The state of New Mexico has recently filed suit against major company Johnson & Johnson, alleging that the company misled consumers about the safety of its baby powder and other talc-based products. According to a New York Times article covering the lawsuit, the Johnson & Johnson products are allegedly contaminated with carcinogenic asbestos, but the company has continued to market them, especially to children and Black and Hispanic women, without any warning. Although the suit was filed by New Mexico, the allegations of Johnson & Johnson’s contaminated products have important implications for Indiana consumers as well.
The attorney general of New Mexico, who is leading the suit on behalf of the state, accused Johnson & Johnson of concealing the dangers of talc products, which are associated with lung disease, ovarian cancer, and mesothelioma. Companies, including Johnson & Johnson, have a legal duty to warn consumers about the dangers posed by their products. If they conceal potentially harmful information, or even just fail to disclose it, they can be held liable—sometimes in multi-million, or even billion, dollar lawsuits. Because the stakes are so high, companies typically invest significant resources into legal teams to help them avoid liability. Johnson & Johnson, for instance, reportedly set aside $190 million in the second quarter of 2019 to defend specifically against talc-related litigation. That money does not even include money spent on non-talc-related suits.
While it is helpful for those injured by Johnson & Johnson or other products to have a state bring suit on their behalf, such a case is incredibly rare. Typically, if a plaintiff wants to recover against a large company, they have to file a suit themselves. When the company spends millions on legal teams to squash such lawsuits, filing suit can be intimidating, and a plaintiff may even feel hopeless. However, with the assistance of a dedicated personal injury attorney, plaintiffs may be able to recover against negligent, fraudulent companies who caused them harm, leveling the playing field between plaintiffs and multi-million-dollar corporations. If successful, the company may owe the plaintiff money for lost wages, past and future medical expenses, pain and suffering, loss of companionship, and more.
Contact An Indiana Personal Injury Lawyer for Immediate Assistance
If you have recently suffered from injuries or illness, and believe it may be related to a defective or harmful product, you may feel overwhelmed about where to start the recovery process. The dedicated Indiana product liability lawyers at Parr Richey Frandsen Patterson Kruse are here to help you. We represent Indiana clients against a wide variety of defendants, both big and small, and are not afraid to stand up to major corporations and zealously defend our client’s legal rights. When you work with us, you can rest assured that someone is working diligently on your case and giving it the time and energy it deserves. Our law firm can help with every stage of the process, from initially filing a suit all the way through trial, if necessary. To learn more, and to schedule a free, no-risk initial consultation, call us today at 888-532-7766.