Mass tort lawsuit · Checked on November 3, 2026
Hair relaxer lawsuit: status November 2026 (MDL 3060)
Yes, the hair relaxer lawsuit is active. About 12,743 hair relaxer lawsuits were pending in federal MDL 3060 in Chicago on November 2, 2026. Plaintiffs allege that chemical hair straighteners caused uterine (endometrial) cancer and other conditions. No settlement has been announced, and the first bellwether trials are reported for 2027.
| Case | MDL 3060 |
|---|---|
| Court | U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois |
| Judge | Mary M. Rowland |
| Pending cases | 12,743 (as of November 2, 2026) |
| Stage | Bellwether expert work; first trials expected 2027 (reported) |
| New cases | Law firms are filing new cases |
| Next scheduled date | September 7, 2027: first bellwether trial (reported) |
| Last checked | November 3, 2026 |
What plaintiffs allege
Plaintiffs allege that chemical hair relaxers and straighteners sold by L'Oréal, Revlon, Strength of Nature and other companies contain chemicals that caused uterine cancer, ovarian cancer and related conditions, and that users were not warned. The companies deny the claims.
Where the case stands
- The cases are before Judge Mary M. Rowland in the Northern District of Illinois (verified, JPML report).
- In October 2026 the court allowed key parts of the plaintiffs' expert testimony that hair relaxers can cause uterine and ovarian cancer, and the first bellwether trial is set for September 7, 2027 (reported).
- No global settlement had been announced as of our check (reported).
Settlement status
No settlement had been announced as of November 3, 2026. We report a settlement only when a court order, a company filing or a company statement confirms it, and we never estimate payment amounts.
Updates
Newest first. Each entry says whether we read the record ourselves (verified) or it comes from coverage (reported).
- November 2026: The federal panel's report of November 2, 2026 listed 12,743 pending cases (verified, JPML report).
- October 2026: On October 22 the court allowed key parts of the plaintiffs' expert testimony on cancer risk (reported).
- October 2026: The federal panel's report of October 1, 2026 listed 12,381 pending cases (verified, JPML report).
What law firms commonly ask callers
Law firms reviewing these cases usually ask about the following. This is general information, not an assessment of any claim:
- which relaxer brands were used and for about how many years
- whether a doctor diagnosed uterine, endometrial or ovarian cancer
- treatment or surgery records
Questions
Is the hair relaxer lawsuit real?
Yes. The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation listed 12,743 pending cases in MDL 3060 as of November 2, 2026 (verified). A pending case is a claim filed in court, not a finding that the claim is true.
When will the hair relaxer lawsuit settle?
Nobody can predict when or whether a mass tort will settle. What has been disclosed so far: No settlement had been announced as of November 3, 2026. We report a settlement only when a court order, a company filing or a company statement confirms it, and we never estimate payment amounts.
Can hair relaxer cause uterine cancer?
That is what the lawsuits allege, and the companies deny it. No court has made a final decision on that question. For medical questions, talk to your doctor.
Is there a hair relaxer settlement?
No settlement had been announced as of November 3, 2026.
Sources
- JPML, Pending MDL Dockets by Actions Pending, November 2, 2026 verified
- Verus, MDL 3060 leadership and case management reported
- DiCello Levitt on the October 22, 2026 expert ruling reported
Verified means we read the court, agency or company record ourselves on the check date. Reported means the fact comes from news or law firm coverage and could not be confirmed on a primary record.