Johnson & Johnson Faces Historic $966 Million Verdict In Los Angeles Mesothelioma Cancer Case
A jury in Los Angeles has ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $966 million for mesothelioma caused by baby powder containing asbestos.
A Los Angeles jury has mandated that Johnson & Johnson pay $966 million to the family of a woman who passed away from mesothelioma, the uncommon and deadly illness, in what looks to be the highest mesothelioma decision in history.
The family of Mae Moore, who passed away in 2021, filed the lawsuit, claiming that asbestos fibers in Johnson & Johnson’s talc-based Baby Powder caused her to develop mesothelioma. Citing the company’s carelessness and inability to alert customers to the risks of the product, the jury awarded $16 million in compensatory damages and an astounding $950 million in punitive damages.
The only cause of mesothelioma, a rapidly developing disease, is asbestos exposure. Over the years, several tests have found asbestos traces in product samples, despite Johnson & Johnson’s long-standing denial that its talc powder was dangerous.
On appeal, the verdict—which is thought to be the biggest mesothelioma award ever—may be lowered. The sum could be reduced to roughly $144 million because the US Supreme Court decided that punitive penalties shouldn’t be greater than nine times compensatory damages.
Tens of thousands of cases have been filed against Johnson & Johnson, claiming that its talc-based baby powder causes cancer, notably ovarian cancer. The business has tried in vain to protect itself from the litigation by utilizing bankruptcy loopholes on multiple occasions.
Even though the firm switched to a cornstarch-based recipe and stopped producing talc-based baby powder in 2020, it still denies any wrongdoing and insists the product was safe.
The historic decision represents a significant blow to the pharmaceutical behemoth and highlights the mounting legal and financial concerns associated with decades of customer exposure to talc products purportedly tainted with asbestos.
