MDL Track
MDL 3060
N.D. Ill.
Hair relaxer marketing, sales practices, and products liability
11,440 pending
Pharmaceutical · claims linking chemical hair relaxers to reproductive cancers and endocrine disruption
Defendant
L'Oréal USA, Inc.
MDL / Track
MDL 3060
N.D. Ill.
Judge
Judge Mary M. Rowland
Plaintiffs
~11,695 pending (11,440 per JPML's March 2, 2026 report, plus ~255 new filings tracked since)
Bellwether / Trial
No verdicts yet
Settlement Status
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Case overview
MDL 3060, In re: Hair Relaxer Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation, has grown to 11,877 pending cases before Judge Mary M. Rowland in the Northern District of Illinois as of July 1, 2026. Daubert briefing on general causation expert admissibility runs through late 2026, with the first bellwether trial scheduled for late 2026 and a second approximately three months later. Judge Rowland held Science Day on January 8, 2026, and personally selected bellwether cases after rejecting party-driven selection.
Causation Theory
The October 2022 NIH Sister Study, published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute by Chang et al., followed 33,497 women for a mean 10.9 years and found women using chemical hair straighteners more than four times annually had a hazard ratio of approximately 2.55 for uterine cancer. Plaintiffs' theory posits chronic scalp absorption and inhalation of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in relaxer formulations—including phthalates, parabens, formaldehyde and formaldehyde-releasing agents, and bisphenol A—produce cumulative body burden that disrupts hormone function and drives hormone-sensitive cancers. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies formaldehyde as a known human carcinogen.
Case Management Orders
Litigation status
MDL 3060 is in final pretrial posture before bellwether trials. Judge Mary M. Rowland in the Northern District of Illinois assumed direct control of bellwether selection in April 2026, naming 10 cases from a 32-case discovery pool. Case-specific Daubert and summary judgment motions are due November 16, 2026, with initial trials anticipated in 2027. A Special Master continues facilitating settlement discussions.
MDL Track
MDL 3060
N.D. Ill.
Hair relaxer marketing, sales practices, and products liability
11,440 pending
State Court Activity
Parallel state litigation active; Arizona filed suit against L'Oréal in September 2026; Philadelphia mass tort docket ongoing with discovery disputes including appeal of executive deposition order
MDL 3060 Leadership
Plaintiff Leadership
Co-Lead Counsel
Liaison Counsel
Executive Committee Member
Steering Committee Member
Geographic exposure
NIH Sister Study (October 2022): 33,497 women followed 10.9 years; women using chemical hair straighteners >4 times/year had 2.55x uterine cancer risk. Black women: 60% of study participants using straighteners; 60-80% lifetime use prevalence. Postmenopausal Black women with frequent/long-term use: >50% increased uterine cancer risk. Affected population: millions of regular users; statute of limitations governed by discovery rule from October 2022 study publication.
In re: Hair Relaxer Marketing Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation, MDL 3060, U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois before Judge Mary M. Rowland. 11,526 pending cases as of May 1, 2026. Defendants: L'Oréal USA, Revlon, SoftSheen-Carson, Strength of Nature, Namaste Laboratories. Claims: uterine, ovarian, endometrial cancer; uterine fibroids requiring hysterectomy. Bellwether selection: 32 cases (16 plaintiff-selected, 16 defendant-selected) as of May 9, 2025. Expert discovery concludes October 2026; first bellwether trials projected late 2026/early 2027.
Judge Rowland dismissed L'Oréal S.A. (French parent) June 2025 for lack of personal jurisdiction; mere patent ownership and licensor-licensee relationship insufficient. Walgreens Co. dismissed June 20, 2025; plaintiff failed to identify specific products purchased beyond single 2010 transaction. Litigation proceeds against U.S. manufacturers and distributors only.
Original state court venue for class action and individual suits consolidated into MDL 3060. No active state court proceedings remain for these claims.
Original state court venue for class action suits removed to MDL 3060. No active state court proceedings remain for these claims.
Original state court venue for class action suits removed to MDL 3060. No active state court proceedings remain for these claims.
Original state court venue for class action suits removed to MDL 3060. No active state court proceedings remain for these claims.
