In the last several years, men and women who’ve never worked with asbestos have traced their mesothelioma diagnoses back to a product once thought safe: Talc body powder. Juries have awarded millions of dollars in damages after hearing what victims have learned the hard way — that asbestos contamination is common in talc, and that years of talc powder use can lead to disabling and even fatal diseases.
Louisiana Woman Sues Cosmetic Talc Manufacturers Over Mesothelioma Diagnosis
In one of the most recently resolved of these legal cases, Jeannine Henderson accused consumer giant Johnson & Johnson, Pecos River Talc, and others of negligently exposing her to asbestos in their talc products. The lawsuit resulted in over $3 million being awarded to her and her family.
The jury awarded the mesothelioma victim $2.5 million to compensate her for her medical expenses, $90,000 for each of her two children, and $85,000 each for her loss of enjoyment of life, her mental anguish, and physical pain and suffering.
Jury’s Decision Reflects Belief That Asbestos in Talc Can Cause Mesothelioma
The mesothelioma trial took place in the Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans in the State of Louisiana and took eight weeks from start to finish. The 11-member jury voted 9-2 that Mrs. Henderson’s illness was the result of significant exposure to asbestos from the products named during the trial, and that it was a substantial factor in her diagnosis. They found Johnson & Johnson 45 percent liable, Pecos River Talc 2 percent liable, and another party that was not a defendant in the claim 45 percent liable.
Though the jury found the companies liable for Mrs. Henderson’s mesothelioma, they also unanimously agreed that Johnson & Johnson had known of the risks posed by their product at the time that they manufactured and sold the products that had sickened her.
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net can help. Contact us today at 1-800-692-8608 to learn more.
