Before mesothelioma claimed her life, Lynne Roy was a successful businesswoman and prominent resident of New Orleans. She developed the rare, aggressive form of cancer after decades of using the iconic talc-based product. She died in 2020, and after years of delay, this week, a Louisiana jury agreed that Johnson & Johnson was responsible for the asbestos exposure that caused her fatal diagnosis, and awarded her survivors $10 million in compensation.
Three-Week Mesothelioma Trial Leads to $10 Million Jury Award
According to evidence presented over the course of a three-week trial, Lynne Roy developed mesothelioma after what her family’s legal team described as regular, significant exposure to asbestos from products manufactured or sold by Johnson & Johnson. The jury determined that Johnson & Johnson had acted negligently and that its products were unreasonably dangerous in multiple respects, including the company’s failure to warn consumers about known asbestos hazards. The jury reached its decision after just four hours of deliberation.
The mesothelioma trial was not held until six years after Mrs. Roy’s death, in large part because of bankruptcy proceedings initiated by Johnson & Johnson that put a hold on all asbestos-based litigation against the company. The jury apportioned the $10 million award into $8 million for the physical pain, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life she suffered before her death, and $1 million for each of her daughters for the loss of their mother. The jurors also agreed that several of the co-defendants in the trial, including other talc suppliers and companies, contributed to Roy’s mesothelioma, setting Johnson & Johnson’s individual share of the verdict at just over $1.2 million.
J&J Bankruptcy Strategy Delayed Thousands of Mesothelioma and Ovarian Cancer Claims
Mesothelioma cases against Johnson & Johnson have repeatedly been delayed by the company’s attempt to use bankruptcy filings to avoid liability for deaths and illnesses blamed on asbestos in its products. This meant that Roy’s daughters waited years longer than necessary to have their case. With the company abandoning this strategy after three failed attempts, this verdict adds to a growing number of juries finally hearing victims’ stories and holding talc manufacturers responsible.
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma and you need guidance on the resources available to you, call the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net today. You can reach us at 1-800-692-8608.
