Clubman Talc 

Clubman Talc & Asbestos Exposure

Édouard Pinaud opened a Parisian perfume shop in 1830. His brand became renowned for its men’s grooming products, including powders, hair tonics, toiletries, shaving creams, and aftershaves. The Clubman line, including its iconic talcum powder, was introduced around 1940.

First used in barbershops, the line gained popularity, soon spreading to country clubs and reaching its peak influence in the 1960s, when department stores began selling it for home use. Unfortunately, many of the company’s most popular offerings were made using asbestos-contaminated talc, exposing thousands of employees and consumers to the carcinogenic mineral.

Clubman began phasing talc out of its products from 1973 to 1975, completely replacing it with cornstarch in its North American products by the late 1970s. In 1987, American International Industries (AII) acquired the Clubman brand. Clubman products are still available today.

Dangers of Asbestos-Contaminated Talc Products

Talc and asbestos are both naturally occurring minerals that are often found in close proximity. This makes extracting talc without contamination from highly toxic asbestos a challenging task.

Asbestos refers to a group of six minerals that share similar structures and characteristics, though each type poses different health risks. Talc deposits are most commonly found with tremolite or anthophyllite asbestos, both members of the amphibole asbestos group, which is known for being particularly harmful and carcinogenic.

When asbestos is disturbed, it breaks down into thin, needle-like fibers. If these fibers are inhaled, swallowed, or come into contact with the skin, they can become embedded in the body’s tissues. Over time, this can cause inflammation, scarring, and genetic damage, potentially leading to life-threatening diseases many years after the initial exposure.

Diseases Caused by Asbestos Exposure:

• Mesothelioma
• Lung cancer
• Ovarian cancer
• Asbestosis
• Pleural thickening
• Pleural plaques
• Pleural effusions
• Other forms of cancer

Financial Compensation From Clubman Talc 

While other major companies involved in talc and asbestos litigation have created trust funds or filed for bankruptcy, American International Industries, the current manufacturer of Clubman products, has not created a trust fund for asbestos claims. Instead, the company handles all litigation through the court system. 

Victims seeking legal compensation from Clubman have two primary options:

• Personal injury lawsuit: Allows living victims of asbestos exposure to seek compensation for their losses.
• Wrongful death lawsuit: Allows the dependents or family members of deceased asbestos exposure victims to recover damages for the loss of their loved one.

Given the widespread use of asbestos and the complexity of its supply chain, many victims with a valid claim against one asbestos company may also be able to pursue claims against other affiliated companies. Working with an experienced asbestos attorney can help you seek maximum compensation from all companies linked to your exposure.

Your lawyer can also help you pursue other forms of compensation depending on your individual eligibility.

Additional forms of compensation include:

• Benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
• Workers’ compensation
• Treatment grants 

Whittaker, Clark & Daniels (WC&D) was one of the largest talc suppliers in the United States during the mid-20th century. WC&D talc was advertised and certified as asbestos-free, but was later found to contain asbestos. It was a key source for many brands, including Clubman, meaning many Clubman victims are also eligible to pursue compensation from WC&D. Helping clients locate other potentially negligent companies in the supply chain is a key responsibility of a good asbestos attorney.

– Daniel Wasserberg, Attorney

Asbestos Lawsuits Against Clubman Talc

Philip Depoian

Mr. Depoian was awarded $18.07 million by a California jury after developing malignant mesothelioma, following a childhood of exposure to asbestos-contaminated products in his father’s barbershop.

The jury assigned Clubman 10% responsibility for the damages. The case remains one of the largest single-person verdicts linked to cosmetic talc and asbestos.

Corey Tippin

Corey Tippin filed a mesothelioma lawsuit against multiple companies, including American International Industries, the current owner of the Clubman brand. 

Although the court dismissed his request for punitive damages, it permitted the lawsuit to proceed to a jury trial on negligent exposure and causation claims, due to Clubman’s negligence in the field of product safety.

Holly Fisher

Holly Fisher filed a wrongful death lawsuit against American International Industries after her mother’s death from mesothelioma. In her claim, Ms. Fisher stated that asbestos in Clubman Talc caused her mother’s cancer following frequent occupational exposure in the 1960s to 1970s. 

The jury awarded Ms. Fisher $400,000 following expert testimony that Clubman used asbestos-contaminated Italian talc during the time of her mother’s exposure. 

Margaret Lashley & Dwayne Johnson

After being diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, Margaret Lashley and Dwayne Johnson filed claims against Clubman and American International Industries. Lashley used Clubman products during her work as a hairdresser, while Johnson attributed exposure to frequent use at barbershops.

Sadly, the case ended in a mistrial due to interruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic.

Asbestos-Containing Products Used at Clubman Talc 

Clubman Talc did not directly mine, manufacture, or distribute asbestos or asbestos products. However, it formulated many of its popular cosmetic and personal care products using asbestos-contaminated talc. Even trace amounts of asbestos are enough to cause serious harm to anyone exposed to it.

Asbestos-contaminated Clubman Talc products include:

• Clubman Pinaud Talcum Powder
• Clubman Pinaud Bath Talc
• Clubman Pinaud Shave Talc

Occupations At-Risk

The widespread popularity and use of asbestos-contaminated Clubman Talc products both in public and private settings created thousands of victims, many of whom have since been diagnosed with severe asbestos-related illnesses. 

In addition to those in high-risk professions, family members and loved ones may also have suffered from secondary, or “take-home,” asbestos exposure. Asbestos clings easily to hair, skin, and clothing, making it difficult to eliminate risks to friends and loved ones.

High-risk groups and professions include:

• Barbers
• Barbershop customers
• Cosmetics store workers
• Cosmetologists 
• Factory workers
• Hairdressers
• Makeup artists
• Salon employees
• Talc miners/millers

Get Help Today 

Companies behind products like Clubman knew that the talc used in their powders was contaminated with asbestos and that it posed serious health risks. Yet they continued to sell these products, endangering thousands of workers and consumers.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, or asbestosis after using Clubman Talc, you may be eligible to pursue compensation.

The experienced legal team at our partner law firm, Meirowitz & Wasserberg, has the knowledge and resources to take on complex asbestos and talc-related cases. You don’t have to face powerful corporations alone.

Contact us today for a free case evaluation through the Mesothelioma Fund. We’re here to help you understand your options and pursue the justice and support you deserve

Written & Legally Reviewed By

Daniel Wasserberg, Esq. Attorney and On-Site Legal Advocate

Daniel Wasserberg was a New York metropolitan area “Super Lawyer Rising Star” from 2013 to 2018 (attorneys under age 40), and a Super Lawyer in 2019. In 2017, Daniel was named a “Top 100 Civil Litigator” by the National Trial Lawyers organization. This recognition is rarely awarded to attorneys under the age of 40. Daniel is proud to call himself a Trial Lawyer, and is often asked to speak at gatherings of the nation’s leading attorneys, from both sides of the bar.

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