A lawsuit has been filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois that accuses several major cosmetic companies of negligence and product liability related to hair relaxer products. The complaint, submitted by Aurora Berglund on November 26, 2024, targets Godrej SON Holdings, Inc., L’Oréal USA, Inc., L’Oréal USA Products, Inc., SoftSheen-Carson LLC, and Strength of Nature, LLC.
Aurora Berglund's case is part of a larger multidistrict litigation (MDL No. 3060) concerning the marketing and sale practices of hair relaxers. Filed as a short-form complaint under Civil Action No. 1:24-cv-12236, it references a Master Long Form Complaint from May 15, 2023. Berglund claims that she began using hair relaxer products in 1996 and continued until 2022. She asserts that these products caused her serious health issues, including uterine cancer diagnosed on December 23, 2022.
The lawsuit outlines multiple causes of action against the defendants. These include negligence and gross negligence for failing to ensure product safety; negligent misrepresentation for allegedly misleading consumers about product risks; strict liability claims for design defects and failure to warn users about potential dangers; breach of implied and express warranties under state law and the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act; fraudulent misrepresentation and concealment; violation of consumer protection laws; unjust enrichment; wrongful death; survival action; loss of consortium; and punitive damages.
Berglund seeks compensatory damages for her injuries as well as punitive damages to penalize the defendants for their alleged misconduct. She demands a jury trial to resolve these claims.
Representing Berglund are attorneys from Ashcraft & Gerel LLP: Patrick K. Lyons, Michelle A. Parfitt, and James F. Green. The case is presided over by Honorable Mary M. Rowland under Case ID 1:24-cv-12236.