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Johnson & Johnson avoided damaging verdicts in two trials this week alleging its baby powder caused mesothelioma.

In California, a jury rendered a defense verdict, giving Johnson & Johnson the upper hand in the litigation alleging its asbestos-containing talcum powder products caused mesothelioma, a deadly form of lung cancer. Until then, there were eight previous trials. Two ended with defense verdicts, most recently last month in New Jersey, while juries have awarded $25.75 million and $117 million to plaintiffs. The remaining cases ended in mistrials, most recently in South Carolina, where a jury Thursday deliberated a full day before coming back deadlocked at 11-1.

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Amanda Bronstad

Amanda Bronstad is the ALM staff reporter covering class actions and mass torts nationwide. She writes the email dispatch Law.com Class Actions: Critical Mass. She is based in Los Angeles.

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