Louisiana Jury Agrees That Talc Asbestos Caused Mesothelioma and Awards a $3 Million Verdict

For purposes of this article, the mesothelioma victim in this case will be referred to as J.H.

In a recent case, a Louisiana jury awarded more than $3 million to a woman who developed mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer primarily caused by asbestos exposure, after years of using talcum powder products. This case is part of a growing number of cases filed by people who have never worked with asbestos but trace their mesothelioma diagnosis to a product that has long been thought to be safe: talc. Millions of dollars have been awarded to people who have developed mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses after using asbestos-contaminated talc for years.

Talc is a naturally occurring mineral commonly used in baby powders and some cosmetic products. In its purest form, talc is generally not harmless, especially in such products. However, asbestos-contaminated talc is hazardous. Asbestos and talc can occur so closely together that talc can become contaminated with asbestos during mining. When talc is contaminated with asbestos, it can cause mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses. When a person inhales asbestos fibers through repeated use of contaminated talc products, these fibers can lodge in the body’s tissues. Over time, inflammation may be triggered, and illnesses like mesothelioma may develop. Unfortunately, mesothelioma has a long latency period, meaning that many people only find out they are sick when the disease has progressed to later stages.

The victim in this case, whom we will refer to as J.H., claimed that her mesothelioma was caused by asbestos contamination in talcum powders manufactured by Johnson & Johnson (J&J), Pecos River, and other major companies. After an eight-week trial, most of the jury members voted that Mrs. J.H.’s mesothelioma was caused by significant exposure to asbestos from the products named in the lawsuit, and that the exposure was a substantial factor in her diagnosis.

The jury awarded Mrs. J.H. $2.5 million to cover her medical expenses. The jury also awarded $90,000 for each of the victim’s children and $85,000 each for mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, and physical pain and suffering. The awarded damages aimed to address both the tangible costs of J.H.’s illness and the emotional and physical toll it took on her and her family.

The jury apportioned liability for the victim’s illness among multiple parties. J&J was found to be 45% at fault, Pecos River was declared 2% at fault, and another unnamed party, not a defendant in the case, was also apportioned 45% of the blame. While the jury agreed that all the defendants were liable for Mrs. J.H.’s illness, they also agreed that J&J knew about the dangers posed by their product at the time they manufactured and sold the products that made her sick.

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 you and your family live a more comfortable life.