SEATTLE, Feb. 9, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Attorney Advertising. Keller Rohrback L.L.P. (www.krclassaction.com) announces that the Court has ruled that Plaintiffs in Vercellono v. Gerber Prods. Co., No. 09-02350 (D.N.J.) and Levinson v. Johnson and Johnson Consumer Cos., Inc., No. 09-03317 (D.N.J.), may proceed with their class action claims against Defendants Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE:WMT) for selling children's shampoo and baby wash that contains methylene chloride, a banned ingredient in cosmetics that is linked to increased cancer risk.
The Court held that Plaintiffs in both putative class actions stated viable claims under Missouri and Nevada law against Defendants for violations of state consumer protection acts and breaches of implied warranties. In the complaints that are pending in the U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey, Plaintiffs allege that, despite Defendants' representations that Johnson's® Baby Shampoo and Wal-Mart's Equate Tearless Baby Wash are "as gentle to the eyes as pure water" and "extra mild" for babies, these products are actually contaminated with methylene chloride. Methylene chloride is one of only 11 chemicals that the Food and Drug Administration has banned as an ingredient in cosmetics, out of more than 12,500 ingredients currently used. See 21 C.F.R. Section 700.19 (1989). Plaintiffs further allege that methylene chloride can be removed through a simple and cost-effective process of vacuum-stripping.
Two additional cases regarding similar allegations are also are pending in U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey: Crouch v. Johnson & Johnson Consumer Cos., Inc., No. 09-02905 and Boyd v. Johnson & Johnson Consumer Cos., Inc., No. 09-03135.
Keller Rohrback is continuing its investigation regarding certain children's personal care products that may contain methylene chloride including:
- Johnson's® Baby Shampoo;
- Equate Tearless Baby Wash; and
- Target Night-time Bath and Body Wash.
Independent testing revealed that these products may be contaminated with methylene chloride. According to Keller Rohrback Attorney Lynn Sarko, "The last place this dangerous chemical should be is in products intended for babies."
If you purchased one of these products and you wish to learn more about our investigation or the pending litigations, please contact paralegal Natalie Stephenson or attorneys Gretchen Cappio, Laura Gerber, or Lynn Sarko at 800.776.6044 or 206.623.1900 or via email at consumer@kellerrohrback.com.
Keller Rohrback, with offices in Seattle, Phoenix, and New York, has successfully pursued claims against product manufacturers and distributors, pharmaceutical companies, and medical device makers on behalf of our injured clients. We have achieved multi-million dollar settlements on behalf of nationwide classes of consumers.
Attorney Advertising. Prior Results Do Not Guarantee A Similar Outcome.