Original state court venue for class action suits removed to MDL 3060. Allegations included racial discrimination in marketing to Black and Brown girls and women. No active state court proceedings remain for these claims.
Occupational exposure claim: hairdresser Louisa Curtis represented by Slater and Gordon, alleging long-term formaldehyde exposure from keratin smoothing treatments (2008-2026). Acute respiratory injury March 2026. No U.S. MDL established for occupational salon worker claims; U.S. exposure studies (CDC, OSHA) document airborne formaldehyde in salon settings during keratin treatments.
Key defendants
L'Oréal USA, Inc.
Role: Manufacturer
Named in Master Short-Form Complaint (Doc. 106-1, 1:23-cv-00818) for Dark & Lovely, Optimum, Mizani brands. Core Phase I defendant with SoftSheen-Carson LLC.
SoftSheen-Carson LLC
Role: Manufacturer
L'Oréal subsidiary named in Master Short-Form Complaint for hair relaxer brands. Jointly sued with parent; no separate dismissal motion found in results.
Revlon, Inc.
Role: Manufacturer
Named in Master Short-Form Complaint for Crème of Nature, Revlon Realistic brands. Filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2023; litigation posture complicated by restructuring.
Strength of Nature, LLC
Role: Manufacturer
Named in Master Short-Form Complaint for Motions, Just for Me, Soft & Beautiful, TCB, TCB Naturals brands. Godrej SON Holdings affiliate; active in MDL 3060.
John Paul Mitchell Systems
Role: Manufacturer
Motion to dismiss denied 2/19/2025 (Doc. 1098). Judge Rowland rejected 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6) challenges; ~37 plaintiffs actively pursuing claims.
Advanced Beauty Inc.
Role: Manufacturer
Motion to dismiss denied 2/19/2025 (Doc. 1097). Judge Rowland found standing and causation allegations sufficient; ~40 plaintiffs from 18 states.
| Defendant | Role | Intelligence Note |
|---|---|---|
| L'Oréal USA, Inc. | Manufacturer | Named in Master Short-Form Complaint (Doc. 106-1, 1:23-cv-00818) for Dark & Lovely, Optimum, Mizani brands. Core Phase I defendant with SoftSheen-Carson LLC. |
| SoftSheen-Carson LLC | Manufacturer | L'Oréal subsidiary named in Master Short-Form Complaint for hair relaxer brands. Jointly sued with parent; no separate dismissal motion found in results. |
| Revlon, Inc. | Manufacturer | Named in Master Short-Form Complaint for Crème of Nature, Revlon Realistic brands. Filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2023; litigation posture complicated by restructuring. |
| Strength of Nature, LLC | Manufacturer | Named in Master Short-Form Complaint for Motions, Just for Me, Soft & Beautiful, TCB, TCB Naturals brands. Godrej SON Holdings affiliate; active in MDL 3060. |
| John Paul Mitchell Systems | Manufacturer | Motion to dismiss denied 2/19/2025 (Doc. 1098). Judge Rowland rejected 12(b)(1) and 12(b)(6) challenges; ~37 plaintiffs actively pursuing claims. |
| Advanced Beauty Inc. | Manufacturer | Motion to dismiss denied 2/19/2025 (Doc. 1097). Judge Rowland found standing and causation allegations sufficient; ~40 plaintiffs from 18 states. |
Timeline
NIH Sister Study Published
Chang et al. published findings in Journal of the National Cancer Institute (PMID: 36245087) analyzing 33,497 women over ~11 years; frequent hair straightener users (4+ times/year) had approximately 2.5 times the risk of uterine cancer. First lawsuits filed within days.
MDL 3060 Formed
Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation centralized federal hair relaxer cases in In re: Hair Relaxer Marketing, Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation, MDL 3060, before Judge Mary M. Rowland in the Northern District of Illinois. Master Docket No. 23 CV 0818.
Court Denies Motions to Dismiss Core Claims
Judge Rowland largely denied manufacturers' motions to dismiss, allowing failure-to-warn and design defect claims to proceed.
Additional Defendants Kept in Litigation
Judge Rowland denied dismissal motions for Wella and John Paul Mitchell Systems. Joint status report filed January 10, 2025 proposed bellwether selection process with 20-case nominations due April 30, 2025.
