Following a bankruptcy judge’s ruling that lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson can move forward, almost two dozen individuals diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma have renewed their legal process. The claims had been put on hold as a result of the company’s previous bankruptcy proceeding.
Talc in Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder Blamed for Malignant Mesothelioma
This week, the law firm representing almost two dozen mesothelioma victims filed a motion to consolidate their claims against Johnson & Johnson’s. All of the plaintiffs accuse the company of reckless disregard for their safety. The company is accused of both knowing that the talc used in their iconic baby powder product was contaminated by asbestos and of working to quash concerns about its safety.
Following several multi-million legal verdicts in favor of mesothelioma victims, the company pursued a controversial legal maneuver referred to as a “Texas Two-Step” that saw them create a subsidiary called LTL Management and then immediately place that subsidiary into bankruptcy. This effectively halted all pending asbestos claims, but in January the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit rejected the action, ruling it an abuse of the bankruptcy court system.
Judge Allows Mesothelioma Claims with 60-Day Pause
In response to the appeals court’s decision, the judge who granted the original bankruptcy filing said that the mesothelioma victims’ talc lawsuits could proceed following a 60-day waiting period. The law firm representing cases involving 15 women and 7 men has filed a motion asking the court to allow their cases to be consolidated.
Speaking on behalf of their clients, a firm representative said, “For more than 18 months, J&J has been wrongly allowed to seek shelter in a bankruptcy court, while enjoying the enormous wealth that allows it to pay more than $1 billion a month to its shareholders. Our clients who have suffered from mesothelioma and their families are ready to present their cases to a jury ho will hear the evidence about asbestos in Johnson’s Baby Powder.”
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma after exposure to a talc product, the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net can help. Contact us today at 1-800-692-8608 to learn more.
