The New Jersey jury in a Johnson and Johnson baby powder lawsuit found that the pharmaceutical giant should pay a whopping $186 million in punitive damages.

The Johnson and Johnson baby powder lawsuit alleged that the company knowingly sold baby powder products containing asbestos, but hid the information from the public, according to Reuters.

The lawsuit accused Johnson and Johnson of purposely raising its asbestos detection limit in order to avoid acknowledging asbestos contamination.

J&J “put the detection limit purposefully way up high so they can say nothing is detected, even if they saw it,” a lawyer for the plaintiffs told the jury during closing arguments. “(J&J) fixed the tests so they can pass them.”

Last year, a separate jury delivered a $37.3 million compensatory damages verdict against the pharmaceutical company. The punitive damages verdicts were originally $750 million, an amount to be split among the four plaintiffs who developed mesothelioma from using J&J baby powder products.

But Superior Court Judge Ana C. Viscomi later reduced the awards to comply with state law to bring the total to five times the compensatory verdict. The plaintiffs and their families were ultimately awarded $36.25 million, $47.25 million, $73.5 million, and $29.5 million, respectively. One of the plaintiffs died from his cancer just after the compensatory phase of the trial ended.

Despite the verdicts, Johnson and Johnson continues to maintain that its baby powder products do not contain asbestos. The company says it plans to appeal both the compensatory and punitive damages judgments, “based on the numerous legal errors that subjected the jury to irrelevant information and prevented them from hearing meaningful evidence.”

“We sympathize with all who are suffering from cancer, and we understand patients and their families are seeking answers. Consumers can be assured that more than 40 years of independent scientific evaluations confirm that Johnson’s Baby powder is safe, does not contain asbestos and does not cause cancer,” Johnson and Johnson wrote in a statement.

“Today’s verdict is at odds with the decades of evidence showing the company acted responsibly, was guided by sound science and used the most sophisticated testing available for its talc.”

Filing a Baby Powder Cancer Lawsuit

Johnson and Johnson continues to face thousands of asbestos baby powder cancer lawsuits and even issued a voluntary recall of thousands of bottles of its talc-based baby powder in 2019.

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with cancer after exposure to talc-based baby powder, you may be able to file a Johnson and Johnson baby powder lawsuit and pursue compensation. Filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by a cancer diagnosis, nor can it bring a loved one back to life, but it can at least help to alleviate the financial burden incurred by medical expenses, lost wages, and more.

Pursuing litigation can be a daunting prospect, so Top Class Actions has laid the groundwork by connecting you with an experienced attorney. Consulting an attorney can help you determine if you have a claim, navigate the complexities of litigation, and maximize your potential compensation.