Defendants Deny Asbestos Presence in Talcum Powder

Defendants Deny Asbestos Presence in Talcum Powder

Introduction

During the closing arguments of a Mesothelioma lawsuit, the counsel representing defendants Johnson & Johnson and its talc supplier, Imerys Talc America Inc., and Cyprus Amax Minerals Co., an Imerys predecessor, stated that the Talcum powder never contained asbestos.

The trial has been running for over two months, filed by a plaintiff seeking compensation for his diagnosis of mesothelioma (a cancer of the lung) allegedly caused by inhaling asbestos present as an ingredient in the company’s products. The defense counsel argued that there is no asbestos in talc as proven by the reports of consistent testing using the most reliable and the best technology and methodologies that were available.

This is the second related trial which began on January 22, 2018, in Middlesex County, New Jersey Superior Court. The first mesothelioma- talc trial ended in a defense verdict in November 2017 in Los Angeles Superior Court.

Superior Court Judge Ana C. Viscomi presiding over this litigation also rejected J&J’s appeal for a mistrial stating the plaintiff's attorney made improper comments to the jury.