Johnson & Johnson Gets Second Talc Defense Win in a Week
"This is the fourth consecutive verdict in favor of Johnson & Johnson in these cases and the eighth defense verdict this year," said a Johnson & Johnson spokeswoman.
December 21, 2019 at 12:11 PM
2 minute read
Johnson & Johnson's baby powder. (Photo: Mike Mozart/Flickr)
A St. Louis jury has rejected claims that Johnson & Johnson's baby powder caused a woman's ovarian cancer, the second defense win for the company in the past week.
Friday's verdict involved claims from plaintiff Vickie Forrest, who was one of 13 women whose case was halted by the Missouri Supreme Court earlier this year. Allison Brown of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom and Michael Brown of Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough defended Johnson & Johnson.
"This is the fourth consecutive verdict in favor of Johnson & Johnson in these cases and the eighth defense verdict this year," said Johnson & Johnson spokeswoman Kimberly Montagnino. "The jury carefully considered the decades of independent clinical evidence, which show Johnson's baby powder is safe, does not contain asbestos, and does not cause cancer. We know that anyone suffering from cancer is searching for answers, which is why the science and facts on this topic are so important."
Ted Meadows and David Dearing of Beasley Allen; Allen Smith of The Smith Law Firm; and Michelle Parfitt of Ashcraft & Gerel represented Forrest in the St. Louis Circuit Court trial.
"It's disappointing that J&J will view this verdict as approval of the continued sale of talc-based body powder that harms women," Meadows said in a statement.
Johnson & Johnson earlier in the week received a defense verdict in Los Angeles Superior Court, beating back claims its talcum powder caused the plaintiff to get mesothelioma in 2016. Joseph Satterley of Kazan, McClain, Satterley & Greenwood represented the plaintiff.
Johnson & Johnson's attorneys at Kirkland & Ellis accused the plaintiff's lawyers of misconduct in that case. The judge refused to grant Johnson & Johnson a mistrial, but Kazan McClain brought in Keker, Van Nest & Peters to respond to the misconduct claims.
Johnson & Johnson, which has also lost several verdicts, including one last year awarding $4.7 billion to 22 women, has criticized state court trials for allowing "junk science" into the courtroom. Several of the verdicts were overturned on appeal.
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