgate stock price ended the day flat at $68.89 from the previous day.