Jurisdiction: Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans, State of Louisiana
A Louisiana Jury returned a plaintiff’s verdict May 7 after an eight-week trial against Johnson & Johnson and Pecos River Talc LLC.
Plaintiff Jeannine Henderson filed a complaint against various cosmetic talc manufacturers and suppliers, including J&J and Pecos River Talc, alleging the talc used to make various powder products that she used over the course of her lifetime caused her to develop mesothelioma.
The jury ultimately found in a 9-2 vote that Ms. Henderson had significant exposure to asbestos from products manufactured and/or sold by J&J and/or Pecos River Talc, which was a substantial factor of her mesothelioma. Specifically, the jury determined that J&J was 45 percent liable, Pecos River Talc was 2 percent liable and another non-party, was 45 percent liable.
Notably, however, the eligible jurors unanimously agreed that, “at the time the products at issue left J&J’s control, J&J did not know and, in light of then-existing reasonably available scientific and technological knowledge, could not have known of the characteristic that caused the damage or the danger of such characteristic.”
Regarding total monetary compensation amounts, the jury determined the following: $85K for physical pain and suffering; $85K for mental anguish; $85K for loss of enjoyment of life; $2.5M for medical expenses; and $90K to each of Ms. Henderson’s two children. The total verdict amounted to $3,005,206.09.
Goldberg Segalla’s Asbestos Case Tracker will continue to monitor this matter for updates, including any post-judgment motions and appeals.
Read the full decision here.
