Jury Needed Only 45 Minutes to Agree on Punitives in Johnson & Johnson Talc Case
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A lawyer for plaintiffs in the case against talcum-powder maker Johnson & Johnson said the company had spent 40 years covering up evidence of asbestos in some of its talcum-based products and should mark those products with warning labels or focus on powders made with cornstarch.
The New York Times quoted Mark Lanier of The Lanier Law Firm as saying the jury’s award of $4.14 billion in punitive damages is among the largest ever awarded in a product liability case. He added that the jury deliberated over compensatory damages for eight hours but decided on the punitive damages in roughly 45 minutes.
Times reporter Tiffany Hsu writes: “Johnson & Johnson was ordered Thursday to pay $4.69 billion to 22 women and their families who had claimed that asbestos in the company’s talcum powder products caused them to develop ovarian cancer.”
The jury’s award included $550 million in compensatory damages for the women, who had accused the company of failing to warn them about cancer risks associated with its baby and body powders.
