P&G Faces a Rash of Lawsuits

Oh, the trials and tribulations of multinationals with deep pockets. Another lawsuit has been filed in federal court against Procter & Gamble Co.’s Old Spice deodorant, which several plaintiffs claim caused rashes or other irritation. The suit filed in New York on behalf of four people who live in that state, Pennsylvania or Illinois seeks to be designated as a class action against the Cincinnati-based maker of consumer goods (NYSE: PG), claiming that more than 100 people have been affected by similar allergic reactions and the total amount in damages exceeds $75,000.


This isn't the first time that Old Spice has captured the attention of trial lawyers. A spokeswoman for P&G noted that a similar case filed against P&G was dismissed in December by Judge Timothy Black of the US District Court for Southern Ohio in Cincinnati. Now, P&G is pushing for dismissal.


The new suit requests that the US District Court for the Southern District of New York order P&G to stop advertising Old Spice deodorant products as safe to use without warning that they might cause irritation, rashes, chemical burns or other injury. But Old Spice deodorant is safe to use, according to P&G. A small number of people might experience irritation related to alcohol sensitivity, a common ingredient in virtually all deodorant products. For such men, an antiperspirant might be a better option because it has a different formulation, according to P&G.