A Boston jury has ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $8 million to an 84-year-old woman who was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma after a lifetime of using the company’s baby powder product on herself and her seven children. The jury agreed that the talcum powder used by the company was contaminated with asbestos, that the company had been aware of the problem for decades, and that exposure to the product had caused her mesothelioma.
Woman’s Mesothelioma Blamed on Lifelong Use of Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder
The mesothelioma victim, Janice Paluzzi, was diagnosed with the rare, asbestos-related disease in 2021, just one year after Johnson & Johnson responded to increased scrutiny and mounting litigation by ceasing all North American sales of their talc-based product and a year before they stopped all global sales. Her attorneys presented the jury with evidence that the company had known for decades that the talc they used in the products was contaminated with asbestos, but did nothing to fix the situation or to warn the public about its dangers.
In addition to testimony about how asbestos exposure causes mesothelioma and evidence of the company’s knowledge about the health hazards of their product, the jury was told about the significant concentration of asbestos fibers that Mrs. Paluzzi endured through the years, diapering, raising, and bathing herself and seven children in single-bathroom homes for two decades.
$8 Million Jury Award to Talc User with Mesothelioma
Mrs. Paluzzi’s mesothelioma lawsuit represented one of over 60,000 asbestos claims that had been pending against Johnson & Johnson as of June 1 of this year. Commenting on the verdict, one of her representatives said, “Johnson & Johnson sold their product as safe and took advantage of the trust of families like Ms. Paluzzi’s. She used it every day on herself and her children. The jury saw that betrayal and delivered justice.”
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease after using talc-based products, the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net can help. Contact us today at 1-800-692-8608 to learn more.
