Companies & Asbestos

South Carolina Jury Awards $63.4 Million to Mesothelioma Victim in Case Against Johnson & Johnson

September 8, 2024 | Throneberry Law Group

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

In a recent court decision, a South Carolina state court jury awarded $63.4 million to a man diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma in a case against Johnson & Johnson (J&J). The compensation amount is meant to cover both punitive and compensatory damages. M.P. was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive illness that develops after asbestos exposure, at the age of 53. He blamed his illness on his lifelong use of Johnson & Johnson’s talc powder.

Malignant mesothelioma is a type of cancer that is rare in the United States. Statistics suggest that about 3,000 new mesothelioma cases are diagnosed in the United States annually. Mesothelioma develops after a person is exposed to asbestos. However, this illness does not develop immediately after exposure. It can take decades for mesothelioma to develop after asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that is resistant to heat, fire, and many chemicals. This made asbestos useful in many industries and products. However, when asbestos is disturbed, it releases fibers into the air, which, when inhaled or ingested, can become lodged in the lungs or other tissues, leading to serious health issues like mesothelioma.

A Court of Appeals Upholds a $10 Million Punitive Damages Award in Mesothelioma Case

August 28, 2024 | Throneberry Law Group

For purposes of this article, the Navy widow in this case will be referred to as J.G.P., and her late husband as J.E.P.

In a recent decision, the Missouri Court of Appeals upheld a $10 million punitive damages award for a Navy widow who lost her husband in 2012 after he developed malignant mesothelioma. Malignant mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer that develops in the mesothelium, which is the tissue layer covering most internal organs. This illness is mainly caused by asbestos exposure, a toxic mineral fiber that was widely used in the 20th century. Asbestos was popular because of its properties and was widely used in manufacturing, construction, and numerous industrial applications. The Court of Appeals found the defendant, Crane Co., liable for the asbestos exposure that resulted in the malignant mesothelioma that killed J.G.P.’s husband.

Mr. J.E.P. had served in the Navy for five years in the 1950s as a machinist responsible for maintaining valves on a ship. This job entailed replacing gaskets and packing made with asbestos. When asbestos is disturbed, its tiny fibers can become airborne. Inhaling these fibers can result in serious health issues, including malignant mesothelioma. Mr. J.E.P.’s mesothelioma was blamed on having inhaled the asbestos-contaminated dust that worked with the parts created. After his passing, his widow, J.G.P., filed a lawsuit against John Crane Co., the company that manufactured the asbestos-containing components.

Johnson & Johnson Agrees to Pay States $700 Million

July 10, 2024 | Throneberry Law Group

In a recent settlement agreement, Johnson & Johnson (J&J) reached a significant milestone in its ongoing legal battles by agreeing to a $700 million settlement agreement with a coalition of attorneys general representing 43 U.S. states. The attorneys general had accused the pharmaceutical giant of deceptively marketing its talc-based baby powder, which has been linked to mesothelioma and ovarian cancer.

This particular lawsuit was filed on behalf of consumers who were misled by J&J’s advertising of its talcum powder products. The lawsuit is different from the over 61,000 pending claims filed by individual claimants of mesothelioma and ovarian cancer. According to the attorneys’ general claim, J&J had, for many years, deceptively marketed its products to women and teenage girls as safe, pure, and gentle for use, despite knowing that studies and other evidence, including internal information, suggested that the products contained carcinogenic asbestos. The lawsuit accused J&J of promoting the products as safe and pure despite knowing about the health effects of asbestos.

On top of being required to pay $700 million, the settlement agreement includes several terms that are aimed at protecting the residents of the 43 states. The following are the conditions that J&J agreed to;

Chicago Jury Awards Mesothelioma-Stricken Former Brick Mason $7.4 Million in Compensation for work at Inland Steel

June 22, 2024 | Throneberry Law Group

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

In a recent court decision, a Chicago jury awarded a mesothelioma victim who used to work as a brick mason $7.4 million in compensation after a two-week trial. Mesothelioma is an aggressive illness that develops after someone is exposed to asbestos fibers. A.J.C. was exposed to asbestos while working as a brick mason at Inland Steel. 30% of the liability was assigned to Foseco who manufactured hot tops for steel manufacturing and the other 70% to an insulation contractor, Paul J. Krez.

According to the evidence presented in court, A.J.C. was diagnosed with mesothelioma in early 2023 when he was 76 years old. While getting treatment at the University of Chicago, A.J.C. embarked on a pursuit for answers. A.J.C. explored his work history for potential asbestos exposure and thought back to when he worked at Inland Steel about six decades ago. A.J.C. recalled being around asbestos during the years he worked in the company. He worked at Inland Steel in 1965 and then served in the army for three years before returning to the steel company. For the rest of his career, A.J.C. worked at Inland Steel. Mesothelioma has a long latency period. It can take up to six decades or more for mesothelioma to develop after asbestos exposure.

Connecticut Jury Awards $15 Million to the Family of Man Who Died of Malignant Mesothelioma

June 11, 2024 | Throneberry Law Group

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

In a recent court decision, a Connecticut jury awarded $15 million to the family of a man, N.B., who died of malignant mesothelioma in 2023. The jury reached this decision quickly, indicating a clear and decisive outcome.

