J & J has reportedly lost a mistrial bid in an asbestos talcum powder trial in America. The legal team representing Johnson & Johnson – a pharmaceutical and medical manufacturing giant – reportedly took issue with comments made by the lawyers fighting for compensation for a male claiming damages for asbestos-related illness that he alleges was caused by the use of J & J talcum powder.
Talcum powder has been linked with the dangerous cancer mesothelioma, which can be caused by exposure to asbestos, and a number of legal claims have seen some success in finding J & J liable for allowing their talcum powder products to contain the dangerous substance that is mined closely to where talc is produced.
In this latest update in the big J & J asbestos talcum powder case, claims made by J & J lawyers that improper comments were made to a jury by the legal team fighting for the victim’s right to damages were rejected. J & J had reportedly made an application for a mistrial based on the closing arguments made by Stephen Lanzo, acting for the claimant.
The application has not been upheld.
The origins of the asbestos talcum powder claims come from the fact that both substances are mined in close proximity to one another, and investigations in the UK have begun into the dangers as well. Claimants allege that use of the talcum powder over prolonged periods of time has exposed them to asbestos which they say the talcum powder contains trace amounts of; an allegation supported by some experts.
J & J say their talcum powder is completely safe, but they stand accused of a “cover-up” by only using tests on their products that would specifically not identify trace amounts of asbestos.
The saga goes on, and our Group Action Lawyers continue to keep a very close eye on the developments of the cases. We are able to advise and potentially represent any UK victims who are suffering from asbestos-related illnesses that they believe may have been caused by prolonged use of talcum powder. We can look in to individual issues on a case-by-case basis.