California man wins $18.8 million lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson after alleging he developed cancer from exposure to talc-containing baby powder, a jury decided Tuesday per the NY Post.
Emory Hernandez Valadez, 24, told the court that he developed mesothelioma, which is an
“aggressive and deadly form of cancer,”
according to Mayo Clinic. The tumor reportedly spreads to the lungs, stomach, heart, and other organs causing chest pains, shortness of breath, and other deadly symptoms. Valadez said he suffered from heart issues due to
“heavy exposure to asbestos and other carcinogens”,
reports reveal.
Valadez, who sued the company last year, was awarded $3.8 million in economic damages and $15 million for noneconomic damages.
Mesothelioma is incurable and carries a life expectancy of 18 to 31 months, according to Mesothelioma.com. Most lawsuits over J&J talc have been delayed, however, due to Valadez’s diagnosis, US Chief Bankruptcy Judge Michael Kaplan allowed his litigation to proceed.
The NJ-based company denies being the cause of Valadez’s prognosis and said they plan to appeal the verdict. Erik Haas, vice president of litigation at J&J, told the outlet that they have evidence, that they were not able to present in court, to prove their innocence.
“Without the benefit of that evidence, the verdict is irreconcilable with the decades of independent scientific evaluations confirming Johnson’s baby powder is safe, does not contain asbestos, and does not cause cancer,”
Haas said in his statement.
The company announced in August that it would be discontinuing the talc-based baby powder globally in 2023.
#Clique, what are your thoughts?
