Johnson & Johnson must pay nearly $19million to a California man who says the firm’s baby powder caused his rare and deadly cancer, a court has ruled.
Emory Hernandez Valadez, a 24-year-old from Oakland, claims heavy exposure to J&J’s talcum products from childhood caused his mesothelioma, a cancer around his heart that is caused by inhaling toxic asbestos.
On Tuesday, a jury ruled that Valadez was entitled to $18.8m in damages for his medical bills, pain and suffering, though Valadez is unlikely to live long enough to see any of that compensation.
Most mesothelioma patients don’t live more than four to 18 months and a bankruptcy filing by J&J has frozen most talc-related litigation and payouts, meaning it could be years before plaintiffs see payouts.
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Alexa Lardieri 