Jury Slams J&J with $21.7 Million Verdict in Asbestos Trial

Jury Slams J&J with $21.7 Million Verdict in Asbestos Trial

Introduction

A 68-year old woman was awarded $21.7 million on May 23 by the Los Angeles jury for the lawsuit filed against Johnson & Johnson and its talc supplier Imerys, claiming she was diagnosed with mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos-laden talcum powder baby powder, which she used on her children and while bowling. The compensatory damages of $21.7 million included 67 % from J&J,  and the remaining amount was assigned to other defendants involved in the litigation. As per the plaintiff's lawyer, the jury is unsure about awarding punitive damages to the plaintiff.

The case was filed in 2017. J&J intensely denied the allegations about asbestos contamination in the talcum powder.

This is the second time Johnson & Johnson lost to the plaintiff over a mesothelioma allegation. Earlier in April, a New Jersey Court Jury made J&J and its talc supplier pay $117 million to a man who was detected with mesothelioma. Over 6,600 lawsuits are filed nationwide by women who claimed they developed ovarian cancer after using J&J's Talcum Powder for feminine hygiene purposes.