Lawsuits by more than 11,000 women who have suffered gynecological cancer caused by frequent use of hair relaxer products continue in the federal court multidistrict litigation (or “MDL”). Hundreds of additional women have sued hair relaxer manufacturers in state courts in Illinois, Georgia, and elsewhere.

The MDL cases are in the evidence collection stage called “discovery.” Attorneys representing these women and their families are fighting hard to force hair relaxer companies to provide documentation of what they knew when about the harms of their products. At the same time, attorneys are helping women and families to collect the details of their experiences using these products and their health consequences. 

The court will soon consider which representative cases will hold the first trials, known as bellwethers, to see how juries respond to these claims. Those first trials’ outcomes will likely influence the outcomes of all cases. Due to the significant amount of work leading to bellwether trials, including work with medical experts to explain the science behind hair relaxers causing cancer, attorneys expect bellwether trials in the federal MDL to take place no earlier than 2026. Bellwether trials in Illinois state court are scheduled to begin in November 2025. 

Major developments will continue to be reported here and at hairrelaxercase.org.