After a landmark jury ruling in Missouri last July, personal care giant Johnson & Johnson was ordered to pay more than $4.69 billion to 22 women, in what is believed to be the largest consumer settlement in American history. The reason? Johnson & Johnson’s iconic talcum baby powder was found to contain trace amounts of asbestos fibers – and the company actively suppressed this information from the 1970’s onward.

Now facing nearly 15,000 personal injury lawsuits from women claiming ovarian cancer, Imerys Talc America – the primary talc supplier for Johnson & Johnson – has now filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in order to cover the costs of litigation. At The Ferraro Law Firm, our Florida talcum powder attorneys are ready and willing to help our clients take on major companies like these in cases of extreme negligence, and to seek the fair compensation they deserve for catastrophic illnesses.

Talc and Ovarian Cancer: Who Is Liable?

Since the $4.69 billion verdict in Missouri, thousands of women have also come forward to claim ovarian cancer, mesothelioma, and other serious asbestos-related conditions as a result of using Johnson & Johnson brand baby powder on their bodies.

As Reuters reported in December 2018, internal memos and past lawsuits demonstrated that Johnson & Johnson had known about the link between their talcum powder product and asbestos for decades. By refusing to come clean earlier (and even actively hiding information, past claims, and test results), Johnson & Johnson showed a clear pattern of corporate negligence, and they should be required to take responsibility for that carelessness.

But the talc supplier, Imerys Talc America, can also be held accountable for negligence. Because talc occurs next to asbestos naturally, talc miners need to be extremely cautious about stray asbestos fibers, and perform rigorous tests to ensure that the final product is safe. By failing to exercise due diligence in this respect, Imerys Talc may indeed be liable for the painful injuries the plaintiffs sustained.

Pursuing Justice for Asbestos Exposure Victims

Our Florida lawyers are absolutely committed to seeking justice in cases like these, and because we primarily focus on mesothelioma and asbestos exposure cases, we have vast experience litigating complex toxic torts claims. In fact, we’ve won more than $1 billion on behalf of our clients since 1985, and we have already successfully represented plaintiffs seeking damages against Johnson & Johnson, talc suppliers, and other beauty retailers who use defective talc. No matter your unique situation, we have the skill and the experience to help you seek restitution.