Johnson & Johnson is one of the largest and most well-known companies in the world, and millions of individuals trust the company with the products they purchase. Unfortunately, Johnson & Johnson has run into some legal trouble with some of its signature products. Here are four recent trials that show a consistent pattern in the manufacturing, marketing, and sale of some Johnson & Johnson products.
Prolift pelvic mesh: Johnson & Johnson misrepresents the efficacy and safety of the mesh.
In March 2018, Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiary Ethicon were hit with a $35 million verdict over their Prolift pelvic mesh. Plaintiffs accused the companies of underreporting and withholding information about the mesh, including reports of a high failure rate and revision surgeries. Some plaintiffs claimed the Prolift mesh caused irreversible injuries. Further, plaintiffs claimed that the companies misrepresented the efficacy and safety of the products by misinforming the public and medical community of the potential risks of implantation. The jury agreed and found that Johnson & Johnson and Ethicon Inc. were negligent in the design of the mesh and did not adequately warn patients and physicians of the risk.
Pinnacle metal-on-metal hip: J&J’s product has design defects.
In November 2017, J&J’s orthopedic subsidiary DePuy was hit with a $247 million verdict across six plaintiffs who claimed the Pinnacle metal-on-metal hip caused implant loosening and metal poisoning. A Dallas jury found DePuy liable for design defects and fraud related to the manufacturing and marketing of the Pinnacle metal-on-metal hip and punished the company with $168 million in punitive damages. This was the third plaintiff verdict in the Pinnacle litigation. Thousands of individuals suffered injuries, including tissue death and bone erosion, that they attribute to the design flaws of the Pinnacle hip implant. The jury agreed and found that Johnson & Johnson and DePuy were liable for design defects and fraud.
Talcum Powder: The manipulation of testing methods so asbestos could not be found in talcum powder
In April 2018, Plaintiffs in a New Jersey state court successfully claimed that Johnson & Johnson and supplier Imerys Talc America Inc. have sold and distributed talcum powder containing asbestos for decades. A jury sided with the plaintiff’s claim that J&J created tests that would intentionally not detect asbestos in the talcum powder and hit J&J and Imerys with $117 million in total damages. Many individuals have been diagnosed with mesothelioma that they claim is a result of talcum powder use. The jury found that the baby powder contained asbestos and that the plaintiff’s exposure to it played a substantial factor in him contracting mesothelioma.
Talcum Powder: Selling the baby powder despite the numerous studies that show a link between talc and ovarian cancer.
In February 2016, a Missouri state court awarded $72 million to a Virginia woman who claimed that her daily use of J&J’s talcum powder caused her ovarian cancer. Johnson & Johnson became aware of this potential danger in 1982 when epidemiologist Dr. Daniel Cramer published a study about the association between perineal talcum powder use and ovarian cancer. Since then there have been over 20 other studies that reaffirm Dr. Cramer’s findings. The case ended up being reversed because the lawsuit lacked jurisdiction in Missouri. Nonetheless, the case highlighted the strength of plaintiff’s claim that J&J failed to warn that perineal use of talcum powder can be a contributing factor to the development of ovarian cancer.
Despite several verdicts that hold Johnson & Johnson responsible for its defective products, the company has not accepted fault and has planned to appeal the decisions.
Goldenberg Lauricella Can Help
Goldenberg Lauricella is accepting Talcum Powder, Pinnacle metal-on-metal hip implant, and Prolift pelvic mesh cases. Please contact your defective medical device attorneys Goldenberg Lauricella. Call us at (800) 504-0281.