First UK Group Asbestos Injury Claim Against Johnson & Johnson
Asbestos injury lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson for injuries caused by contaminated baby powder have spread to the United Kingdom (UK). More than 3,000 claimants (or plaintiffs in the US) joined a lawsuit claiming asbestos in the company’s products caused their cancers.
It’s estimated that about 66,000 such lawsuits are pending against the company in the US. Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has unsuccessfully tried to use the bankruptcy process to force plaintiffs to settle these claims.
The lawsuit was filed in England’s High Court in October, according to the New York Times. The claim’s value is 1 billion pounds (or $1.3 billion), according to KP Law, the law firm representing the claimants. This is the first group claim filed against J&J in Britain.
Legal Claims Based on Injuries From a Product That Wasn’t as Advertised
The claimants claim that from 1965 to 2023, the company sold talc products knowing they contained cancer-causing asbestos fibers. J&J stopped selling talc-based baby powder in the US in 2020, replacing it with cornstarch, and made a similar change globally in 2023.
Claimants include those who developed ovarian cancer and mesothelioma. They claim they were exposed to the baby powder for at least five years, during their infancy, childhood, and for some, it continued into adulthood. The product’s packaging stated its “mildness” was “clinically proven.”
Company Denies Wrongdoing
J&J’s baby powder was made from talc for decades. The company claims that its product is safe but internal memos released in the course of litigation show company officials were concerned that the processed talc they used was contaminated with asbestos fibers, which can be mixed with or near underground talc deposits.
Two years ago, J&J put its consumer product brands in Kenvue, a stand-alone company. It defends the alleged safety of baby powder, claiming testing has shown it didn’t pose any risk and complied with all applicable safety standards, rules, and regulations.
Take Legal Action Now — Contact Our Firm
If you have mesothelioma or another type of cancer, and used cosmetic talcum powder, you and your family may be entitled to compensation for the harm you suffer. Let us be your boots on the ground seeking maximum compensation for you and your family.
Call us at 855-385-9532, locally 502-589-5600, or contact us online to arrange a free initial consultation with a Satterley & Kelley PLLC lawyer.