SEATTLE, Feb. 5, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Attorney Advertising. Keller Rohrback L.L.P. (www.krclassaction.com) announces that the Honorable Dennis M. Cavanaugh has ruled that Plaintiffs in Vercellono v. Gerber Prods. Co., No. 09-02350 and Levinson v. Johnson & Johnson Consumer Cos., Inc., No. 09-03317, may proceed with their class action claims against Defendants Johnson & Johnson and Wal-Mart for selling children's shampoo and baby wash contaminated with methylene chloride, a banned ingredient in cosmetics that is linked to increased cancer risk.
Judge Cavanaugh 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. 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. § 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 are pending in the District of New Jersey regarding similar allegations: 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. If you purchased Johnson's® Baby Shampoo, Wal-Mart's Equate Tearless Baby Wash, or Target Night-Time Bath and Body Wash and you wish to learn more about our investigation or the pending litigation, please contact paralegal Natalie Stephenson or attorneys Gretchen Cappio or Laura Gerber 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.
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