Special Master Appointed for Settlement
Judge Rowland appointed Ellen K. Reisman as Special Master to facilitate settlement discussions. Both parties submitted 20 bellwether case nominations each (40 total).
Science Day Held
Judge Rowland held court's first formal Science Day on January 8, 2026, with experts from both sides presenting causation evidence linking chemical straighteners to hormone-related cancers.
Judge Selects Bellwether Cases, Daubert Motions Filed
Judge Rowland personally selected 10 bellwether cases from 32-case pool after scrapping party-driven selection process. Defendants filed Daubert motions challenging plaintiffs' general causation experts by April 1, 2026 deadline.
MDL Reaches 11,500+ Pending Cases
MDL 3060 grew to 11,526 pending cases as of May 1, 2026. Discovery and Daubert briefing ongoing. No settlements reached.
Daubert and Summary Judgment Briefing Closes
November 16, 2026 deadline for summary judgment and non-causation Daubert motions; January 6, 2027 deadline for final replies. Rulings expected to determine whether bellwether trials proceed.
First Bellwether Trials Expected
First bellwether trial anticipated in early to mid-2027, contingent on Judge Rowland's Daubert rulings. Second trial scheduled approximately three months later.
Statute of limitations
MDL No. 3060 (In re: Hair Relaxer Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation) pending before Judge Mary M. Rowland in N.D. Ill. per search result [6]. FDA formaldehyde ban rule stalled by January 2025 regulatory freeze executive order per search result [6]. Revlon bankruptcy: Hair Straightener Bar Date of April 11, 2023 has passed; late claims require leave of court per In re RML, LLC, 657 B.R. 709 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 2023), search result [7]. Screen for bankruptcy bar date exposure on all Revlon/ColorProof claims. California and Texas removed from draft—no supporting citations in search results.
Illinois
2 years from injury
Rule: 735 ILCS 5/13-202; product liability claims accrue upon injury
Discovery: Discovery rule applies; accrual when plaintiff knows or should know of injury and its cause
MDL No. 3060 centralized in N.D. Ill. before Judge Mary M. Rowland per search result [6]. State court actions referenced in search result [6].
Florida
4 years from injury; 2 years for wrongful death
Rule: Fla. Stat. § 95.11(3)(a), (e); product liability statute runs from date of injury
Discovery: Discovery rule recognized; statute begins when injury is or should be discovered with due diligence
Confirmed in search result [4].
New York
3 years from injury
Rule: CPLR § 214(2); product liability claims subject to three-year limitations period
Discovery: Discovery rule applies; continuous use doctrine may extend accrual for latent injuries
State court actions referenced in search result [6]. Revlon bankruptcy: Hair Straightener Bar Date of April 11, 2023 passed; late claims require leave of court per In re RML, LLC, 657 B.R. 709 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 2023), search result [7].
Georgia
2 years from injury
Rule: O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33; strict product liability claims subject to two-year period
Discovery: Discovery rule applies; accrual upon reasonable discovery of injury and causal connection
State court litigation active per search result [6].
Pennsylvania
2 years from injury
Rule: 42 Pa. C.S. § 5524; product liability claims subject to two-year limitations
Discovery: Discovery rule applies; statute tolls until plaintiff knows or reasonably should know of injury and cause
State court actions referenced in search result [6].
| State | SOL | Rule | Discovery Rule | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 2 years from injury | 735 ILCS 5/13-202; product liability claims accrue upon injury | Discovery rule applies; accrual when plaintiff knows or should know of injury and its cause | MDL No. 3060 centralized in N.D. Ill. before Judge Mary M. Rowland per search result [6]. State court actions referenced in search result [6]. |
| Florida | 4 years from injury; 2 years for wrongful death | Fla. Stat. § 95.11(3)(a), (e); product liability statute runs from date of injury | Discovery rule recognized; statute begins when injury is or should be discovered with due diligence | Confirmed in search result [4]. |
| New York | 3 years from injury | CPLR § 214(2); product liability claims subject to three-year limitations period | Discovery rule applies; continuous use doctrine may extend accrual for latent injuries | State court actions referenced in search result [6]. Revlon bankruptcy: Hair Straightener Bar Date of April 11, 2023 passed; late claims require leave of court per In re RML, LLC, 657 B.R. 709 (Bankr. S.D.N.Y. 2023), search result [7]. |
| Georgia | 2 years from injury | O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33; strict product liability claims subject to two-year period | Discovery rule applies; accrual upon reasonable discovery of injury and causal connection | State court litigation active per search result [6]. |
| Pennsylvania | 2 years from injury | 42 Pa. C.S. § 5524; product liability claims subject to two-year limitations | Discovery rule applies; statute tolls until plaintiff knows or reasonably should know of injury and cause | State court actions referenced in search result [6]. |
Live intelligence
AI litigation brief
Hair Relaxer remains mid-stage / daubert pending with 230 current signals in the accepted feed.
