Johnson & Johnson accused at LA trial of hiding asbestos risks in baby powder for decades

Johnson & Johnson lawsuit overview:

• Who: Families of three women are suing Johnson & Johnson and Red River Talc LLC.
• Why: Plaintiffs allege J&J knowingly concealed asbestos contamination in its baby talc powder while marketing the product as safe.
• Where: The bellwether trial is underway in Los Angeles Superior Court.
• How to get help: Did you use talcum powder on a daily basis for at least four years and were later diagnosed with ovarian cancer? If so, you may be eligible to join a talcum powder class action lawsuit.

Families of three women who died from ovarian cancer told a California jury that Johnson & Johnson knowingly concealed asbestos risks associated with its talc-based baby powder products for decades.

The claims were presented during opening statements in a bellwether trial involving consolidated lawsuits alleging Johnson & Johnson’s talc products caused ovarian cancer after years of use.

The families of Mary Owens, Bonnie Tienken and Geneva Williams — three women who died of ovarian cancer — allege J&J knew its talc products were dangerous even as it aggressively marketed them as gentle and pure.

Plaintiffs’ counsel walked jurors through internal company documents dating from the 1960s through the 1980s, arguing the records show J&J was aware of asbestos in its talc and the health hazards posed by talc itself, Law360 reports.

The attorneys argued that rather than alerting consumers, J&J continued for decades to promote the product as safe and encouraged women to use it on themselves and their children.

The bellwether trial is the second ovarian cancer trial to proceed in Los Angeles following J&J’s failed attempts to resolve talc litigation through bankruptcy proceedings.

The first bellwether, conducted in the same courtroom, resulted in a $40 million jury verdict finding the companies’ talc products were a substantial contributing cause of two women’s ovarian cancer.

In February, a Philadelphia jury ordered J&J to pay $250,000 in damages to the estate of Gayle Emerson after finding the company liable for talc cancer allegations.

Johnson & Johnson disputes asbestos claims and links to cancer, citing ‘global conspiracy’

According to Law360, J&J’s defense team argued that scientific evidence will show its products never contained asbestos and that talc does not cause cancer, describing the plaintiffs’ claims as an implausible global conspiracy theory.

Defense counsel told jurors J&J’s 2020 U.S. reformulation of its baby powder — replacing talc with cornstarch — was driven by consumer misperceptions rather than legitimate health concerns.

The current trial is proceeding alongside ongoing disqualification disputes involving lead plaintiffs’ firm Beasley Allen Law Firm, which J&J has sought to remove from talc cases nationwide.

Several courts, including in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, have granted those motions, but Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Theresa Traber denied J&J’s bid as untimely, a ruling that was upheld on appeal.

What do you think of claims in the Johnson & Johnson talc trial? Let us know in the comments.

Plaintiff John Owens is represented by Daniel S. Robinson of Robinson Calcagnie Inc. Plaintiffs Kimberly Hedrick, Eric Tienken and Kevin Tienken are represented by Ari S. Friedman of Wisner Baum. Plaintiff Harold Williams Jr. is represented by Andy Birchfield of Beasley Allen Law Firm and Daniel S. Robinson of Robinson Calcagnie Inc.

The cases are Owens, et al. v. Johnson & Johnson, et al., Case No. CIVDS1618507; Tienken, et al. v. Johnson & Johnson, et al., Case No. 18CECG01553; Williams Jr. v. Johnson & Johnson, et al., Case No. CIVDS1807370; and the coordinated proceeding Johnson & Johnson Talcum Powder Cases, Case No. JCCP4872, in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles.

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