BELLEVILLE – Nearly 200 men are suing the maker of Just For Men hair care and hair dye products, alleging they were injured from exposure to harmful chemicals.
The plaintiffs collectively filed the eight-count suit March 1 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Combe Incorporated, Combe Products Inc., Combe Laboratories Inc. and Combe International Ltd.
The defendants are connected with the design, development, manufacture, testing, packaging, promoting, marketing, distributing, labeling and sale of the hair care products known as Just For Men.
Several similar lawsuits have been removed to the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Illinois.
The lawsuit alleges that even if used as directed, Just For Men products create an unnecessary risk of burns, scarring, allergic reactions, anaphylactic shock, skin depigmentation, and other severe injuries.
In omitting, concealing and inadequately providing safety information regarding the product's use, the defendants engaged in misleading, fraudulent, unfair and unlawful conduct.
The plaintiffs allege the defendants failed to warn consumers of potential conditions including dermatitis, renal failure, acute contact dermatitis, vitiligo, convulsions, comas and eczema.
The plaintiffs demand a trial by jury. They also seek a sum in excess of the jurisdictional requirements of the court, court costs and other relief the court deems just and proper. They are represented collectively by John J. Driscoll and Philip Sholtz of The Driscoll Firm PC in St. Louis and Richard W. Schulte of Wright & Schulte in Vandalia, Ohio.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case numbers 16-L-117 and 16-L-118