Closing Arguments Set For July 11 In Massive 22-Plaintiff J&J Talc Powder Trial

Posted on Posted in Talcum Powder Cancer Link

St. Louis, MO, July 8,2018 – Attorneys for Johnson & Johnson defending the company from claims that asbestos supposedly present in its cosmetic talc products caused 22 women to develop ovarian cancer wrapped up their case this week in Missouri state court, with closing arguments expected next Wednesday.

The closings will cap off a long-running and closely-watched trial that began on June 6 and could potentially saddle J&J with their largest verdict yet in a talc case.

A number of factors caused attorneys, analysts and reporters to descend on Judge Rex Burlison’s St. Louis courtroom, with many more viewing online remotely, to watch the sometimes explosive arguments over what caused the 22 plaintiffs to develop ovarian cancer after using products like Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower to Shower for decades.

The logistics of 22 individual plaintiffs presenting their claims simultaneously during a single trial is in and of itself a legal high wire act. Judge Burlison plans to give nearly 400 jury instructions in a session that will last an entire day, when in many trials that process takes less than an hour.