Latest St. Louis Talcum Powder Lawsuit Progresses
Nearing the end of its second week, presentations from the plaintiff and the defense continues in the second Johnson & Johnson's baby powder ovarian cancer lawsuit to be heard before the City of St. Louis Circuit Court.
Friday, April 22, 2016 - The talcum powder cancer lawsuit filed by Gloria Ristesund that is currently being heard before the City of St. Louis Circuit Court is about to end its second week of proceedings with no jury verdict expected before the weekend. The opening statements were delivered on April 12 and since then the proceedings have continued, with the latest report from the court listing that evidence brought forth by talcum powder cancer attorneys representing Ristesund took place and was continuing on April 20. The baby powder lawsuit is the second to be heard before the City of St. Louis Circuit Court, after the first ended with a $72 million jury award in favor of the plaintiff.
The second baby powder ovarian cancer lawsuit before the court is progressing similarly to the first regarding the arguments that have been made from both sides. The talcum powder lawyers representing Ristesund claim that Johnson & Johnson had been aware for decades that their talcum powder products had been linked to an increased risk for ovarian cancer in dozens of scientific research studies and decided against informing their consumers or affixing a warning label to the products. Johnson & Johnson has contended that not enough evidence exists to definitively prove a link between their talcum powder products and ovarian cancer.
Ristesund's talcum powder ovarian cancer lawyers will likely present many of the same research studies and internal Johnson & Johnson documents employed in the first trial heard before the court. Though the first baby powder cancer lawsuit trial before the City of St. Louis Circuit Court ended in a large award for the plaintiff, claimants involved in the more than 1,200 baby powder lawsuits nationwide will still pay close attention to the outcome of the most recent proceedings. Though similar evidence and arguments may be used, there is no guarantee of a second verdict in favor of the plaintiff.
If Johnson & Johnson is ruled against in a similar fashion and dollar amount, however, it will likely influence the company's stance on whether to consider settling all talcum powder lawsuits with a lump sum settlement as an option. Similar talcum powder cancer lawsuits around the country also claim that Johnson & Johnson negligently marketed their talcum powder products to consumers while aware of the product's connection to ovarian cancer. Some have even claimed that Johnson & Johnson targeted their talcum powder marketing at minority communities, believing they were more culturally dedicated to the product the company knew was associated with ovarian cancer.
St. Louis is one of the main hubs for the hundreds of talcum powder lawsuits filed around the country. Most of the claims thus far have been filed in the city and surrounding areas, as well as in New Jersey where more than 100 talcum powder ovarian cancer lawsuits are currently consolidated in multicounty litigation. Johnson & Johnson is headquartered in New Jersey.
It isn't known when an eventual verdict will be announced concerning the most recent Johnson & Johnson's baby powder ovarian cancer lawsuit trial in St. Louis. The first talcum powder lawsuit trial heard before the court in February concluded in three weeks. The Ristesund trial will begin its third next week, the final week of April.
OnderLaw, LLC -