Overview
MDL 3060 is in final pretrial posture before bellwether trials. Judge Mary M. Rowland in the Northern District of Illinois assumed direct control of bellwether selection in April 2026, naming 10 cases from a 32-case discovery pool. Case-specific Daubert and summary judgment motions are due November 16, 2026, with initial trials anticipated in 2027. A Special Master continues facilitating settlement discussions.
Key developments
Trajectory
Court filings and press coverage are both active in MDL 3060, pointing to sustained litigation pressure rather than a one-off headline cycle. 6 live sources are contributing current context.
Editorial intelligence
MDL 3060 should stay on the lead docket watch because it is the primary consolidation vehicle for Hair Relaxer.
Generated Sep 30, 2026, 10:00 AM UTC
230 events detected
Google News (29)
Arizona sues L’Oréal, claims hair relaxer chemicals raise women’s cancer risk - KOLD
Hair Relaxer Cancer Lawsuit: What’s Been Proven So Far - Legal Desire
L’Oréal faces lawsuit in the US over hair relaxer cancer risk links - Cosmetics Business
Arizona Is Suing L’Oréal Over Cancer-Causing Ingredients in Hair Relaxers - Consumer Reports
Arizona Sues L’Oréal Over Alleged Cancer Risks Linked to Hair Relaxers - Global Cosmetics News
A New Lawsuit Alleges L’Oréal Downplayed Cancer Risks of Chemical Hair Relaxers - Allure
Arizona Is Taking L'Oreal to Court - Newser
Arizona Sues L’Oreal for Masking Cancer Risks in Hair Relaxers - Beauty Packaging
L'Oréal Accused of Selling Hair Relaxers Linked to Uterine and Ovarian Cancer Without Warning Women - Fashion Times UK
Arizona accuses L'Oreal of concealing cancer risks linked to hair relaxers - Red Lake Nation News
Globally Popular Haircare Brand Sued Over Hair Relaxers & Cancer Risk: What Does The Science Say? - Health and Me
Arizona Sues L’Oréal, Says It Hid Cancer Risks in Hair Relaxers - lawcommentary.com
Arizona sues L'Oreal over alleged cancer risks in hair relaxers - USA Today
Arizona sues L’Oreal over alleged cancer risks of hair relaxers - en.bd-pratidin.com
Arizona sues L’Oréal over alleged cancer risks from hair relaxers - UA.NEWS
US state accuses L’Oreal of concealing cancer risks linked to hair relaxers - Free Malaysia Today
What Arizona AG Kris Mayes alleges about L’Oréal hair relaxers - AZ Family
L’Oréal faces Arizona suit over alleged hair relaxer cancer risks (LRLCF:OTCMKTS) - Seeking Alpha
Arizona accuses L’Oréal of concealing cancer risks linked to hair relaxers - The Guardian
Arizona Takes on L'Oreal: Cancer Risk Allegations Spark Legal Battle - Devdiscourse
L’Oréal sued by Arizona over allegations it hid cancer risks of hair products - KTAR News 92.3 FM
Arizona sues L’Oreal over alleged cancer risks in hair relaxers By Investing.com - Investing.com South Africa
Arizona AG suing L'Oréal over hair product due to possible cancer risks - 12News
Arizona Takes On L'Oreal Over Hair Relaxer Cancer Risks - Devdiscourse
Arizona sues L'Oréal for failing to disclose cancer risks associated with hair relaxers - courthousenews.com
‘Unacceptable’: Arizona AG sues L’Oréal over alleged cancer-linked hair relaxers - AZ Family
Claim That L’Oréal Faces ‘11,000 Cancer Lawsuits’ Lacks Important Context - english.factcrescendo.com
Hair Straightener Use Linked to Higher Uterine Cancer Risk – What Frequent Users Should Know - inkl
Sen. Hunter Bans Beauty Toxins, Strengthens Consumer Protections - The Chicago Crusader
No recent PubMed signals. Monitoring is active — this section updates automatically.
