Connecticut Jury Awards $15M In Talc Mesothelioma Lawsuit
A Connecticut jury awarded $15 million to the family of a man who died of mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos at work over 50 years ago. The jury ruled that the 81-year-old decedent developed mesothelioma from contaminated talc used in plastic manufacturing. Lawyers for the decedent’s widow presented evidence that he was exposed to asbestos-contaminated talc between 1965 and 1967 while working as a process engineer at a General Electric plant in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. General Electric purchased the talc from International Talc Co., which sold hundreds of thousands of pounds of talc for use in phenolic molding compounds. Vanderbilt Mineral LLC purchased International Talc in 1974.
It took the jury only two hours to reach its verdict. The jury found Vanderbilt Minerals responsible for being the owner of and successor to International Talc. The decedent died in June 2023.
The jury found that the defendants had a “reckless indifference to others” because of Vanderbilt Mineral’s efforts to suppress knowledge that its talc contained asbestos. The jury also found the company responsible for punitive damages. The amount of compensation for punitive damages has yet to be decided.
Vanderbilt Minerals claimed it was not responsible for International Talc’s materials. The company further claimed that none of its chemicals contained asbestos. Vanderbilt Minerals lost a similar mesothelioma lawsuit in March 2023. In that case, the jury awarded $20 million to the widow of a Rhode Island man diagnosed with mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma and asbestos-contaminated industrial talc
Mesothelioma lawsuits involving industrial talc contaminated with asbestos have been litigated across the United States for at least the last 20 years. While asbestos has been found in talc-based consumer goods including crayons, toys, baby powder, and makeup, industrial talc may present an even greater risk.
Higher levels of asbestos can be found in industrial talc, reaching as much as 50% to 70%. By comparison, testing of cosmetic talc dating back to the 1960s has shown contamination levels up to 30%.
Talc and asbestos are both naturally occurring minerals that form near one another. This makes asbestos contamination a serious concern for talc manufacturers. Asbestos exposure is the primary cause of mesothelioma and can cause a number of asbestos-related diseases. Certain occupations, such as manufacturing, may pose a higher risk of exposure.
High-stakes trial for Johnson & Johnson upcoming in 2025
A high-stakes trial is scheduled for January of 2025. A federal judge in Houston will decide whether to accept the company’s $8.2 billion settlement offer for contaminated baby powder claims. If approved, it would end thousands of cancer lawsuits linked to J&J’s baby powder. 83% of the plaintiffs have approved the offer.
Talk to a Florida Product Liability Lawyer Today
Halpern, Santos & Pinkert represent the interests of Florida residents who have been seriously injured due to a defective or dangerous consumer product. Call Florida personal injury lawyers today to schedule a consultation, and we can begin investigating your claims right away.
Sources:
asbestos.com/news/2024/10/31/judge-decide-jj-settlement-offer/
asbestos.com/news/2024/05/24/jury-awards-15m-in-talc-product-liability-case/
