THE WHAT? The 4th Judicial District Circuit Court in Portland has delivered the latest verdict in the ongoing talc litigation. Defendant Johnson & Johnson has been ordered to pay US$260 million in damages to an Oregon woman who claims to have developed mesothelioma as a result of using the company’s talc.
THE DETAILS According to a report published by Reuters, the jury award includes US$60 million in compensatory damages and US$200 million in punitive damages.
Johnson & Johnson continues to emphasize that its talc is safe, does not contain asbestos and does not cause cancer.
THE WHY? The case is part of a veritable tidal wave of claims against the US health care manufacturer, who continues to attempt to limit its liability through a bankruptcy deal.
