$80 Million in punitive damages, bringing the total settlement to $117 Million.

On April 5th, a jury found that Johnson & Johnson’s talcum powder product was responsible for a New Jersey man developing mesothelioma and ordered the company to pay $37 Million in damages. This is the first case Johnson & Johnson lost that linked their product to asbestos.

New Jersey native Stephen Lanzo claimed that he contracted mesothelioma after inhaling talc powder, a product he’s used regularly since he was born. After a two week trial, the jury agreed and awarded Stephen $30 million. The jury awarded his wife, Kendra, an additional $7 million.

The jury found that Johnson & Johnson was 70% liable while their talcum powder supplier, Imerys SA, was responsible for the remaining 30%. The jury awarded an additional $80 Million in punitive damages.

A Landmark Case

Johnson & Johnson is currently facing more than 6,000 talcum powder lawsuits. Almost all of these are claims that the company misled customers about the risk of using their product. These cases claim there is a link between the powder and ovarian cancer.

Lawsuits claiming a link between talcum powder and asbestos-related mesothelioma are less common. This is the first case that Johnson & Johnson lost in an asbestos-related claim. The company insists that their products do not contain the cancer-causing mineral, but would not comment further until the trial ended.

The Link Between Asbestos And Mesothelioma

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is often found in or around talcum deposits. Until recent decades, asbestos was a popular construction material, used as a flame retardant.

However, more than a century ago, the government found a link between asbestos and mesothelioma, an aggressive form of lung cancer. Despite this, many companies continued to use asbestos, putting their employees, customers, and neighbors at risk. New laws ban the use of asbestos, but it’s found in old buildings around New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Companies developing talcum-based products are supposed to take extra steps to ensure that their products are free of asbestos. If they don’t, their customers are a risk of developing a form of lung cancer that still doesn’t have an effective treatment.

The Trial Is Not Over Yet

Although the jury determined both compensatory and punitive damages, the trial is not settled yet. Johnson & Johnson can attempt to appeal the case, though the number of talc-related claims filed against them grows daily. We will update this story as the trial, and the thousands that follow, develop.

If you or a loved one were diagnosed with cancer and you think it is due to using talc powder, call us. We’ll review your claim, answer your questions, and let you know what your options are. You never have to pay anything to speak with one of our experienced lawyers. Our no fee promise is just that: you won’t pay a penny unless or until we successfully settle your claim. Seriously.

Stephen Lanzo and his wife won their claim. Don’t let your chance to get justice for what Johnson & Johnson did to you pass you by. Call today.

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