On July 12, 2018, a jury in St. Louis awarded nearly $4.7 billion in total damages to 22 women and their families after they claimed that asbestos found in Johnson & Johnson talcum powder contributed to their ovarian cancer. The jury awarded $4.14 billion in punitive damages and $550 million in compensatory damages to the Plaintiffs for failing to warn about the cancer risks. This is an extremely high award for punitive damages and one of the highest in such cases so far. Johnson & Johnson intends to appeal the decision.
There have been more than 9,000 talcum powder lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson for contributing to the cause of ovarian cancer, but this is the first case against the company that focused on asbestos in the powder. The trial lasted six weeks in St. Louis Circuit Court.
Medical experts testified during the trial that asbestos, a known carcinogen, is contained within mineral talc, which is the primary ingredient in Johnson and Johnson’s baby powder products. It was also revealed at trial that asbestos fibers and talc particles were found in the ovarian tissues of many of the Plaintiffs. Six of the 22 Plaintiffs in this trial have died from ovarian cancer. However, Johnson & Johnson continues to remain confident that its products do not contain asbestos and do not cause ovarian cancer.
If you or a loved one have been injured, the experienced lawyers at the law firm of Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner can assist with your claim. Call us today at (713) 222-7211 or 713-222-7211 for your free consultation.