Courtroom, Gavel And Law Books

Florida Jury Returns Defense Verdict in Ovarian Cancer Trial

Court: United States District Court, Middle District of Florida

On Thursday April 18, a Florida jury found the talcum powder in Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder product did not cause the ovarian cancer of deceased Sarasota County resident Patricia Matthey.

The plaintiffs alleged in their complaint that J&J suppressed scientific evidence linking talc products to increased cancer risk and that the corporation knew for decades that the talc used in its baby powder could be contaminated with asbestos. At trial, J&J argued that there was …

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Chicago Jury Returns $45M Plaintiffs Verdict in Talc Trial

Court: Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois

On April 19, a Chicago jury ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $45 million to the family of a Cook County woman named Theresa Garcia who died from mesothelioma, allegedly caused by exposure to asbestos in various talc powder products.

Plaintiffs claimed that Theresa Garcia inhaled asbestos fibers contained in the talc, citing to lab tests, which demonstrated talc products could contain small amounts of asbestos, which they say could then cause mesothelioma.

In a statement issued following …

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Courtroom, Gavel And Law Books

Johnson & Johnson Considers a Third Talc Bankruptcy to Avoid Further Litigation

With more than two dozen jury trials scheduled over the next year involving contaminated talc claims related to its ubiquitous baby powder, discussions are already at Johnson & Johnson to puts its talc unit, LTL Management, back into bankruptcy for a third time.

J&J’s worldwide vice president of its talc litigation, Erik Haas, revealed during an October 17 earnings call the company is considering using another bankruptcy in hopes of pushing forward with an estimated $8.9 billion settlement of the thousands of claims alleging that …

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NJ Appellate Court Reverses $223.8 Million J&J Talc Verdict on Causation Grounds

Court: The Superior Court of New Jersey, Appellate Division

Johnson & Johnson has successfully appealed a $223.8 million judgment against it following a trial involving allegations of asbestos-contaminated talcum powder in 2020.

Four plaintiffs filed suit against J&J alleging that certain talcum powder products manufactured by J&J and used by plaintiffs were contaminated with asbestos and caused plaintiffs to develop mesothelioma. In February 2019, the trial court consolidated the four cases, and the consolidated trial commenced in June 2019. Over the course of the trial, …

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