Over the last few years, Johnson & Johnson has repeatedly attempted to evade compensating mesothelioma and ovarian cancer victims through a controversial bankruptcy strategy known as the “Texas Two-Step.” With its attempt rejected by bankruptcy courts for a third time, the company has indicated it will turn to defending itself against individual claims in court. To date, mesothelioma patients have been awarded more than $3 billion by juries.
Baby Powder Mesothelioma Victims Win Record-Breaking Jury Verdicts
After its third failed attempt at creating a subsidiary to hold asbestos liabilities and then having that subsidiary file for Chapter 11, Johnson & Johnson announced it would not appeal and would instead defend pending mesothelioma and ovarian cancer cases in the tort system. This means that those affected by contamination of the iconic talc-based powder will be able to seek justice in court rather than having to settle for a class action settlement that would have provided minimal reparations.
This decision frees mesothelioma and ovarian cancer victims to pursue the same type of compensation that juries have awarded in the few personal injury claims that have been permitted to proceed to court. Major awards have been significant, with one victim being awarded a record-setting $1.5 billion and others receiving multiple millions of dollars. Other talc companies facing asbestos claims have been found liable and ordered to pay similar multimillion-dollar awards.
Juries Order Multimillion-dollar Compensation to Mesothelioma & Ovarian Cancer Talc Victims
Though it’s long been known that mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos, it’s only been in recent years that it, as well as ovarian cancer, has been linked to asbestos-contaminated talc in trusted consumer brands of baby powder and body powder. Though thousands of victims who have pursued compensation from J&J for medical bills, pain and suffering, lost earnings, and loss of quality of life have found justice delayed by bankruptcy, the few who’ve had their cases heard have found juries extremely sympathetic to their pleas.
Juries hearing of J&J’s decades of concealing information about asbestos fibers in its products have agreed with victims that the company’s actions and inaction required compensation. Roughly 67,000 claims against the company were delayed by its repeated bankruptcy filings, but the company’s decision not to appeal the bankruptcy judge’s decision means those victims can now pursue individual legal action with hopes of winning the same type of compensation as those victims whose cases have already been decided.
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or ovarian cancer, the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net are here to help. For more information, contact us today at 1-800-692-8608.
