J&J Defendants Remove Asbestos Talcum Powder Actions, Cite Imerys Bankruptcy Proceedings

NEW ORLEANS –– Johnson & Johnson and Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. have removed a number of asbestos cosmetic talcum powder actions to several federal courts across the country, including a Louisiana federal court, contending that the ongoing bankruptcy proceedings involving Imerys Talc America confer federal jurisdiction.

In a notice of removal filed in one of the cases on April 18 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana, the Johnson & Johnson defendants explained they also moved the Delaware bankruptcy court to fix venue for the claims relating to Imerys’ bankruptcy.

“The state court talc …