U.S. judge rules talc lawsuits against J&J can proceed, testimony limited

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

BUSINESS NEWS APRIL 27, 2020 / 3:14 PM / UPDATED 25 MINUTES AGO

U.S. judge rules talc lawsuits against J&J can proceed, testimony limited

Brendan Pierson
3 MIN READ

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Thousands of plaintiffs who say that Johnson & Johnson’s (JNJ.N) baby powder and talc products caused cancer can go forward with their claims, but face limits on what expert testimony will be allowed in trials after a Monday ruling by a New Jersey judge.

J&J faces more than 16,000-talc related lawsuits nationwide, the majority of which are pending before U.S. District Judge Freda Wolfson in New Jersey. The lawsuits allege that the company’s talc products have been contaminated with asbestos and can cause ovarian cancer.

The company had sought to bar all of the plaintiffs’ experts from testifying, which would have effectively wiped out all the cases before Wolfson.

J&J said in a statement that Monday’s decision “is not a determination by the court on the validity of the plaintiffs’ allegations.” It added that all verdicts against the company in talc lawsuits that had gone through the appeals process have been overturned.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-johnson-johnson-talc-ruling/u-s-judge-rules-talc-lawsuits-against-jj-can-proceed-testimony-limited-idUSKCN2292QC

[Mosby]

1. Say goodbye to baby powder.

The lawyers next target is, ironically, 3M.

Defective ear plugs.

The contingency fee system is driving this trend.

ETA baby powder does not have any asbestos in it, and hasn't for decades, but the truth is not easy to discern in modern american courtrooms.

[procon]

3. No, just choose an alternative to talcum based powders.

Look for dusting powders instead of talcum powders. Dusting powders are usually made with food grade starches like cornstarch, baking soda, tapioca starch, arrowroot, rice starch, oat flour and even some clays.

These dusting powders are made from food substances instead of minerals like talcum powders, so food allergies would apply. As with any other fine dust, which includes talcs, you'll want to cover your nose and even move out of the area you used it in to avoid inhaling the fine particles which can cause respiratory problems.

[Mosby]

4. There hasn't been any asbestos in jnj baby powder since the 70s

Lawyers mine for clients using advertising. They run ads that say if you have mesothelioma call us. Their legal claims go back decades, because there hasn't been any asbestos in talc for a long time. Before that there were trace amounts that was below government guidelines.

The truth is that there is no real scientific evidence that asbestos even causes mesothelioma, because there are many vectors for exposure. The most common way to be exposed is popcorn ceilings, which is loaded with asbestos.

[procon]

2. Good! These assholes were no better than those

cigarette Chaos who stood before Congress and lied under oath that their products were safe.

J&J knew what was in their products and they knew it caused cancer, but they sold it anyway. Their greed killed hundreds of women. I'm lucky I'm not one of them!