Johnson & Johnson Takes Aim at 3rd Party Litigation Financing in Response to Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee Bid

TRENTON, N.J. — Johnson & Johnson has asked the federal judge presiding over the talcum powder MDL to require plaintiffs to disclose whether any third parties — including litigation funding companies — have a contingent monetary interest in the outcome of the cases.

Johnson & Johnson’s request was included in a Nov. 28 response to a joint application for appointment of the plaintiffs’ steering committee to which the defendant said it took no position.

Instead, the response focused primarily on an apparent discrepancy in plaintiffs’ statements to the court indicating that there remains much discovery yet to be conducted …