Asbestos & Mesothelioma Law Blog
For purposes of this article, the mesothelioma victim in this case will be referred to as T.G.
In a recent court case, a jury found Johnson & Johnson and two subsidiaries liable in the mesothelioma-related death of T.G., who was a mother of six and a grandmother and awarded the surviving family members $45 million in damages. T.G.’s case and the cases of many others suffered delays when J&J filed bad faith bankruptcies in an attempt to try and avoid liability. These bankruptcy filings stayed litigation in this particular case and thousands of other cases. The lifting of the hold allowed the case of T.G. and many other cases to finally begin being heard across the country. The decision, in this case, gives hope to the others who continue to fight for justice.
There are thousands of mesothelioma lawsuits pending against Johnson & Johnson. The lawsuits accuse the company of continuing to sell its famous baby powder despite knowing that its talc was asbestos-contaminated. Asbestos is a dangerous substance that can cause several fatal illnesses, including mesothelioma. All the victims and survivors are seeking accountability for the devastating consequences of asbestos exposure.
T.G.’s family filed a legal claim against J&J after their loved one died from mesothelioma in July 2020. The family alleged that the deceased’s frequent use of J&J’s iconic baby powder from when she was a child led to her suffering asbestos exposure, which then led to her developing mesothelioma. T.G.’s family also claimed that T.G. had also used the powder on her children. Unfortunately, this means that there is a possibility the children may also develop mesothelioma in the future. Mesothelioma has a long latency period. It can take up to 60 or more years for this illness to develop after exposure.
The evidence presented during the trial showed that the talc-containing products manufactured by J&J contained asbestos fibers. Experts were also brought in, and they explained how the lifelong use of the baby powder led to T.G. developing mesothelioma. The deceased was diagnosed with mesothelioma in January 2020 and died six months later.
Before the commencement of the mesothelioma trial, Johnson & Johnson extended a settlement offer to T.G.’s family. However, the family’s attorney refused the offer because of its terms. Notably, the offer required confidentiality and a statement exonerating the company from any wrongdoing. The attorney and the family were unwilling to compromise on justice, and therefore, they rejected the offer and chose to proceed to court.
When the bankruptcy cases filed by J&J were pending, the company created Kenvue, Inc., a consumer health company. The jury found that Kenvue was responsible for 70% of T.G.’s death as the successor in interest to J&J. The jury placed 15% of the liability on Johnson & Johnson and the remaining 15% on Johnson & Johnson Holdco, Inc.
Nationwide Mesothelioma Lawyers
If you or a loved one were diagnosed with mesothelioma, contact our office to speak to one of our experienced nationwide mesothelioma attorneys about your situation. Our office can help investigate your case and determine if compensation can be sought from negligent parties to help pay for your medical treatment to help you and your family live a more comfortable life.