Case-by-Case Breakdown of all the Cosmetic Talc Trials in CVN's Video Library

Lanier openings-1

CVN screenshot of plaintiff attorney Marc Lanier delivering his opening statement

Cosmetic talc trials are largely on pause as courts across the country suspend their schedules, but Courtroom View Network still gives you the option of watching top plaintiff and defense attorneys and key expert witnesses in talc cases firsthand, even while working from home, with a CVN video library subscription. 

Since cosmetic talc lawsuits exploded into the headlines in 2016 with news of the first major plaintiff verdicts, CVN has been the news organization most dedicated to gavel-to-gavel video coverage of these important trials.

To date CVN has filmed over 25 cosmetic talc trials, including both ovarian cancer and mesothelioma cases, in courts across the United States. For just $99/month with no contract, you get unlimited access to this one-of-a-kind online video archive - an invaluable resource to anyone with a stake in how these cases actually play out in front of real live juries.

Here’s a bird’s-eye-view summary of all the talc trials included with a CVN video library subscription, in chronological order. Besides talc cases, remember your subscription also gives you unlimited access to hundreds of other trials ranging from traditional asbestos cases to bellwether product liability trials.

 

1. Gloria Ristestund v. Johnson & Johnson (May 2016)

St. Louis, Missouri (ovarian cancer)

Plaintiff firms: Beasley Allen Law Firm, The Smith Law Firm, Under Shelton O’Leary & Peterson)

Defense firms: Butler Snow, Shook Hardy & Bacon (J&J), Gordon Rees (Imerys)

Trial Outcome: $55 million

 

2. Deborah Giannecchini v. Johnson & Johnson (October 2016)

St. Louis, Missouri (ovarian cancer)

Plaintiff firms: Beasley Allen Law Firm, The Smith Law Firm

Defense firms: Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, Beck Redden (J&J), Gordon Rees (Imerys)

Trial Outcome: $70 million

 

3. Nora Daniels v. Johnson & Johnson (February 2017)

St. Louis, Missouri (ovarian cancer)

Plaintiff firms: Beasley Allen law Firm, The Smith Law Firm

Defense Firms: Sidley Austin, Proskauer Rose (J&J), Gordon Rees (Imerys)

Trial Outcome: defense verdict

Notes: 1st talc defense verdict in St. Louis

 

4. "Science Day" hearing in consolidated talc powder docket in advance of July 2017 trial (March 2017)

Los Angeles County, CA (ovarian cancer)

Plaintiff firms: Robinson Calcagnie, Kiesel Law, The Smith Law Firm, Blasingame Burch Garrard Ashley, Mary Alexander & Associates

Defense firms: Tucker Ellis & West, Shook Hardy & Bacon (J&J), Gordon Rees (Imerys)

 

5. Lois Slemp v. Johnson & Johnson (April 2017)

St. Louis, Missouri (ovarian cancer)

Plaintiff firms: Beasley Allen Lawn Firm, The Smith Law Firm

Defense firms: Butler Snow, Covington & Burling (J&J), Gordon Rees, Dykema Cox Smith (Imerys)

Trial Outcome: $110 million verdict

 

6. Michael Blaes v. Johnson & Johnson (June 2017)

St. Louis, Missouri (ovarian cancer)

Plaintiff firms: The Smith Law Firm, Beasley Allen Law Firm

Defense firms: Blank Rome (J&J), Dykema Cox Smith (Imerys)

Trial Outcome: mistrial following U.S. Supreme Court’s Bristol-Myers Squibb decision

 

7. Eva Echeverria v. Johnson & Johnson (June 2017)

Los Angeles County, CA (ovarian cancer)

Plaintiff firms: Robinson Calcagnie

Defense firms: Proskauer Rose, Sidley Austin (J&J), Gordon Rees (Imerys)

Trial Outcome: $417 million plaintiff verdict

Notes: 1st J&J cosmetic talc case in California

 

8. Tina Herford v. Johnson & Johnson (October 2017)

Los Angeles County, CA (mesothelioma)

Plaintiff firms: Simon Greenstone Panatier

Defense firms: Tucker Ellis, King & Spalding, Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe J&J), Alston & Bird (Imerys)

Trial outcome: Defense verdict

Notes: 1st J&J cosmetic talc/mesothelioma trial

 

9. Stephen Lanzo v. Johnson & Johnson (January 2018)

New Brunswick, NJ (mesothelioma)

Plaintiff firms: Kazan McClain Satterley & Greenwood, Levy Konigsberg

Defense firms: Kirkland & Ellis (J&J), Alston & Bird, Rawle & Henderson (Imerys)

Trial outcome: $117 million

Notes: 1st J&J cosmetic talc trial in company’s home state of NJ

 

10. Bertila Boyd-Bostic v. Johnson & Johnson (May 2018)

Darlington County, SC (mesothelioma)

Plaintiff firms: Motley Rice

Defense firms: Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, Wilson & Savage (J&J), Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd (Imerys), Barnes & Thornburg (Rite Aid)

Trial outcome: hung jury

Notes: 1st SC cosmetic talc trial, 1st trial involving Rite Aid

 

11. Gail Ingham, et al. v. Johnson & Johnson (June 2018)

St. Louis, Missouri (ovarian cancer)

Plaintiff firms: Lanier Law Firm

Defense firms: Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe (J&J(

Trial outcome: $4.69 billion

Notes: 1st multi-plaintiff cosmetic talc trial, largest talc verdict to date

 

