A jury in the USA state of Missouri awarded $72 million to the family of an Alabama woman who died from ovarian cancer, which she said was caused by using Johnson & Johnson’s well-known baby powder and other products containing talcum.
Advertisement
The verdict at the end of the three week trial was the first time damages had been awarded by a U.S. jury over talc claims.
Fox claimed that for over 35 years she had used baby powder made by J&J and another talc product for feminine hygiene until she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
During a conference call with journalists, Beasley alleged that Johnson & Johnson were aware of the risk and side effect of their product in the 1980 however, they continued to deceive the public and “lied to regulatory agencies”.
Mrs Fox died in October previous year.
The company is likely to face hundreds of lawsuits alleging that it has failed to warn its customers of the risk of using the talc-based powder.
Jurors found Johnson & Johnson liable for fraud, negligence and conspiracy, the lawyers of the family said.
The jury’s verdict on Monday night came after almost five hours of deliberations after a three-week trial.
About 1,000 cases are now filed in state court in Missouri and 200 more in New Jersey.
A company spokeswoman said the health and safety of its consumers was paramount and they were disappointed with the outcome of the trial. “We sympathize with the plaintiff’s family but firmly believe the safety the cosmetic talc is supported by decades of scientific evidence”.
According to news reports, the family claimed that her death was linked to the company’s baby powder.
A South Dakota jury in October of 2013 found that a plaintiff’s use of J&J body powder products had been a factor in developing ovarian cancer. Nevertheless, it awarded no damages, court records show.
Advertisement
The Shower to Shower brand is now owned by Valeant Pharmaceuticals but the company was not named as a defendant in this case.
