Plaintiffs’ Attorneys Want $4.7 Billion Talc Verdict Intact

Introduction

Plaintiffs' lawyers involved in the talcum powder litigation strive to keep the $4.7 billion ovarian cancer verdict intact. The massive verdict was awarded to 22 plaintiffs including families of 6 women who succumbed to ovarian cancer due to asbestos exposure from the talc.

Johnson & Johnson has filed several motions to toss the verdict, aggressively denying the asbestos presence and carcinogenic content in the talcum powder. In the motion, the company accused the plaintiffs' attorney of making deceptive and prejudicial statements to influence the jury, while the plaintiffs' lawyers argued that J&J's decade-long refusal to send adequate warnings about talcum powder hazards warrants the Missouri jury's verdict. They wrote, "defendants knew there was asbestos in what they marketed as ‘baby’ powder, but they deliberately targeted mothers and women in general with advertising misrepresenting the safety of their talc product."

J&J faces more than 10,000 talcum powder cancer lawsuits across the U.S. The majority of the lawsuits are filed over cases of ovarian cancer and mesothelioma due to prolonged use of J&J's Baby powder for personal hygiene purposes. Several lawsuits are filed against the baby powder manufacturer and suppliers over asbestos-linked mesothelioma and ovarian cancer. A multidistrict litigation (MDL No. 2738; In Re: Johnson & Johnson Talcum Powder Products Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation) was formed in 2016 in the District of New Jersey, presided over by Hon. Freda L. Wolfson, U.S.D.J./ Hon. Lois H. Goodman, U.S.M.J. for coordinated pretrial proceedings.

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