Hair Relaxer Cancer Suits to Proceed in Chicago Courtroom

L’Oreal USA Inc. and others will face a combined proceeding in Chicago by women who link their cancers to hair relaxer products, the US Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation said Monday.

Plaintiffs say the products, marketed mainly to Black women, contain chemicals such as phthalates. These substances disrupt the endocrine system, causing breast and uterine cancers, uterine fibroids, and other harm, plaintiffs say.

• Combining the suits into a single proceeding will make the litigation fairer and more efficient, the panel said
• A unified proceeding will prevent inconsistent rulings on early issues such as what level of exposure to phthalates or ...