(Reuters) -Johnson & Johnson must pay $260 million to an Oregon woman who said she got mesothelioma. A jury found she inhaled the company’s talc powder, which contained asbestos.
The verdict in Portland’s 4th Judicial District Circuit Court comes as J&J pursues a $6.48 billion settlement for most talc-related lawsuits. The jury awarded $60 million in compensatory damages. Additionally, they granted $200 million in punitive damages for the plaintiff and her husband.
Erik Haas, J&J’s vice president of litigation, stated that the verdict contradicts decades of independent scientific evaluations. He said these studies confirm talc is safe and asbestos-free. The company plans to appeal and is confident the verdict will be reversed.
Kyung Lee, the plaintiff, received a mesothelioma diagnosis last year at age 48.
Lee claimed she inhaled asbestos-tainted talc for over 30 years. Her exposure started as a baby, when her mother used it, and continued when she used it herself as deodorant.
J&J maintains that its talc products do not contain asbestos and do not cause cancer, and that decades of scientific studies support their safety.
A lawyer for J&J said at trial that Lee’s illness was likely caused by exposure to asbestos used at a factory near where she grew up.
In light of this ruling, consumer advocacy groups are calling for stricter regulations on cosmetic products. They argue that the J&J talc trial highlights the need for more rigorous safety testing and transparency. read more
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