Johnson & Johnson stands accused of causing malignant mesothelioma and ovarian cancer in thousands of victims, but the company has stood firm in its arguments against all claims and has continued defending itself, even with over 17,000 cases pending. So it was notable that the company agreed to pay a California woman a settlement reportedly worth more than $2 million in the midst of a trial that had already heard two weeks of testimony.
Settlement is A Rare Move for Johnson & Johnson
There have been very few mesothelioma or ovarian cancer cases that Johnson & Johnson has agreed to settle, and it is not clear what moved them to reach an agreement with Linda O’Hagan and her family. The $2 million settlement was not officially disclosed, but somebody close to the family revealed the information while asking to remain anonymous.
Speaking for Johnson & Johnson about the mesothelioma settlement, spokeswoman Kim Montagnino said, “In litigation of every nature there are one-off situations where settlement is a reasonable alternative. The decision to resolve any particular case in no way changes our overall position that our talc is safe, is asbestos free and does not cause cancer.”
No Sign of An Asbestos Settlement Program From Baby Powder Companies
Even with thousands of mesothelioma lawsuits pending and the memory of an FDA analysis that found asbestos in a bottle of their baby powder, Johnson & Johnson apparently has no intention of establishing an official settlement program. The settlement with Mrs. O’Hagan is not the first of its kind, but it is unusual for the company to reach an agreement.
Mrs. O’Hagan was born in Ireland and moved to the United States in 1991. She was diagnosed with mesothelioma in the summer of 2018, after decades of using the Johnson & Johnson’s product. Earlier she settled with Rio Tinto Minerals, which was the company that mined the talc for the baby powder product.
If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and you believe that it was caused by your use of a baby powder product, we have the information you need. Contact the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net today at 1-800-692-8608.
