Talcum powder ovarian cancer lawsuits continue to come in from all around the country, and Johnson & Johnson (J&J) continues to struggle defending itself in court. A recent case out of Missouri has concluded with a jury awarding a Virginia woman a grand total of $110 million in total awards. The 62-year old was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2012 and alleged that J&J intentionally misled consumers about the safety of their talc powder products.
This marks yet another loss in a string of courtroom battles for J&J. The pharmaceutical giant has also lost several other court cases, each one resulting in a jury verdict award greater than $50 million. In addition to individual cases being heard by courts, federal class actions are also pending against the company.
The Supreme Court Ruling on Bristol Myers Squibb v The Superior Court of California has already had consequences on future TALC litigation as evidenced by the declaration of a mistrial by a judge in Missouri (St. Louis) State Court on a Talcum Powder case against Johnson & Johnson. This new ruling seems to mean that consumers can only sue companies in their home state or possibly only in the state where the company is headquartered. Currently, many of the TALC cases are filed in St. Louis, MO, so this ruling may impact when and where future TALC trials occur.
Awards in J&J talcum powder cases are not finalized, however. J&J has filed appeals against each one, forcing higher courts to review the decisions and slowing down the compensation process for plaintiffs. In the recent $110 million verdict result, the company has still maintained that its talcum powder products do not cause ovarian cancer, and that no scientific links have been established to prove as much.
If you want to know more about the risk of ovarian cancer caused by extended use of talcum powder as a feminine hygiene product, you can call (502) 242-8877 and speak with a Louisville product liability attorney from Brett H. Oppenheimer, PLLC. Free consultations are available.