In a rare and heartbreaking outcome for the survivors of a victim of malignant mesothelioma, a Pittsburgh jury found Johnson & Johnson’s talc products had not been the cause of the woman’s illness but attempted to punish the company for its negligence and misrepresentation anyway. The $22 million award is disallowed by the instructions provided to them on the verdict sheet.
Mesothelioma Death Blamed on Exposure to Johnson & Johnson Talc Products
The mesothelioma lawsuit was filed by the family of Michaeleen Lee, who blamed Johnson & Johnson’s talcum powder products for her death. After months of testimony that was interrupted by a December break and which saw three jurors drop out during the trial, the jury took just two hours to reach its decision.
The instructions given to the jury specified that they were not supposed to answer questions on punitive damages if they found that Johnson & Johnson’s talc-based products had not caused the woman’s malignant mesothelioma. Despite this, they filled out the paperwork and determined that punitive damages were appropriate and that the company had intentionally misrepresented the safety of its talc products.
Jury’s Conflicting Decision Leaves Mesothelioma Survivors Uncertain About Next Steps
According to the representative of the mesothelioma victim’s surviving family members, the jury’s confounding decision leaves them uncertain as to what their next steps should be. There are a few issues that can be submitted for a post-trial challenge, including the court having allowed testimony from a defense witness who had never been approved as an expert. What is clear is that the jury believed that they had awarded damages against Johnson & Johnson.
Juries across the country have been awarding multi-million dollar punitive and compensatory damages to many victims who have blamed Johnson & Johnson for their mesothelioma and ovarian cancer. If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma and need information about your options, contact the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net today at 1-800-692-8608.
