The U.S. Trustee Program has filed a motion to dismiss Johnson & Johnson’s latest bankruptcy filing, which aims to settle over 60,000 talc-related lawsuits. The DOJ argues that this maneuver is a bad-faith attempt to avoid billions in liability, citing the company’s history of similar tactics. This move comes after Johnson & Johnson increased its settlement offer to $9 billion, but the DOJ believes the company is seeking a third-party release to shield itself from liability.
Johnson & Johnson, through its subsidiary Red River Talc, has filed for bankruptcy for the third time to resolve thousands of lawsuits related to its talc products. This move comes after two previous bankruptcy attempts were rejected by courts. The new plan proposes a $6.5 billion settlement over 25 years to resolve 99.75% of the talc lawsuits, with support from 83% of claimants. This filing marks a significant development in the ongoing saga of Johnson & Johnson’s talc litigation.
In a groundbreaking verdict, a federal jury has ruled that BNSF Railway contributed to the deaths of two individuals who were exposed to asbestos decades ago in the Montana town of Libby. The jury awarded $4 million each to the plaintiffs’ estates, finding that asbestos-contaminated vermiculite shipped through the town by BNSF played a role in their illnesses. The decision brings some accountability for the railroad’s past actions in Libby, where thousands have been sickened by asbestos exposure.
A jury determined that BNSF Railway contributed to the deaths of two individuals due to asbestos exposure from contaminated vermiculite shipped through the town of Libby, Montana. The jury awarded $4 million each to the plaintiffs’ estates, finding that the asbestos-contaminated vermiculite played a significant role in the illnesses and deaths of the plaintiffs. BNSF did not receive any punitive damages as the jury did not find intentional or indifferent actions on their part. The case is the first of numerous lawsuits against BNSF over its past operations in Libby, where asbestos exposure has resulted in hundreds of deaths and thousands of illnesses.
A federal jury has found BNSF Railway partially responsible for the deaths of two individuals who developed asbestos-related illnesses after being exposed to contaminated vermiculite shipped through Libby, Montana. The jury awarded compensatory damages of $4 million to each family. This is the first case to go to trial in numerous lawsuits against BNSF related to asbestos exposure in Libby. Attorneys for the victims argued that the railroad knew about the dangers of asbestos-tainted vermiculite but failed to act, while BNSF’s defense claimed they were unaware of the health hazards and were obligated to ship the material. Experts believe that people previously exposed to asbestos in Libby will continue to develop diseases for years to come.
A federal jury has ruled that BNSF Railway contributed to the deaths of two people who were exposed to asbestos decades ago in Libby, Montana. The jury awarded $4 million each to the estates of the two plaintiffs, who died in 2020. The jury found that asbestos that spilled in the rail yard in Libby was a substantial factor in the plaintiffs’ illnesses and deaths. However, the jury did not find that BNSF acted intentionally or with indifference, so there will be no punitive damages awarded.
