A California state jury recently heard opening arguments in a new talcum powder asbestos cancer trial brought by a 48-year old woman who claims she developed her serious form of cancer after years of using talc-based products produced and marketed by the defendant. The mesothelioma cancer lawsuit claims pharmaceutical and cosmetics giant Johnson & Johnson knew its talcum powder products were contaminated with asbestos fibers but provided no warning to consumers about the dangers associated with using its products.
Attorneys for the plaintiff told jurors that for decades, the plaintiff was exposed to asbestos fibers in Johnson & Johnson's Baby Powder and Shower to Shower and that was the cause of her developing mesothelioma cancer. Johnson & Johnson, on the other hand, maintained that despite the overwhelming evidence showing the company knew its products have tested positive for asbestos, those products are safe for consumers and not to blame for the plaintiff's condition.
The trial comes just weeks after a Los Angeles jury handed down a substantial $40.3 million verdict to a plaintiff and her husband alleging the victim's mesothelioma cancer was also caused by exposure to asbestos fibers in Johnson & Johnson's Baby Powder. That latest lawsuit is just one of many that together have produced over $5 billion in total compensation to dozens of plaintiffs across the country who claim their cancer diagnoses were due to asbestos exposure from decades of using Johnson & Johnson's talc-based products.
Johnson & Johnson faces an estimated 14,000 other talcum powder cancer lawsuit trials across the country, mostly in federal courts. Although Johnson & Johnson did pull its Baby Powder from shelves for a short time due to asbestos contamination scares, the company has since reversed that decision.
Exposure to asbestos, once commonly used in a variety of industrial and commercial applications, is directly linked to developing a whole host of serious health conditions, particularly mesothelioma cancer. The disease commonly affects thin linings of skin surrounding the lungs but can also manifest itself in tissues surrounding the abdomen and heart. There is currently no cure for mesothelioma and due to long latency periods before a diagnosis is made, patients are often left with diminished treatment options to fight the cancer.
When innocent people develop mesothelioma from asbestos exposure due to the negligence of another party, victims have the legal right to hold these wrongdoers responsible in a court of law by filing an asbestos cancer lawsuit to recover damages. Compensation available for mesothelioma plaintiffs includes economic damages for past and future hospital bills, lost wages incurred while taking time off from work, and damages for the pain and suffering of living with the repercussions of the disease.
Arizona Mesothelioma Lawyer
If you or a loved one were diagnosed with mesothelioma, contact our office to speak to one of our experienced Arizona mesothelioma attorneys about your situation. Our office can help investigate your case and determine if compensation can be sought from negligent parties to help pay for your medical treatment to help you and your family live a more comfortable life.
