Johnson & Johnson lost its motion on Wednesday to reverse a jury verdict that awarded $4.69 billion to women who blamed their ovarian cancer on asbestos in the company’s baby powder and other talc products.
The $4.14 billion in punitive damages and $550 million in compensatory damages, together one of the largest personal injury awards on record, was upheld by Judge Rex Burlison in a circuit court in Missouri. The plaintiffs — 22 women and their families — were the first to go to court against Johnson & Johnson claiming that their ovarian cancer was linked to asbestos contamination in the company’s talc.
Documents used in the case and reported last week by The New York Times and Reuters revealed that Johnson & Johnson has known for decades about the risk of asbestos contamination in its talc, but fought to keep negative information behind closed doors. The company’s stock fell 10 percent on Friday and has struggled to recover since, slipping again after Wednesday’s decision was posted.
Mark Lanier, a lawyer for the women, said in a statement that his team was pleased with the order.
Johnson & Johnson said that the verdict could still eventually be reversed in an appeals court.
stoopkid13 on December 19th, 2018 at 19:30 UTC »
Note, this isnt a real appeal. Circuit courts in Missouri are trial courts, and burlison is the judge who presided over the underlying trial. This is really just a procedural step to get before the appellate court.
sh1nes on December 19th, 2018 at 19:01 UTC »
This is random but the documentary 'Born Rich' was done by one of the heirs to the J&J money.
Plutocrat42 on December 19th, 2018 at 18:44 UTC »
That was a desperate play, they are liable for a lot if these charges are true. I had it used on me as a child too God knows how many have been exposed to asbestos.