Testimony has officially wrapped up in what is now the sixth talcum powder mesothelioma lawsuit that has gone to trial. The lawsuit, which was filed in California, is nearing a conclusion just months after a New Jersey jury awarded $117 million in compensation to a man who the jury believed could only explain his mesothelioma diagnosis by his long-term use of Baby Powder products. This high-profile case went against Johnson & Johnson, but other talcum powder mesothelioma trials have ended in the company’s favor.
As such, each decision in the talcum powder lawsuits could prove to be influential, and this is particularly true for mesothelioma lawsuits. Lawsuits alleging that talcum powder products caused a mesothelioma diagnosis are distinguishable from the thousands of lawsuits by women and surviving loved ones who allege that talcum powder caused ovarian cancer.
As a general rule, whenever these lawsuits lead to significant compensation for victims, additional lawsuits tend to follow in short order as more potential victims become aware of a possible causal link to their cancer diagnosis.
Here is a closer look at the facts of the most recent talcum powder lawsuit that was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court.
Jury Recently Heard Closing Arguments in What the Plaintiff Hopes Is a $29 Million Lawsuit
Plaintiff Carolyn Weirick alleges in the most recent talcum powder mesothelioma lawsuit that she has used Johnson & Johnson’s baby products from her early childhood years, which also continued well into her adult life. As such, she alleges that this lifetime use of the company’s talcum powder products caused her to develop mesothelioma cancer because the talc used to make these baby powder products included asbestos.
According to the plaintiff’s attorney, the plaintiff is entitled to damages adding up to $29 million, and evidence was provided throughout the trial to justify this significant compensation. Specifically, the plaintiff’s attorney presented evidence meant to prove that Johnson & Johnson was aware of the fact that its talc contained asbestos for years, yet the company failed to warn its customers. Further arguments used to support the $29 million in damages included assertions that the company’s failure to warn was both intentional and done to protect the company’s financial interests.
Johnson & Johnson, for its part, denied these claims on the grounds that its talc powder-based products have not contained asbestos. It remains to be seen what the jury will decide in this case, but we will be monitoring the verdict closely in order to determine any developing trends in the talcum powder mesothelioma litigation.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma after a lifetime of using talcum powder products, you may be entitled to legal compensation. Contact us online for a free case evaluation with a Ledger Law mesothelioma lawyer today.
