A South Carolina jury failed to arrive at a unanimous decision whether Johnson & Johnson was responsible for the death of the 30-year old attorney, whose family claimed she suffered from mesothelioma due to the exposure to J&J's talcum powder containing asbestos traces.
A lawyer for the family insists that the daily use of baby powder led to the death and stated they will retry the case soon. The other defendants, in this case, were the U.S. unit of talc supplier Imerys SA, and a local unit of drugstore chain Rite Aid.
J&J is facing around 9,000 cases over claims that its talcum use led to the diagnosis of ovarian cancer in women due to traces of asbestos present as an ingredient in the baby powder when used for feminine hygiene purposes.
Similar allegations are filed against J&J in state courts in California, New Jersey, and Delaware and consolidated for pre-trial proceedings in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey MDL No. 2738 (In Re: Johnson & Johnson Talcum Powder Products Marketing, Sales Practices, and Products Liability Litigation), presided over by Hon. Freda L. Wolfson, U.S.D.J./ Hon. Lois H. Goodman, U.S.M.J.
