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
10,948 pending
Bellwether / Trial
No verdicts yet
Settlement Status
No settlements
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Case overview
The Hair Relaxer MDL (No. 3060, N.D. Ill., Judge Mary M. Rowland) has grown to 11,440 pending cases as of March 2026, with a critical Daubert deadline of April 1, 2026 for defendants to challenge plaintiffs' expert causation testimony. Defendants have deposed 29 of 32 bellwether plaintiffs. No global settlement has materialized; defendants include L'Oréal, Revlon (in bankruptcy), Strength of Nature, and others.
Causation Theory
The NIH Sister Study (Chang et al., JNCI, October 2022) found women using chemical hair straighteners more than four times annually had 2.55 times higher uterine cancer risk (HR 2.55, 95% CI 1.46–4.45) versus never-users. The study identified 378 uterine cancer cases over 10.9 years of follow-up among 33,947 participants. Researchers noted that parabens, bisphenol A, metals, and formaldehyde in straighteners could contribute to risk, with chemical exposure potentially more concerning due to scalp burns and lesions increasing absorption.
Case Management Orders
Litigation status
MDL 3060 in the Northern District of Illinois remains in coordinated discovery under Judge Mary M. Rowland, with bellwether trial preparation underway. The court issued a scheduling order (Doc. 1052, Jan. 31, 2025) directing parties to submit 12 candidate cases by March 2026 for selection of three initial bellwether trials, with fact discovery closing March 18, 2026. Daubert motions challenging general causation experts are due April 1, 2026, with a Science Day hearing planned for mid-2026.
MDL Track
MDL 3060
N.D. Ill.
Hair relaxer marketing, sales practices, and products liability
11,440 pending
State Court Activity
Active litigation in Illinois and Pennsylvania state courts
MDL 3060 Leadership
Plaintiff Leadership
Co-Lead Counsel
Liaison Counsel
Executive Committee Member
Steering Committee Member
Geographic exposure
NIH Sister Study cohort: 33,947 women ages 35-74. MDL 3060: 11,440+ pending cases, 17% year-over-year growth. 15,319 total cases filed. Latency period and diagnosis-linkage awareness create continued filing runway.
MDL 3060, In re: Hair Relaxer Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation, Master Docket No. 23-cv-0818, Judge Mary M. Rowland. 11,440+ pending cases as of March 2026. Daubert hearing January 8, 2026; ruling due April 1, 2026. Bellwether trials projected for 2027.
State court coordinated proceedings active. Georgia Supreme Court issued favorable statute-of-repose ruling for plaintiffs June 2025, rejecting 10-year limit from first sale. L'Oreal lost appeal to dismiss.
Cohort trials scheduled for late 2026 and early 2027, parallel to federal MDL proceedings.
Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas Complex Litigation Center managing unified docket. Leveraging mass tort infrastructure from Paraquat and Roundup litigation.
State court discovery moving. Active regulatory jurisdiction with toxic chemical personal care product legislation.
Formaldehyde ban in hair straighteners effective January 2025. Original class action filings in state court consolidated into MDL 3060.
New filings continuing in MDL. August 2025 case: plaintiff alleges four decades of use from pre-1980 to 2020, uterine cancer diagnosis 1988. Targets L'Oreal, Revlon, SoftSheen-Carson, Strength of Nature.
Sally Beauty Holdings Inc. v. Cincinnati Insurance Co., Cincinnati Casualty Co. — coverage dispute in federal court. Relevant for salon worker exposure claims.
Occupational exposure cases strongest: stylists with sustained inhalation and dermal contact, 4+ applications/year. Higher phthalate biomarker levels per CDC data. Independent contractor status complicates OSHA protection.
84-95% lifetime use prevalence. NIH Sister Study: 2.55x uterine cancer risk with 4+ uses/year; 60% of study participants using straighteners were Black women. Products marketed to children.
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 Study Links Relaxers to Cancer
National Institutes of Health study published in Journal of the National Cancer Institute finds women using chemical hair straighteners more than twice as likely to develop uterine cancer. Study triggers litigation wave.
MDL 3060 Formed in N.D. Ill.
Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation consolidates hair relaxer lawsuits into MDL 3060, In re: Hair Relaxer Marketing Sales Practices and Products Liability Litigation, before Judge Mary Rowland in Northern District of Illinois. Initial transfer includes approximately 60 cases.
Judge Rowland Denies Motions to Dismiss
Judge Mary Rowland rejects defendants' motions to dismiss Master Complaint, allowing claims against L'Oréal, Revlon, SoftSheen-Carson and others to proceed.
FDA Delays Formaldehyde Ban
FDA misses self-imposed April 2024 deadline to finalize proposed rule banning formaldehyde in hair straightening products.
Rowland Keeps Three Defendants in MDL
Judge Rowland again rejects motions to dismiss from John Paul Mitchell Systems, Wella Operations US LLC, and Advanced Beauty Inc., maintaining them in MDL 3060.
32 Bellwether Cases Selected
Parties complete bellwether selection process with 16 cases chosen by plaintiffs and 16 by defendants. Discovery proceeds on 32 cases.
Daubert Deadline Set for April 2026
Judge Rowland establishes April 1, 2026 deadline for defendants to challenge scientific evidence linking hair relaxers to cancer.
Georgia Supreme Court Issues Repose Ruling
Georgia Supreme Court hands plaintiffs significant victory on statute-of-repose issue. State court cases advance toward 2026-2027 cohort trials.
MDL Reaches 11,195 Cases
Hair Relaxer MDL 3060 grows to 11,195 pending cases before Judge Rowland. Defendants have deposed 29 of 32 bellwether plaintiffs. Illinois state court trials scheduled for late 2026 and early 2027.
