J&J Defendants Ask Bankruptcy Court to Assert Jurisdiction over Mesothelioma, Ovarian Cancer Talcum Powder Claims

WILMINGTON, Del. –– Johnson & Johnson and Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. have filed a motion to fix venue for claims related to Imerys Talc America Inc.’s bankruptcy, arguing that underlying mesothelioma and ovarian cancer talcum powder claims affect the debtors’ estates.

The defendants filed the motion on April 18 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, the same day it removed thousands of ovarian cancer and mesothelioma cases pending in state courts across the country.

According to the recent motion, Imerys Talc America sought Chapter 11 protection as a result of an “avalanche of claims …