12. Carolyn Weirick v. Johnson & Johnson (August 2018)

Los Angeles County, CA (mesothelioma)

Plaintiff firms: Simon Greenstone Panatier

Defense firms: Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe, King & Spalding (J&J), Dentons, Alston & Bird (Imerys)

Trial outcome: hung jury

 

13. Rosalind Henry v. Johnson & Johnson (September 2018)

New Brunswick, NJ (mesothelioma)

Plaintiff firms: Motley Rice

Defense firms: Weil Gotshal & Manges

Trial outcome: defense verdict

 

14. Bertila Boyd-Bostic v. Johnson & Johnson (retrial) (November 2018)

Darlington County, SC (mesothelioma)

Plaintiff firms: Motley Rice

Defense firms: Banres & Thornburg, Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe

Trial outcome: hung jury

 

15. Terry Leavitt v. Johnson & Johnson (January 2019)

Oakland, CA (mesothelioma)

Plaintiff firms: Kazan McClain Satterley & Greenwood

Defense firms: Neson Mullins Riley & Scarborough (J&J), Dentons (Cyprus Mines)

Trial outcome: $29.49 million

Notes: 1st J&J cosmetic talc trial in Alameda County, CA

 

16. Ricardo & Pilar Rimondi v. Johnson & Johnson (February 2019)

New Brunswick, NJ (mesothelioma)

Plaintiff firms: Lanier Law Firm

Defense firms: Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe, Weil Gotshal & Manges

Trial outcome: defense verdict

 

17. Gail Koretoff v. Johnson & Johnson (March 2019)

Los Angeles County, CA (mesothelioma)

Plaintiff firms: Simon Greenstone Panatier

Defense firms: King & Spalding

Trial outcome: mid-trial settlement

Notes: 1st mid-trial settlement of a J&J cosmetic talc case

 

18. Patricia Schmitz v Johnson & Johnson, Colgate (April 2019)

Oakland, CA (mesothelioma)

Plaintiff firms: Kazan McClain Satterley & Greenwood

Defense firms: King & Spalding, Foley & Mansfield (J&J), Foley & Mansfield, Barnes & Thornburg (Colgate)

Trial outcome: $12 million

Notes: 1st trial involving both J&J and Colgate

 

19. Beth-Anee Johnson v. Johnson & Johnson (May 2019)

Richland County, South Carolina (mesothelioma)

Plaintiff firms: Motley Rice

Defense firms: Weil Gotshal & Manges, Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough

Trial outcome: defense verdict

 

20. Barden, et al. v. Johnson & Johnson (July 2019)

New Brunswick, NJ (mesothelioma)

Plaintiff firms: Simon Greenstone Panatier, Levy Konigsberg, Cohen Placitella & Roth

Defense firms: Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP

Trial outcome: $37.3 million (punitive phase to follow)

Notes: 1st multi-plaintiff cosmetic talc trial in NJ

 

21. Donna Ann Hayes v. Colgate, Johnson & Johnson (July 2019)

Jefferson County, Kentucky (mesothelioma)

Plaintiff firms: Satterley & Kelley

Defense firms: Gordon & Rees (Colgate), Orrick Herrington (J&J)

Trial outcome: defense verdict

Notes: 1st cosmetic talc trial in Kentucky

 

22. Carolyn Weirick v. Johnson & Johnson (retrial) (September 2019)

Los Angeles County, CA (mesothelioma)

Plaintiff firms: Simon Greenstone Panatier

Defense firms: Orrick Herrington

Trial outcome: defense verdict

 

23. Brower v. Johnson & Johnson (September 2019)

Fulton County, Georgia (ovarian cancer)

Plaintiff firms: The Smith Law Firm, Beasley Allen Law Firm

Defense firms: Blank Rome, Sidley Austin

Trial outcome: hung jury

Notes: 1st cosmetic talc trial in Georgia

 

24. Pui Fong v. Johnson & Johnson (October 2019)

Los Angeles County, CA (mesothelioma)

Plaintiff firms: Kazan McClain Satterley & Greenwood

Defense firms: Kirkland & Ellis

Trial outcome: defense verdict

 

25. Charles O’Hagan v. Johnson & Johnson (December 2019)

Oakland, CA (mesothelioma)

Plaintif firms: Kazan McClain Satterley & Greenwood, Levy Konigsberg

Defense firms: Orrick Herrington, King & Spalding (J&J), Lewis Brisbois (Rio Tinto)

Trial outcome: mid-trial settlement

 

26. Vickie Forrest v. Johnson & Johnson (December 2019)

St. Louis, Missouri (ovarian cancer)

Plaintiff firms: The Smith Law Firm, Beasley Allen Law Firm

Defense firms: Skadden Arps, Nelson Mullins

Trial outcome: defense verdict

 

27. Barden, et al. v. Johnson & Johnson (January 2020)

New Brunswick, NJ (mesothelioma)

Plaintiff firms: Simon Greenstone Panatier, Cohen Placitella & Roth, Levy Konigsberg)

Defense firms: Skadden Arps, Orrick Herrington

Trial outcome: $750 million (reduced to $186.5 million)

Notes: 1st punitive phase w/ different jury than compensatory phase in a talc trial

 

28. Margaret Lashley v. American International Industries (March 2020)

New Brunswick NJ (mesothelioma)

Plaintiff firms: Simon Greenstone Panatier

Defense firms: Lathrop GPM

Trial outcome: trial in recess due to COVID19 outbreak

Notes: 1st trial involving Clubman brand talc products

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