HarrisMartin: Jury Adds $4.14 Billion in Punitive Damages to Earlier $550 Million Award in Talc Trial Against J&J

ST. LOUIS –– A Missouri jury has added $4.14 billion in punitive damages to an earlier award of $550 million in a multi-plaintiff talcum powder trial, bringing the total verdict to $4.69 billion in what was the first multi-plaintiff trial to proceed in the state.

The Missouri Circuit Court for St. Louis City jury reached the punitive damages verdict on July 12, just hours after the Phase I verdict was read.

The case involved the claims of 22 plaintiffs who argue that their ovarian cancer was caused by use of talcum powder products such as Baby Powder and Shower-to-Shower. …