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State of New Mexico Sues Johnson & Johnson Over Asbestos in Talcum Powder Products

Posted by Michael Throneberry | Feb 02, 2020

On behalf of the state of New Mexico, Attorney General Hector Balderas recently filed suit against pharmaceutical and cosmetics giant Johnson & Johnson over claims that the company knew for decades about the risks posed by using its talc-based products but continued to market the product to consumers. The talcum powder lawsuit further alleges that Johnson & Johnson systematically targeted minority women in its advertising and marketing campaigns of its Baby Powder and Shower to Shower products and misled them and others about the safety of the products.

According to Attorney General Balderas, Johnson & Johnson “concealed and failed to warn consumers about the dangers associated with their talc products,” among which can include such diseases like lung disease, ovarian cancer, and mesothelioma, a rare and deadly cancer which commonly affects the thin lining of tissue surrounding vital organs such as the lungs, heart, and abdomen. The legal action by the state of New Mexico is just the latest in a series of claims brought against Johnson & Johnson, which currently faces an estimated 17,000 talcum powder cancer lawsuits across the country brought by plaintiffs who claim their serious health conditions were caused by decades of talc use.

Thus far, jurors in state courts from California, Missouri, and New Jersey have handed down a over $5 billion in compensation to dozens of plaintiffs who claim they suffered irreparable harm at the hands of Johnson & Johnson. In the wake of these lawsuits, Johnson & Johnson's long-time talc supplier, Imerys Talc USA filed for bankruptcy under the weight of litigation and its liability for its role in these and other plaintiffs' talcum powder asbestos cancer diagnosis.

In October 2019, Johnson & Johnson recalled a lot of 33,000 bottles of its iconic Baby Powder after independent testing conducted on behalf of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) discovered trace amounts of asbestos fibers. While talc itself does not contain asbestos, the two are both naturally occurring minerals which can be found in deposits side by side one another, leading to the risk of cross contamination if reasonable safety precautions are not taken.

Johnson & Johnson has also been rocked by a Reuters report which analyzed thousands of pages of internal company documents which seem to show that the company had conducted its own internal testing of asbestos in its talc and found several positive tests over the years. Despite the recent revelations surrounding the presence of deadly cancer causing asbestos fibers, the company has continued to deny justice to victims and their families and instead chose to litigate dozens of cases brought to trial thus far.

Arizona Mesothelioma Lawyer

If you or a loved one were diagnosed with mesothelioma, contact our office to speak to one of our experienced 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.

About the Author

Michael Throneberry

Attorney Michael Throneberry graduated from Purdue University with a Civil Engineering degree. He then served with the United States Army...

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