Johnson & Johnson not responsible for death of Illinois woman in talcum powder

July 30 (Reuters) – An Illinois jury on Friday refused to hold Johnson & Johnson (JNJ.N) responsible for the death of a woman from ovarian cancer, which her family blamed on decades of use of its talc-based powders.

Those close to the late Elizabeth Driscoll had claimed up to $ 50 million in damages, saying J&J knew their baby powder and Shower to Shower products were dangerous.

Driscoll died in September 2016 at the age of 69, eighteen months after being diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The lawsuit was brought by his niece Colleen Cadagin, who oversees his estate.

Jurors in St. Clair County, Illinois ruled in favor of J&J after a three-week trial.

In a statement, J&J said the verdict reflected “the jury’s careful consideration of the science and the facts presented,” while adding that “we deeply sympathize with anyone with cancer and know they are looking for answers. “.

Leigh O’Dell, who represented Driscoll’s family, said the evidence linking genital talc to ovarian cancer remains overwhelming.

“This decision will not deter us from seeking justice for the thousands of women who have fallen victim to this disease due to corporate negligence and the greed of Johnson & Johnson,” she said.

The verdict came after the trial judge said on Monday that the company had been looked down upon because a defense witness failed to show up for cross-examination, lawyers for the family said.

J&J, based in New Brunswick, New Jersey, said this week it faces about 34,600 lawsuits for talc-based powders, up from 20,600 a year earlier.

In June, the United States Supreme Court rejected its proposal to overturn $ 2.12 billion in damages in Missouri to 22 women who blamed their ovarian cancer on its products. talcum powder. Read more

J&J in 2020 set aside $ 3.9 billion for legal fees, mostly for talc-related liabilities.

The company is considering whether to transfer the talc liabilities to a new company that would then seek bankruptcy protection, seven people familiar with the matter said. Read more

Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York and Tom Hals in Wilmington, Delaware; Editing by David Gregorio

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