Alameda County, CA – Singleton Schreiber has filed a significant lawsuit in the Superior Court of the State of California on behalf of Cynthia L. Jones a resident of North Highlands, California, against L’Oréal USA Inc. Soft Sheen-Carson LLC, and other major cosmetic companies and retailers. The lawsuit (the first to be filed in state court in California) alleges that the defendants’ chemical hair relaxer products have caused serious health issues, including hormone-related cancers and reproductive problems, such as the development of uterine fibroids. The lawsuit asserts that the defendants knowingly marketed and sold these products without adequate warnings about the potential health risks. Cynthia L. Jones, the plaintiff, has suffered severe physical and emotional injuries as a direct result of using these products.
Chemical hair relaxers, commonly referred to as “hair relaxers,” are lotions or creams that use chemicals to alter the structure of very tight curls or curly hair, leaving curls “relaxed”. Despite being widely used and marketed as safe, evidence has emerged linking these products to significant health risks. Despite knowing the risks, these cosmetic companies failed to disclose the dangers to consumers. Instead, they continued to manufacture, sell, promote, market, and distribute these products, prioritizing profit over consumer safety.
Ms. Jones began using the defendants’ products at the age of eleven and continued for over thirty years. During this time, she developed uterine fibroids, a condition that has caused her immense pain and suffering. In 2011, at the age of thirty-two, Jones was forced to undergo a total abdominal hysterectomy due to the severity of her condition. This life-altering procedure led to early menopause and had a profound impact on her personal life, including the inability to have more children. Her diagnosis and subsequent health issues were directly linked to her prolonged use of the defendants’ hair relaxer products, which contained harmful chemicals such as phthalates, bisphenol A, parabens, and others known to disrupt the endocrine system.
Danielle Ward Mason, partner at Singleton Schreiber LLP, stated, “This case highlights a serious public health issue that has disproportionately affected Black and Brown women. The defendants have shown a blatant disregard for the safety of their consumers by failing to disclose the known risks of their products. We are committed to seeking justice for Cynthia and holding these companies accountable for their actions.”
This lawsuit aims to shed light on the dangers posed by chemical hair relaxers to advocate for stricter regulations and transparency in the cosmetic industry and seeks monetary damages for Ms. Jones for losses including medical care and loss earnings. By bringing this case forward,
Singleton Schreiber LLP hopes to prevent further harm and ensure that consumers are adequately informed about the products they use. Singleton Schreiber is a client-centered law firm, specializing in mass torts/multi-district litigation, fire litigation, personal injury/wrongful death, civil rights, and environmental law. Over the last decade, the firm has recovered more than $2.5 billion for clients who have been harmed and sought justice.
