Pharmaceutical and cosmetics giant Johnson & Johnson recently agreed to a significant settlement to resolve over 1,000 talcum powder asbestos cancer lawsuits claiming that plaintiffs developed serious forms of cancer, including mesothelioma, as a result of exposure to deadly carcinogens in the company’s talc-based products. The terms of the settlement, the first major settlement during the years of litigation related to the cases, calls for Johnson & Johnson to pay more than $100 million in total to the group of plaintiffs, but still leaves thousands more cases unresolved.
According to securities filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Johnson & Johnson faces an estimated 20,000 other asbestos cancer lawsuits from plaintiffs who claim that they developed cancer from years of using the company’s iconic Baby Powder and Shower to Shower products. This year, despite maintaining that its products are safe for consumers, Johnson & Johnson announced that it will cease all sales of talc-based Baby Powder in North America, while continuing to sell the original formula with talc in overseas markets.
Many lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson allege that the talc-based Baby Powder and Shower to Shower products are contaminated with carcinogenic asbestos fibers, which are directly linked to developing mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a rare and deadly form of cancer that commonly affects thin linings of tissues surrounding vital organs such as the lungs, heart, and abdominal cavity. While researchers and scientists across the globe continue to search for a cure and make progress developing therapeutics to help mesothelioma patients, there is still currently no cure for the disease and patients are often left with months to live by the time a diagnosis is made.
While talc itself does not contain asbestos, the two are both naturally occurring minerals and can often be found side by side one another in deposits. If talc sourcers and the companies processing the mineral for consumer goods do not exercise caution to ensure the product is not contaminated with asbestos fibers, innocent consumers can be put at serious risk for developing deadly cancers.
To date, juries in state courts in Missouri, New Jersey, and California have awarded billions of dollars in total compensation to dozens of victims and their surviving family members who claim they developed cancer as a result of using Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower to Shower. Despite the tremendous jury verdicts awarded in favor of the plaintiffs, Johnson & Johnson has been reticent to settle any of the cases, up until this point. According to legal researchers, the total number the company would have to pay in order to resolve all of the outstanding claims could be as high as $10 billion.
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.