J And J Talc Cancer Case: A New Jersey appeals court rejected a $223.8 million verdict that a jury had given to four people who said that asbestos in Johnson & Johnson’s talc powder products caused them to get cancer. The verdict was provided by a jury that was made up of 12 people.
The Appellate Division of the Superior Court of New Jersey carefully looked at every part of the trial. It said that the lower court judge made a mistake by letting certain scientific expert statements in, which were important for figuring out the complicated legal framework.
Erik Haas, the Vice President of Litigation at J&J Worldwide, said the court’s ruling completely disproves what he calls “junk science.” Erik Haas thinks “experts” with the mass lawsuit asbestos bar are to blame. The multinational pharmaceutical business reaffirmed its firm position, again saying that its talc products are safe and do not contain asbestos.
In the middle of all this legal chaos, there is an apparent silence when the claimants’ lawyer speaks.
In the first jury decision, J&J was told to pay $37.2 million in compensatory damages and $750 million in punitive damages. But because of state law, this huge amount was quickly reduced to $186.5 million.
The appeals court, which knows its way around the legal maze, orders a new trial because the trial court didn’t do its job as a guardian. The three-judge bench said they needed to carefully look into whether the expert witnesses for the claimants based their claims on sound scientific principles.
The judges looked into the details and singled out three experts, saying they didn’t explain the data or methods supporting their claim that asbestos exposure from talc goods transparently caused cancer.
Also Read: Johnson And Johnson talc claims Second Attempt to Settle Talc Cancer Claims
In a different court case, J&J is fighting one of these experts, Jacqueline Moline. The argument concerns a paper Moline co-wrote in 2019 that has nothing to do with the most recent court ruling. Moline, who has been an expert witness in more than 200 talc cancer cases, says that the action attempts to silence scientists and stop them from giving evidence against the company.
More than 38,000 claims say that asbestos is in Johnson & Johnson’s talc goods, like the well-known Johnson’s baby powder. This adds to the company’s legal problems, which go far beyond this one case. Mesothelioma, a cancer closely linked to asbestos exposure, and ovarian cancer are among the supposed effects.
Even though Johnson & Johnson’s talc has won some court cases, like the huge $2.1 billion ruling favour 22 women with ovarian cancer, the legal system is still uncertain. A New Jersey appeals court overturned a $117 million ruling, and a New York appeals court overturned a $120 million judgment.
Even with these small wins here and there, J&J still has a hard time because it failed twice in July to move a lot of claims into bankruptcy court. The company has appealed the court’s decision, so the $8.9 billion payment that was supposed to settle these claims has yet to happen.
Trials are about to start again after being put on hold while the bankruptcy court case was being heard. In a recent hearing allowed during this break, a California man who was dying of cancer won $18.8 million.
Judgments, settlements, and legal fees have increased to $4.5 billion for J&J because of the talc lawsuits. Because of growing legal problems and the spread of false information, the company stopped selling baby powder made from talc and switched to cornstarch products.
Our Reader’s Queries
What is the problem with JNJ talc?
Over 50,000 lawsuits have been filed against Johnson & Johnson, alleging that their baby powder contains asbestos and can lead to cancer. The majority of the plaintiffs are women who have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Despite these claims, J&J maintains that their products are free of asbestos and pose no harm to consumers.
What is the Johnson and Johnson baby powder cancer case?
J&J is currently dealing with over 38,000 lawsuits that claim their talc products, such as Johnson’s baby powder, may contain asbestos. These products have been linked to various types of cancer, including ovarian cancer and mesothelioma, which is associated with asbestos exposure.
How much will the talcum powder lawsuit settle for in 2023?
As of July 21, 2023, J&J has put forward a proposal to settle all talcum powder lawsuits worldwide. The proposed payout is a staggering $8.9 billion, and it has garnered support from a significant number of talc plaintiffs and their legal representatives. This has prompted other plaintiffs to follow suit and sign off on the settlement as well.
What is the verdict on the talcum powder lawsuit?
Johnson & Johnson can breathe a sigh of relief as a New Jersey court has dismissed a $224 million verdict against the company. The verdict was awarded to four individuals who claimed that they developed cancer after using Johnson & Johnson’s talcum-powder products. The court’s decision is a significant win for the company, which has faced numerous lawsuits over the safety of its talcum-powder products. While the verdict has been dismissed, the controversy surrounding the safety of talcum powder is likely to continue.