$29.4 Million Verdict Reached<br />in Johnson & Johnson Case A California jury has ordered Johnson<br />& Johnson to pay $29 million in compensatory<br />damages to Teresa Leavitt and her spouse. Leavitt was diagnosed with mesothelioma<br />in 2017 and claimed her use of J&J talcum<br />powder in the 1960s and 1970s was to blame. The trial began on January 7 and lasted for nine<br />weeks, ending in a two day deliberation by the jury. They ruled that Leavitt’s exposure<br />to J&J products was a “substantial contributing<br />factor” to her illness, as the talcum-powder<br />was contaminated with asbestos. The jury found J&J at fault for failing<br />to disclose the existence of asbestos,<br />as it is known to cause cancer and mesothelioma. J&J maintained that their products<br />are asbestos free and plan to appeal the verdict. Johnson & Johnson,<br />via statement More than 13,000 talcum-related<br />lawsuits currently exist against the<br />American pharmaceutical company.
