On Friday, Oct.11, a California jury freed Johnson & Johnson (J&J) of allegations a plaintiff who claimed that the company's talcum powder contained asbestos, which caused his pleural mesothelioma, a cancer of the lining of the lungs often associated with asbestos exposure.
According to the court documents, the 64-year-old man used J&J baby powder for more than three decades as well as Clubman brand talc powder after haircuts, and he also worked with an auto shop during one summer, where he was exposed to asbestos, which he believed were the reasons for his terminal cancer.
The Long Beach jury, following a nearly three-week trial, rejected the plaintiff's claim that his cancer was caused due to the use of J&J baby powder. J&J was the only defendant when the case went to trial, and it is the second trial in the same week that favored the defendants. Another plaintiff's similar allegation against J&J was also rejected by a California state court jury.
Talcum powder lawsuits are presided by Hon. Freda L. Wolfson, U.S.D.J., and Hon. Lois H. Goodman, U.S.M.J., consolidated under MDL No. 2738.
