Jury Awards Idaho Woman $40.3 Million Verdict in Talcum Powder Mesothelioma Lawsuit

An Idaho jury recently awarded a 71-year-old Idaho woman $43.3 million verdict in a talcum powder mesothelioma cancer lawsuit alleging the defendant caused her condition by knowingly marketing its carcinogenic talc-based products. The lawsuit named New Jersey-based pharmaceutical and cosmetics giant Johnson & Johnson as the defendant, asserting that the company knew for decades about the risk of asbestos in its Baby Powder and Shower to Shower would post to consumers but provided no warning.

The Los Angeles jury deliberated for six days before reaching its verdict, agreeing with the plaintiff that her mesothelioma cancer was caused by talc-based products manufactured and sold by Johnson & Johnson. The verdict was a repudiation of positions taken by Johnson & Johnson and its attorneys which asserted that the victim’s cancer was not caused by asbestos exposure in talc, but rather due to atmospheric exposure while living in an industrial area of Los Angeles decades earlier.

The jury’s award included $1.2 million in economic damages which includes past and future medical expenses, $6.5 million for past noneconomic damages, $20 million for the plaintiff’s husband and $12.6 million for future noneconomic damages. Jurors were presented evidence that the victim’s cancer tissue contained both anthophyllite and tremolite asbestos, which are two forms of the mineral that have been confirmed to be in Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder as well as their Shower to Shower product.

Johnson & Johnson faces 14,000 similar lawsuits across the country, many of which allege the plaintiffs developed mesothelioma, a rare and deadly form of cancer directly linked to asbestos exposure. Over the course of several trials in recent years, Johnson & Johnson has been ordered by juries to pay over $5 billion in compensatory and punitive damages to victims for their cancer diagnosis, including mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma affects the thin lining of tissue surrounding vital organs like the lungs, abdomen, and heart, before spreading to other parts of the body. Because of the long latency period of anywhere from 20 to 50 years, patients are often left with diminished treatment options. While researchers around the country continue to make progress in treating the disease, there is still no known cure for mesothelioma.

While our society expects wrongdoers to take responsibility for their actions and compensate victims appropriately, the truth is that large corporations like Johnson & Johnson would rather deny, delay, and defend otherwise meritorious claims. Fortunately, the law gives mesothelioma cancer victims the legal right to file asbestos cancer lawsuits in court to recover vital compensation for past and future medical bills, recover lost wages while recovering from treatment, and compensation for the pain and suffering of living with the disease.

Nationwide Mesothelioma Lawyer

If you or a loved one were diagnosed with mesothelioma, contact our office to speak to one of our experienced 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.