FDA Ban Remains Stalled
FDA formaldehyde ban still under regulatory review with no finalized rule.
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 214 current signals in the accepted feed.
Overview
MDL 3060 in the Northern District of Illinois remains in coordinated discovery under Judge Mary M. Rowland, with bellwether trial preparation underway. The court issued a scheduling order (Doc. 1052, Jan. 31, 2025) directing parties to submit 12 candidate cases by March 2026 for selection of three initial bellwether trials, with fact discovery closing March 18, 2026. Daubert motions challenging general causation experts are due April 1, 2026, with a Science Day hearing planned for mid-2026.
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 Apr 28, 2026, 1:00 AM UTC
214 events detected
Google News (10)
Colorado Lawmakers Want Warnings for Cancer-Causing Chemicals in Hair Products - Westword
“Better” Litigation Through Chemistry: The Hair Relaxer Story - American Council on Science and Health
“Better” Litigation Through Chemistry: The Hair Relaxer Story - acsh.org
Hair Relaxer Lawsuit Over Fibroids Revived in Georgia - Capital B News - Atlanta
Hair Relaxer Lawsuit Over Fibroids Revived in Georgia - Capital B News - Atlanta
Indianapolis woman who believes her hair relaxer led to her cancer diagnosis can continue lawsuit, thanks to new opinion from Georgia Supreme Court - WTHR
Indianapolis woman who believes her hair relaxer led to her cancer diagnosis can continue lawsuit, thanks to new opinion from Georgia Supreme Court - wthr.com
Court ruling allows Georgia woman to pursue lawsuit against makers of hair relaxer products - Georgia Recorder
Court ruling allows Georgia woman to pursue lawsuit against makers of hair relaxer products - georgiarecorder.com
Her hair was perfectly straight. Her body paid the price. - AJC.com
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 entry from ILND: COMPLAINT filed by Shelon Ford; Jury Demand. Filing fee $ 405, receipt number AILNDC-25031097.(Wallace, Edward) (Entered: 04/24/2026)
Hair Relaxer Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation
PACER docket entry from ILND: COMPLAINT filed by Marcelete Banks; Jury Demand. Filing fee $ 405, receipt number AILNDC-25030486.(Wallace, Edward) (Entered: 04/24/2026)
Hair Relaxer Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation
PACER docket entry from ILND: COMPLAINT filed by Lillie Adams; Jury Demand. Filing fee $ 405, receipt number AILNDC-25030439.(King, Rebecca) (Entered: 04/24/2026)
Hair Relaxer Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation
PACER docket entry from ILND: COMPLAINT filed by Elizabeth Ann Roby; Jury Demand. Filing fee $ 405, receipt number AILNDC-25030158.(Wallace, Edward) (Entered: 04/24/2026)
Hair Relaxer Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation
PACER docket entry from ILND: COMPLAINT filed by Connie Lemelle; Jury Demand. Filing fee $ 405, receipt number AILNDC-25029966.(King, Rebecca) (Entered: 04/24/2026)
Hair Relaxer Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation
PACER docket entry from ILND: COMPLAINT filed by Brenda Batiste; Jury Demand. Filing fee $ 405, receipt number AILNDC-25029242.(King, Rebecca) (Entered: 04/24/2026)
Hair Relaxer Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation
PACER docket entry from ILND: COMPLAINT filed by Cynthia Davis; Jury Demand. Filing fee $ 405, receipt number AILNDC-25029026.(King, Rebecca) (Entered: 04/24/2026)
Hair Relaxer Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation
PACER docket entry from ILND: COMPLAINT filed by Ella Lewis; Jury Demand. Filing fee $ 405, receipt number AILNDC-25028870.(King, Rebecca) (Entered: 04/24/2026)
Hair Relaxer Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation
PACER docket entry from ILND: COMPLAINT filed by Georgia Pitts; Jury Demand. Filing fee $ 405, receipt number AILNDC-25028410.(Sletvold, Ashlie) (Entered: 04/24/2026)
Hair Relaxer Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation
PACER docket entry from ILND: COMPLAINT filed by Dana Hooks; Jury Demand. Filing fee $ 405, receipt number AILNDC-25028328.(Sletvold, Ashlie) (Entered: 04/24/2026)
Workbench
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LexGenius Ranking
79Score
Court, news, and regulatory activity are elevated
Monitoring
Live
monitoring
Last: Apr 28, 2026, 1:00 AM UTC
Next: 36:39
Source Monitoring
PACER
PACER
Google News
FDA
PubMed
Event feed
214
events detected
AI Brief
Hair Relaxer remains mid-stage / daubert pending with 214 current signals in the accepted feed.
Overview
MDL 3060 in the Northern District of Illinois remains in coordinated discovery under Judge Mary M. Rowland, with bellwether trial preparation underway. The court issued a scheduling order (Doc. 1052, Jan. 31, 2025) directing parties to submit 12 candidate cases by March 2026 for selection of three initial bellwether trials, with fact discovery closing March 18, 2026. Daubert motions challenging general causation experts are due April 1, 2026, with a Science Day hearing planned for mid-2026.
Key developments
PACER court filing on Apr 24: Hair Relaxer Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation. ‖ Westword news on Apr 1: Colorado Lawmakers Want Warnings for Cancer-Causing Chemicals in Hair Products - Westword.
Generated Apr 28, 2026, 1:00 AM UTC
Tracked MDLs
MDL 3060
N.D. Ill.
Hair relaxer marketing, sales practices, and products liability