Currently,
pharmaceutical and cosmetics giant Johnson & Johnson faces an estimated
14,200 lawsuits in state and federal courts across the country over claims that
its talc-based products cause various forms of cancer in innocent people. Many
of those claims allege that Johnson & Johnson products like Baby Powder and
Shower to Shower contain asbestos fibers and that this fact was known to the
company for decades, though it provided no warning to consumers about the risks
of using the product.
Traditionally,
asbestos cancer lawsuits were common in cases in which industrial and
manufacturing workers used asbestos-laden products in the course of their jobs
and not necessarily in consumer products. Common professions associated with
asbestos exposure include ship and dock workers, vinyl flooring and insulation
workers, pipefitters, and steamfitters using asbestos containing gaskets in
power plants and other industrial applications.
Both
talc and asbestos are naturally occurring minerals which can often be found in
deposits side by side one another. If talc suppliers and manufacturers do not
take precautions to prevent foreseeable asbestos contamination, innocent people
may suffer serious health conditions as a result. When consumers are harmed as
a result of companies knowingly placing defective products in the stream of
commerce, the law gives these individuals the right to file asbestos cancer
lawsuits.
By
filing an asbestos cancer lawsuit, plaintiffs can recover compensation for
their monetary damages such as past and future hospital bills and lost wages
from missing work while undergoing treatment for the disease. Additionally,
plaintiffs can recover compensation for the physical pain and suffering and
emotional distress of living with the harm caused by a mesothelioma diagnosis.
To
date, juries in state courts have awarded a total of $5 billion in total
compensation, including large punitive damages awards to send a message to
Johnson & Johnson and other companies that willful and wanton disregard for
public safety will not be tolerated. Those verdicts came in trials where juries
were presented evidence showing Johnson & Johnson executives knew for decades about
the risks of asbestos contamination in its products but did nothing to warn
consumers about possible health risks.
In
cases in which victims pass away before they are able to have their case heard
by a jury in a court of law, surviving family members or those designated as
the administrator of the deceased’s estate may continue the claim on their
behalf. Because of the nature of a mesothelioma diagnosis, patients
are often left with limited time after receiving a diagnosis, but the law
provides statute of limitations for plaintiffs to bring their claims that may
extend after passing.
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. We 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.
Need a lawyer? Start here.