Outcry Continues to Grow for Johnson & Johnson to Resolve Talc-Cancer Claims After Latest Jury Verdict

Rhea-AI Summary

On August 26, 2021, a California jury awarded $26.5 million to a woman whose mesothelioma was linked to Johnson & Johnson's talcum powder products. This verdict adds to a growing trend of jury findings against J&J concerning the carcinogenic nature of talc. Reports reveal that a significant percentage of talc-based products sold by the company contained asbestos, which J&J allegedly concealed from the public and regulators. The company has indicated intentions to bundle such liabilities into a separate entity and pursue bankruptcy protection, raising concerns about accountability for victims.

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• California jury awarded $26.5 million for cancer claims against J&J.
• Evidence suggests J&J concealed the carcinogenic properties of talc for decades.
• 20% of talc-based products tested by FDA reportedly contained asbestos.
• The U.S. Supreme Court upheld a $2.1 billion judgment against J&J for misleading practices.
• Plans to bundle liabilities into a separate entity could limit claims resolution for victims.

MONTGOMERY, Ala., Aug. 31, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Another jury has found that Johnson & Johnson's (NYSE:JNJ) talcum powder products cause cancer, prompting attorneys representing thousands of cancer victims to demand that the company take responsibility for damages brought by its defective consumer products and its failure to warn generations of women about talc-cancer links.

The $26.5 million verdict by a California jury on August 26 continues to send a message – amplified in numerous earlier trials – that decades of hiding the truth about the carcinogenic properties of talcum powder must end, says an attorney who's leading the fight against J&J. 

"The evidence from J&J's own records clearly shows a 50-year-old pattern of corporate cover-ups and manipulation of research on the dangers of talc use," said Andy Birchfield, head of the Mass Torts Section at the Beasley Allen Law Firm. "This verdict is just the latest step in exposing the shameful lengths this company went through to keep selling its iconic product while putting lives in danger."

Jurors in Alameda County awarded $26.5 million in compensatory damages against J&J for causing the mesothelioma cancer of 35-year-old Christina Prudencio, a former teacher. According to trial testimony of her mother and sister, Ms. Prudencio was directly and indirectly exposed to Johnson's Baby Powder for more than two decades.

Several jury trials and news reports in recent years have documented that J&J's talc-based products – including Johnson's Baby Powder and Shower to Shower – were sometimes tainted with carcinogenic asbestos and that J&J historically kept that information from regulators and the public. Last year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released a report that found roughly 20 percent of talc-based powders and makeup samples tested by the agency contained asbestos.

In May 2020, Johnson & Johnson announced the company would no longer make or market talc-based powders for the North American market. In June, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear evidence from a $2.1 billion judgment against the company entered by the Missouri Court of Appeals and upheld by the Missouri Supreme Court. That appellate court found that J&J had engaged in "reprehensible conduct" for decades by repeatedly denying the known association between talc use and ovarian cancer.  

In response to ongoing litigation and mounting jury verdicts, the company has threatened to bundle those liabilities into a separate entity, which would then seek bankruptcy protection. Such a scheme would eliminate the rights of thousands of ovarian cancer victims to have their claims resolved before a judge and jury. 

"Rather than attempt a cynical, greedy ploy to seek insolvency for a $500 billion company, J&J should simply come clean and seek a resolution that acknowledges the company's negligence and establishes a means for fairly compensating victims both now and in the future," said Birchfield.

Media Contact:

Mike Androvett
214-507-5456
mike@androvett.com 

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/outcry-continues-to-grow-for-johnson--johnson-to-resolve-talc-cancer-claims-after-latest-jury-verdict-301366432.html

SOURCE Beasley Allen Law Firm

FAQ

What was the recent jury verdict against Johnson & Johnson regarding talc products?

On August 26, 2021, a California jury awarded $26.5 million in damages linked to Johnson & Johnson's talc products causing mesothelioma.

What does the jury's verdict mean for Johnson & Johnson's talcum powder products?

The verdict emphasizes the ongoing legal challenges faced by Johnson & Johnson regarding the safety of its talcum powder products and their association with cancer.

What evidence exists against Johnson & Johnson regarding talc use and cancer?

Evidence indicates that J&J's talc products contained asbestos, and the company allegedly concealed this information from regulators and the public.

How has Johnson & Johnson responded to the talc-related lawsuits?

Johnson & Johnson has threatened to bundle its talc-related liabilities into a separate entity to seek bankruptcy protection, which could diminish the rights of victims to pursue claims.

What was the outcome of the Missouri Court of Appeals ruling against Johnson & Johnson?

The Missouri Court of Appeals upheld a $2.1 billion judgment against J&J, finding the company engaged in reprehensible conduct related to talc use.