Man wins $117 million after getting cancer “from baby powder”
<p>A man from New Jersey has been awarded $117 million after filing a lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson, claiming his use of the brand’s talcum powder products had given him the lung disease mesothelioma.</p>
<p>46-year-old investment banker Stephen Lanzo filed a lawsuit against the company and its supplier, Imerys Talc, after being diagnosed with the disease that is often linked to asbestos exposure.</p>
<p>Mr Lanzo claimed the company was aware that its talcum powder products contained carcinogenic asbestos but failed to warn the public about it.</p>
<p>Last week, a jury awarded him $30 million and his wife Kendra $7 million for “loss of consortium”, in which spouses are compensated for any harm caused by a “negligent injury”.</p>
<p>On Wednesday, Mr Lanzo was awarded a further $80 million in punitive damages, taking his total compensation payout to $117 million.</p>
<p>Punitive damages are generally awarded for unethical or negligent actions, but both Johnson & Johnson and its supplier have denounced the danger of talcum powder use. </p>
<p>Both the company and the supplier plan to appeal the verdict.</p>
<p>Mr Lanzo is the first male to file a lawsuit linking a cancer diagnosis with the talcum powder products he used for over 20 years. However, thousands of women have filed lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson and other companies, claiming a link between talcum powder use and ovarian cancer.</p>
<p>Lawyers for Mr Lanzo claimed Johnson & Johnson had withheld information from the public about the health effects of talcum power since the 1960s.</p>
<p>The powder is made from talc, a soft mineral that is generally found near asbestos deposits.</p>
<p>Previous studies have revealed that there is a risk of cross-contamination between the two during the mining process.</p>
<p>Asbestos exposure has been linked to mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer that usually affects the lungs, as well as ovarian cancer.</p>
<p>Johnson & Johnson claimed the company undertakes extensive testing to ensure that none of the products contain asbestos.</p>
<p>"While we are disappointed with this decision, the jury has further deliberations to conduct in this trial and we will reserve additional comment until the case is fully completed," a spokeswoman for Johnson & Johnson told CNN.</p>
<p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>
