Missouri state jury ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $72 million for the damages to the family of a woman who died of ovarian cancer last year. The decision was made after her death was linked to the company's talcum powder.
According to NBC news, on Monday, Feb 22, jurors in the court of St. Louis awarded the family of Jacqueline Fox of $72 million for the damages after the company failed to warn users about the potential danger of talcum powder.
The verdict came after Fox's family filed a lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson -- claiming that Jacqueline, from Birmingham, Alabama has used the company's Baby Powder and Shower to Shower for feminine care for more than 3 decades before being diagnosed three years ago with ovarian cancer. Hence, she died October 2015 at the age of 62.
Jere Beasley, a lawyer for Fox's family said the company is totally aware of the possible risk of talc, but despite its danger the manufacturer didn't warn users about it. The company, "knew as far back as the 1980s of the risk," Beasley said during the press conference. And yet resorted to "lying to the public, lying to the regulatory agencies."
And while Fox's family is happy about the decision, Johnson & Johnson, on the other hand, is disappointed with the outcome of the trial. "We have no higher responsibility than the health and safety of consumers," Carol Goodrich, spokeswoman for the company said. "We sympathize with the plaintiff's family but firmly believe the safety of cosmetic talc is supported by decades of scientific evidence."
Now, Fox's family is entitled $10 million for the actual damages and another $62 million as a punitive award. Nevertheless, attorney James Onder told the Guardian that he expects that the world's biggest maker of health care products, Johnson & Johnson, to appeal the verdict.
