A California jury rendered a verdict against Johnson & Johnson, ordering the company to pay more than $29 million to a California woman who claimed that asbestos in Johnson & Johnson’s talcum powder products caused her to develop mesothelioma, a cancer associated with asbestos. The jury found that Johnson & Johnson knew about the potential risks that its talcum powder products were contaminated with asbestos, but failed to warn of the risks of harm.
The verdict comes on the heels of Johnson & Johnson receiving subpoenas from the United States Justice Department and the Securities and Exchange Commission seeking additional information on its talcum powder products. Additionally, the United States House Oversight Committee’s Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy recently held a meeting to examine the potential health risks of talc. The meeting was prompted by reports in the media alleging that Johnson & Johnson had hidden the fact that some of its talcum powder products were contaminated with asbestos, as well as the thousands of lawsuits brought against Johnson & Johnson by women who were diagnosed with ovarian cancer after using Johnson & Johnson’s talcum powder products for many years. Indeed, the New York Times previously reported “that the company had spent decades trying to keep negative information about the potential risk of asbestos contamination from reaching the public.”
Cohen & Malad, LLP attorneys are representing hundreds of women who used Johnson & Johnson talcum powder products for feminine hygiene and were diagnosed with ovarian cancer. If you used these products and have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, contact us for a free case evaluation.