Mark Lanier Gets $4.7 Billion Verdict for Clients in Talcum Powder Case

Attorney Mark Lanier is our co-counsel and is the lead trial counsel for us in the Texas Lottery Fun 5’s case against GTECH (now known as IGT). Mark obtained a verdict this week for 22 of his clients and their families in a product liability suit against Johnson & Johnson. Mark alleged and showed the jury evidence that J&J knew for 40 years that their baby powder and Shower to Shower talcum powder products contained asbestos. Despite this knowledge, J&J failed to inform consumers about the presence of the asbestos and failed to warn that the products could cause ovarian cancer. A jury in St. Louis awarded Mark’s clients $550 million in compensatory damages. Based on the evidence of a knowing deception, the jury in St. Louis awarded an additional $4.14 billion in punitive damages to serve as a warning to J&J and other companies. The award of punitive damages reportedly may be reduced based on a state law that places a cap on punitive damages. Six of the 22 clients died from their ovarian cancer before trial.