Following recent reports of Johnson & Johnson’s knowledge of asbestos contamination in their powder products, one Florida Jury ordered the company to pay $9 million to an 82-year-old woman, who said a powder product gave her cancer.
Despite this settlement, the roller coaster of legal battles will only continue for Johnson & Johnson, who claim to be unaware of toxic contaminants in their powder products. To their disadvantage, thousands of consumers, who are suffering from chronic illnesses, disagree with the company.
State of Johnson & Johnson Class Action Lawsuits
As of this February, per the Los Angeles Times, nearly 17,000 lawsuits from nationwide consumers, who used Johnson & Johnson products containing talcum powder, await processing by the judicial system. The class action lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson continue to accumulate.
In October of 2019, Johnson & Johnson CEO Alex Gorsky recently made his first testimony for a case related to this issue.
Gorsky, likely under the advisory of legal experts, chose his words carefully in front of the judge. Gorsky testified that he and Johnson & Johnson “unequivocally believe that our talc and our baby powder does not contain asbestos.”
Nearly in the same breath, Johnson & Johnson published a press release after one California case gave the company a favorable ruling, stating “The jury got it right — Johnson’s Baby Powder does not contain asbestos and was not the cause of the plaintiff’s disease.”
However, both Johnson & Johnson and Gorsky lost their credibility shortly after.
Asbestos Reported in Johnson & Johnson Powder by FDA
Only 13 days after Gorsky voiced his unequivocal belief in the purity of J&J baby powder, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), reported finding asbestos in a bottle of Johnson’s Baby Powder.
According to legal experts interviewed by the LA Times, “if Gorsky had unequivocally said talc does not contain asbestos, then opposing lawyers could seek to undermine his declaration by contrasting it with the results of tests Johnson & Johnson knew about over the years suggesting otherwise.”
This recent report by the FDA is not in line with previous investigations of Johnson & Johnson products that contain talcum powder. Until recently, the company appeared to have a nearly scot-free history when it comes to using toxic ingredients in commercially-sold household products.
In fact, the FDA exhibited a hands-off approach to the potential of talcum powder as a carcinogen for decades. That is just part of what Reuters unearthed in December of 2019, according to Reuters, when they exposed the long awareness of upper-level Johnson & Johnson stakeholders, and government organizations that the talc mined for many J&J products contains asbestos.
Now, Gorsky’s court presentation of Johnson & Johnson as a caring corporation seems like an oxymoron.
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Acting “with an Abundance of Caution”
Despite these findings in October, J&J continues to deny any wrongdoing, acting with a reported “‘abundance of caution” in recalling allegedly toxic volumes of powder products, according to the same report mentioned above by the LA Times.
Statements released by Johnson & Johnson in response to the Reuter’s report mentioned that “‘Mr. Gorsky is not a scientist and did not conduct the tests. He, therefore, relies on others to advise him.’” Despite a lack of scientific background or knowledge, doesn’t Gorsky have an obligation to protect the masses of civilians using Johnson & Johnson products as a trusted household name?
Thousands of consumers with chronic health issues agree: Johnson & Johnson needs to be held accountable. The groundbreaking report from Reuters did not accelerate the legislative process for any of the class action lawsuits, but recent events are promising for anyone awaiting a settlement, or time in court related to this issue.
The investigative report by Reuters found evidence that the “raw and unfinished” powders obtained and sold by Johnson & Johnson contained self-reported contaminants like asbestos. However, neither representatives from the company nor public servants addressed the problem; rather, they struggled to hide this information from public scrutiny.
Publicly, Johnson & Johnson continues to deny any wrongdoing.
File a Class Action Lawsuit in the Johnson Powder Case
This class action lawsuit is open to anyone who used Johnson & Johnson powder hygiene products, who received a cancer or mesothelioma diagnosis. Additionally, survivors of people who suffered from cancer or mesothelioma and died may file on behalf of their deceased loved one.
If you are a current or former cancer or mesothelioma patient, and used Johnson & Johnson powder products, you may be eligible to file a class action lawsuit. Call Pintas & Mullins Law Firm today, so that one of our lawyers can help you pursue a class action lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson. Our lawyers can begin working on your case as soon as you call our offices. For a free consultation, call our offices today at (800) 934-6555.
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