A Florida jury has ordered Johnson & Johnson (J&J) to pay out US$9m in damages to a woman who accused the company’s asbestos-infused baby powder of causing her to develop mesothelioma.
Blanca Moure-Cabrera, who is 82, was awarded $3m for past medical expenses plus an additional $6m in compensation.
The jury described J&J as “negligent” and accused it of selling a “defective product”.
The complainant's attorney Marc Kunen said: “Although we are pleased with the results, the reality is that Ms. Moure-Cabrera is still suffering from a devastating cancer that will ultimately take her life.”
This is the first time the personal care conglomerate has been found guilty in the state.
According to Law360, J&J said it would appeal the decision, claiming the verdict goes against “decades of evidence showing the company acted responsibly and was guided by sound science”.
The company added: "Consumers can be assured that more than 40 years of independent scientific evaluations confirm that Johnson's Baby Powder is safe, does not contain asbestos and does not cause cancer."