After N.B., a father of three, died in 2023 at the age of 81, his family filed a mesothelioma claim. N.B. had a degree in chemical engineering and a history of service in the U.S. Army. According to the lawsuit filed by N.B.’s family, his malignant mesothelioma developed due to prolonged asbestos exposure at the General Electric plastics plant where he worked. The family filed the claim against R. T. Vanderbilt Holding, Inc. This company had acquired International Talc, the supplier of the talc used at the plant where N.B. worked. R.T. Vanderbilt tried to have the case dismissed. The company argued they should not be held liable as the successor in interest. The court denied this argument because the company continued the product line after the acquisition. This action led to the company inheriting associated liabilities.

An Illinois Court Orders Johnson & Johnson and Two Subsidiaries to Pay $45 Million for Mesothelioma Death

June 1, 2024 | Throneberry Law Group

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.

Court Denies Railway’s Request for Sanctions

May 20, 2024 | Throneberry Law Group

For purposes of this article, the mesothelioma victim in this case will be referred to as Ms. M.D.M.

Many years have passed since asbestos fibers that originated from vermiculite mines blew around Libby, Montana. Vermiculite and asbestos form under similar conditions, and therefore, asbestos contaminated Libby’s vermiculite deposit. Decades of mining in the vermiculite mines exposed workers and residents to toxic asbestos. Asbestos is a dangerous substance that can cause aggressive and fatal diseases. One of the most aggressive and fatal illnesses asbestos causes is mesothelioma. Decades after asbestos fibers blew around Libby, Montana, the tragic toll of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses persists. Victims and their families continue to seek justice and compensation against the entities responsible for their illnesses and deaths. In an upcoming court case, the family of a mesothelioma victim who passed away avoided sanctions BNSF Railway, the defendant, was seeking. BNSF was seeking sanctions because the family had cremated their loved one’s remains before they could get additional tissue samples for testing. Below is more on this case.

Among the many ongoing cases in Libby, Montana, is Ms. M.D.M. Ms. M’s case against MNSF Railway was filed two years ago. Initially, the defendant received tissue samples from Ms. M’s lung, but BNSF asked for more samples. The defendant asked the victim’s family to preserve her organ tissues in the event of death. However, the family did not respond to this request until days before Ms. M.D.M.’s death. According to the family, they could not accept the defendant’s request because of religion. Also, the family cited privacy concerns.

Cruise Ships and Asbestos Exposure

April 4, 2024 | Throneberry Law Group

When people think about cruise ships, rarely do they think about dangerous asbestos exposure. Often, when people think about cruise ships, they think of luxury, relaxation, and adventure. However, underneath all the glamor lies a less glamorous reality. Many people who worked on cruise ships many years ago may have been exposed to asbestos. Unfortunately, asbestos exposure can result in the development of deadly illnesses, including mesothelioma and lung cancer.

What is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral. There are six types of asbestos: chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, anthophyllite, and actinolite. Asbestos is known for being resistant to heat, wear, and chemicals, and for its flexibility. These and many other characteristics make asbestos a suitable material for use as insulation in many fields.

Court Denies Asbestos Defendant Westinghouse’s Request to Be Dismissed From Litigation

March 6, 2024 | Throneberry Law Group

For purposes of this article, the mesothelioma victim in this case will be referred to as R.M., and the victim’s husband as T.M.

After a person develops mesothelioma, they or their loved ones can file a mesothelioma claim on their behalf and seek justice and financial compensation from the party or parties responsible for the asbestos exposure. One of the first crucial steps before filing a mesothelioma case is identifying all the parties responsible for the asbestos exposure. Often, people are exposed to asbestos from multiple sources. Identifying all defendants is vital to ensuring that victims or their families can recover the maximum compensation. Also, identifying all defendants promotes fairness. It ensures that each party responsible for the asbestos exposure is held accountable. However, after identifying all the parties responsible for the asbestos exposure and filing a claim, it is not uncommon for some defendants to deny liability and request the court to drop them from litigation.

In a recent case, the judge denied a co-defendant’s request to be dropped from litigation. The defendant, Westinghouse Electric Corporation, asked the court to drop them from litigation on the grounds that the company they supplied the asbestos-containing materials to did not need any warning about the dangers of asbestos since it was a “sophisticated user.” The claimant and the other defendant opposed this action, and the judge denied the request.

Printing Press Companies’ Attempts to Dismiss Mesothelioma Lawsuits Denied

January 17, 2024 | Throneberry Law Group

For purposes of this article, the victim in this case will be referred to as Mr. R.D.

In a recent court decision, Justice Adam Silvera of the New York Supreme Court denied two printing press companies’ motions to dismiss the mesothelioma claims filed against them. The two printing press companies tried to escape liability for the deceased victim’s asbestos exposure between the 1960s and 1980s. Justice Adam Silvera ruled that the victim’s testimony was strong enough to allow the case to proceed.

The victim in this case, Mr. R.D., was a printing press operator from the 1960s to the 1980s. It was during this time that R.D. was exposed to asbestos numerous times. Before passing away, the late mesothelioma victim filed lawsuits against two press companies he accused of being responsible for his asbestos exposure. The two companies are L3Harris Technologies Inc. and Heidelberg USA. Inc. printing presses. In his legal claim, Mr. R.D. said that he developed mesothelioma as a result of being exposed to brakes from Airflex, which L3Harris incorporated in their printing presses. As for the other defendant, Mr. R.D. claimed their presses also contained asbestos. According to the mesothelioma victim, the two companies exposed him to asbestos-contaminated parts in their machines without sufficient warnings of the dangers they posed.