The Missouri Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to consider Johnson & Johnson’s appeal seeking $ 2.12 billion ($ 1.8 billion) in damages to women accused of infecting their ovaries with asbestos in baby powder and other talc products.

The Missouri Supreme Court upheld a state appeals court’s decision on June 23 that upheld the jury’s finding liability in July 2018, but reduced J & J’s payments to $ 4.69 billion after rejecting the claims of some of the 22 plaintiffs.

Johnson & Johnson said it intends to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.

“This verdict is the result of a fundamentally flawed trial, based on a misrepresentation of the facts,” contrary to decades of independent scientific assessments confirming that Johnson’s baby powder is safe, does not contain asbestos, and does not cause cancer. “

Plaintiff’s lawyer Kevin Parker said in a statement that Johnson & Johnson accepted the jury’s and appeals court’s findings and proceeded with appropriate compensation for the victims.

Johnson & Johnson announced in May that it would stop selling baby powder talc in the United States and Canada.

Asbestos

New Bruszwick, based in New Jersey, said last month that it was facing more than 21,800 cases claiming that their talc products could cause cancer due to pollution from the well-known cancer asbestos.

The Missouri Court of Appeals told the Court of Appeals that it was reasonable to assume evidence that Johnson & Johnson neglected consumer safety in the move for profit. Despite the fact that talc products can cause ovarian cancer. Found “significant contempt” in the company’s conduct.

Following the 2018 Reuters investigation report, Johnson & Johnson conducted an intensive inspection of the safety of its baby powder. It has been known for decades that asbestos has been implicated in its fraud.

Internal company documents, trial testimonials and other evidence show that at least from 1971 to the early 2000s, J&J’s raw talc and finished powders were sometimes tested positive for small amounts of asbestos.

Johnson & Johnson shares rose two cents to $ 138.71 during the afternoon trade on the New York Stock Exchange. – Reuters