No recent FDA signals. Monitoring is active — this section updates automatically.
Hair Relaxer Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation
PACER docket filed in JPML: The plaintiffs claim that multiple manufacturers produced and sold defective hair relaxer products, resulting in severe health issues such as uterine cancer, endometrial cancer, and ovarian cancer. The lawsuit targets a broad range of hair relaxer products from various companies. Legal claims includ
Authorization to Disclose Employment Information
This is a form authorizing the release of employment and medical records for litigation purposes, not a court order.
Short-Form Complaint and Jury Demand
This is a short-form complaint form for plaintiffs in the Hair Relaxer MDL, incorporating the master long form complaint and designating venue pursuant to CMO No. 2.
Hair Relaxer Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation
PACER docket entry from ILND: COMPLAINT filed by Carolyn Williams; Jury Demand. Filing fee $ 405, receipt number AILNDC-25732865.(Fantini, Joseph) (Entered: 09/29/2026)
Hair Relaxer Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation
PACER docket entry from ILND: COMPLAINT filed by Pamela Ramsey; Jury Demand. Filing fee $ 405, receipt number AILNDC-25732083.(Glitz, Jessica) (Entered: 09/29/2026)
Hair Relaxer Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation
PACER docket entry from ILND: COMPLAINT filed by Casondra Vanzandt; Jury Demand. Filing fee $ 405, receipt number AILNDC-25731882.(Glitz, Jessica) (Entered: 09/29/2026)
Hair Relaxer Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation
PACER docket entry from ILND: COMPLAINT filed by Jada Banks; Jury Demand. Filing fee $ 405, receipt number AILNDC-25731382.(McCulley, Robert Bryant) (Entered: 09/29/2026)
Hair Relaxer Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation
PACER docket entry from ILND: COMPLAINT filed by Charlie Minnifield; Jury Demand. Filing fee $ 405, receipt number AILNDC-25731218.(Wallace, Edward) (Entered: 09/29/2026)
Hair Relaxer Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation
PACER docket entry from ILND: COMPLAINT filed by Shamaine Hinds; Jury Demand. Filing fee $ 405, receipt number AILNDC-25730740.(Shaw, Shakuwra) (Entered: 09/29/2026)
Hair Relaxer Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation
PACER docket entry from ILND: COMPLAINT filed by Shirley Pruitt; Jury Demand. Filing fee $ 405, receipt number AILNDC-25730555.(Shaw, Shakuwra) (Entered: 09/29/2026)
Workbench
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LexGenius Ranking
79Score
Court, news, and regulatory activity are elevated
Monitoring
Live
monitoring
Last: Sep 30, 2026, 10:00 AM UTC
Next: —
Source Monitoring
PACER
PACER
Google News
FAERS
PubMed
Event feed
230
events detected
AI Brief
Hair Relaxer remains mid-stage / daubert pending with 230 current signals in the accepted feed.
Overview
MDL 3060 is in final pretrial posture before bellwether trials. Judge Mary M. Rowland in the Northern District of Illinois assumed direct control of bellwether selection in April 2026, naming 10 cases from a 32-case discovery pool. Case-specific Daubert and summary judgment motions are due November 16, 2026, with initial trials anticipated in 2027. A Special Master continues facilitating settlement discussions.
Key developments
PACER court filing on Dec 31: Hair Relaxer Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation. ‖ KOLD news on Sep 28: Arizona sues L’Oréal, claims hair relaxer chemicals raise women’s cancer risk - KOLD.
Generated Sep 30, 2026, 10:00 AM UTC
Tracked MDLs
MDL 3060
N.D. Ill.
Hair relaxer marketing, sales practices, and products liability