Reuters reports that a jury in New Jersey has awarded $80 million in punitive damages, on top of $37 million in compensatory damages, to a plaintiff who claimed he developed cancer as a result of exposure to asbestos in Johnson & Johnson’s talc products.
Reuters says this is the first time Johnson & Johnson has lost a trial involving alleged asbestos contamination of its talc product. It won a similar case that went to trial last year in California.
The company has been hit with some big punitive damages awards in cases involving claims that talc itself causes ovarian cancer, but so far those awards have been tossed out during post-trial motions or on appeal.
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L.A. jury awards $347 million in punitive damages against Johnson & Johnson in talc case