THE $4.69 BILLION SUIT JURY DETERMINES JOHNSON & JOHNSON’S TALCUM POWDER CAUSED CANCER
Last July, a group of 22 women won a landmark suit against medical-device giant Johnson & Johnson, claiming that minute quantities of asbestos in the company’s talcum powder caused them to develop ovarian cancer. The plaintiffs were awarded $4.69 billion — the largest amount ever awarded in a product liability case. This case was one of several similar cases that have been filed since 2016, and the suits show no sign of slowing down. Despite the over 11,700 claims that their talcum powder is cancerous, Johnson & Johnson continues to aggressively defend its product. Plaintiffs have obtained internal documents that appear to confirm J&J company officials have known since the 1970s that some of the talcum in their baby powder contained asbestos, establishing that consumers should have been warned of potential lethal
side-effects. J&J has determined to paint all of the plaintiffs as eager participants in the litigation, even though many victims have either endured years of cancer treatment, or have already
naturally in the same environment with asbestos, but asbestos has been banned from commercial products since the 1970s. Studies on the subject are far from damning, but one meta-analysis found there is a small but statistically significant association between talc usage and
died due to their illness. One strategy that seems to be paying off for some plaintiffs is to file suits in smaller groups, rather than en masse, to make it easier for the public to attach names and faces to the cases. With 21 cases on various court calendars throughout the country, one question still remains: Was J&J’s talcum powder the culprit behind so many people’s cancer? The mineral talc can be found
certain types of cancer. As more research continues to come out, it does not appear that a consensus is yet on the horizon. Marks Law Group is no stranger to fighting large corporations and winning settlements in court. If you ever find yourself in physical or financial duress as a result of a defective or harmful product, give our office a call to speak with our attorneys.
LAUGHING WITH AMANDA MARKS
Amanda Goldstein Marks is a quirky and endearing comedian, content creator, and super (tired) mom. She performs stand-up comedy, MCs events
CRUNCHY CELERY STICKS
throughout the country, and just finished touring with the Brisket Belt Comedy Show. She has opened for comedian Judy Gold at the City Winery and has performed at the Stardome in Birmingham, Zanie's Comedy Night Club in Nashville, Stand Up Live in Huntsville, and the Comedy Zone in Charlotte. Amanda was a finalist for "Best Comedian" for Creative Loafing's Best of Atlanta in 2018, and her and her sister Alison’s podcast “Sis and Tell” won "Best Podcast" for Creative Loafing's Best of Atlanta in 2017. Amanda's comedy is like your favourite barbecue brisket: both inexplicably Southern and Jewish. Amanda can be found dishing wisdom and humour at sisandtell.com.
INGREDIENTS
• 2 celery stalks, washed and peeled with a peeler • 2 tablespoons peanut butter or almond butter • 2 teaspoons granola
DIRECTIONS
1. Put the celery stalks on a plate. Using a spoon, scoop some peanut butter from the jar and stuff it into the celery. 2. Sprinkle with the granola, and then press down with your fingers or a spoon to make the granola stick to the peanut butter.
NOTES
If you are allergic to nuts, make this recipe with cream cheese instead of nut butter.
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