California Jury Decides Johnson & Johnson Must Pay Mesothelioma Victim $40.3 Million
The company behind Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower to Shower Body Powder has suffered another legal loss, as a has ordered them to pay $40.3 million to a woman diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma. This is only the latest in a series of claims filed against the company, accusing them of negligently allowing asbestos to contaminate their consumer products, as well as of failing to warn the public about the dangers that contamination represented.
71-Year-Old Woman Diagnosed With Fatal Disease Two Years Ago
The Los Angeles jury heard the case of Nancy Cabibi, a 71-year-old woman from Idaho who was diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma in 2017. Since her diagnosis she has undergone a significant amount of medical treatment, including surgery to remove malignant tumors, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and immunotherapy.
Mrs. Cabibi filed the lawsuit together with her husband Phil, accusing the company of negligence in its design of the product, of negligence in its production and in its failure to warn the public of its dangers. They also accused the company of malice. Though the jury cleared the company on the charges of malice and of defective design, they agreed with the mesothelioma victim that the company’s products had risks that were either known or knowable, and that the company had been negligent in that respect, and that the product itself was defective.
Evidence Proved Presence of Asbestos in Talc-Based Products
The jury took six days to reach its decision in the mesothelioma lawsuit, considering Mrs. Cabibi’s testimony about having used both of the products, evidence that her body tissue had both tremolite and anthophyllite asbestos in its tissues, and Johnson & Johnson’s argument that her asbestos exposure had come from having been raised in an industrial section of Los Angeles. Mrs. Cabibi had countered that argument by indicating that she had never worked in those industries or entered any of their facilities.
There are thousands of cases pending against Johnson & Johnson, and many more may come as they are diagnosed with mesothelioma and ovarian cancer as a result of exposure to asbestos. If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net can help. Contact us today at 1-800-692-8608.
Written by Terri Oppenheimer
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