Rio Tinto Talcum Powder Lawsuit – Are You Eligible To File A Talc Lawsuit?

You May be Entitled to Significant Compensation Rio tinto talcum powder lawsuit. Johnson & Johnson powders were proven to contain asbestos (a cancer causing agent) and the company failed to notify users of the cancer risk. $2 BILLION has already been awarded to claims. Free To File! No Fees Unless A Settlement Is Awarded!

J&J’s proposed talc settlement would provide $400 million to US state AGs. Rio Tinto Talcum Powder Lawsuit .

Johnson & Johnson (JNJ.N) has set aside $400 million to resolve U.S. state consumer protection actions as part of a broader $8.9 billion plan to settle claims that its Baby Powder and other talc-based product causes cancer. Rio tinto talcum powder lawsuit.

J&J subsidiaries LTL Management filed a bankruptcy plan in New Jersey late on Monday that describes how the company plans to pay different kinds of cancer sufferers in the bankruptcy settlement. Rio tinto talcum powder lawsuit. J&J has declared that its Talc products are safe and do not cause cancer. J&J is seeking a second time to resolve more than 38,000 lawsuits in bankruptcy, as well as prevent new lawsuits from arising in the future.
LTL’s bankruptcy plans would deposit $400 million to a separate trust for claims filed with state attorneys general alleging that J&J did not comply with states’ unfair practices and consumer protection laws through misleading consumers regarding the quality of its talc products.

Some states had started consumer protection cases against J&J prior to the first bankruptcy filing prevented those investigations from moving forward in 2021. Rio tinto talcum powder lawsuit. New Mexico and Mississippi had already initiated suits against Johnson & Johnson before then, and the states of Arizona, Maryland, North Carolina, Texas and Washington had issued subpoenas or civil investigative demands in LTL’s court filings.

 

 

New Mexico and Mississippi have filed a petition to end LTL’s bankruptcy as well as cancer patients as well as the U.S. Justice Department’s watchdog on bankruptcy, who have argued that a successful firm like J&J is not eligible for bankruptcy protections meant for people with debt problems.
The first attempt by LTL to resolve the bankruptcy-related lawsuits was thrown out after similar arguments, when a U.S. appeals court determined in favor of LTL had not been in “financial trouble” and thus not eligible under bankruptcy law. Rio tinto talcum powder lawsuit. LTL declared bankruptcy a second time within two hours of the decision to dismiss, arguing that the second bankruptcy was different due to the fact that it had less money and more backing for an agreement.

New Mexico and Mississippi said in their motion for dismissal that LTL’s bankruptcy renewal violates state law enforcement powers by attempting unilaterally to cap the liability of the company in state consumer protection actions.

 

Rio Tinto Talcum Powder Lawsuit

The filings of LTL’s latest bankruptcy proceedings also include more information about how the company plans to evaluate and pay cancer claims if the bankruptcy plan is approved.

The largest amount of money under the settlement will be $500,000 for patients diagnosed with mesothelioma terminal prior to age 45. Rio tinto talcum powder lawsuit. The second payment would be $260,000 for those who have been diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer before age 45.

From there, the proposed settlement applies discounts depending on the nature and severity of cancer, an individual’s age, history of the use of talc, and other aspects. Rio tinto talcum powder lawsuit. For instance someone who regularly used daily talc products, had the family history of ovarian cancer and was diagnosed with the stage 2 ovarian cancer when she was 55 may qualify for a $21,125 payment under the settlement plan.

Judge decides J&J and talc opponents participate in settlement talks.

Following another hearing in Johnson &Johnson’s attempt to utilize a Texas Two-Step bankruptcy strategy to settle talc lawsuits and federal bankruptcy judge Michael Kaplan has ordered the company and those opposing the strategy to engage in talks to reach a settlement, Bloomberg reports.

The second time it attempted to file for bankruptcy for LTL Management, a subsidiary set up by J&J to settle claims – the company proposed a settlement of $8.9 billion. Rio tinto talcum powder lawsuit. While a firm representing plaintiffs is in favor of the deal, another group opposes the move.

In the last week, an opposition group, known as”the Official Committee of Talc Claimants in the bankruptcy court, demanded for dismissal of the matter by arguing that LTL can not be considered financially distressed.

“The filing is an incredibly legal and ineffective attempt by a handful of law firms to block claimants from voting on the resolution, which that the vast majority of claimants approve of,” J&J’s litigation chief Erik Haas, said in an announcement. Rio tinto talcum powder lawsuit. “The law firms behind these filings have interests in finance that are in conflict with, diverge from, and oppose the interests which their clientele. We’ll soon submit an answer an appeal to the appellate court.”

Rio tinto talcum powder lawsuit. Clay Thompson, a lawyer for MRHFM, which has more than 80 mesothelioma victims who have sued J&J and J&J, has said that the company’s second bankruptcy try will fail.

“J&J sends out press releases describing how fantastic the plan is but simultaneously insisting that the plan’s details, including what individuals with illnesses would receive,” Thompson said in a statement. “What do J&J have to cover up?”

 

 

Kaplan has directed the parties to develop a new restructuring plan, with the supervision by two mediators.

In February 2022, Kaplan acknowledged J&J’s recourse to Chapter 11 to hasten a settlement that would release the company from the thousands of lawsuits over its talcum products.

But in January of this year, a federal appeals court ruled against the decision, deciding that the firm could not be considered in “financial trouble.”

The J&J’s plan to challenge the U.S. Supreme Court was rejected the same month, J&J declared bankruptcy just two hours later. In response, Kaplan froze the lawsuits for 60 days in order to determine whether to grant the second bankruptcy.

J&J’s omnipotent profit engine fails after $6.9B settlement charge for talc.

With the 2 Chapter 11 attempts, J&J has gotten 19 months of which cases have been suspended. Rio tinto talcum powder lawsuit. The company wants claimants to take a vote to accept their settlement. J&J requires 75% acceptance for the settlement to be approved.

In addition to the group of talc lawyers who criticised the company’s bankruptcy play, the U.S. Trustee which is a division from the U.S. Department of Justice was also the one to file motions to dismiss the second bankruptcy case of LTL.

In a recent filing, U.S. trustee Andrew R. Vara wrote that the bankruptcy courts are “open to honest, but naive debtors.” The doors “are not open to any parties who do not have a legitimate bankruptcy purpose or that seek to abuse the bankruptcy process to delay or hinder their creditors.” Vara continued.

To its credit, J&J maintains there is no definitive evidence to suggest that its talc products, including its popular baby powder cause cancer. J&J has adopted the products from the market and will first launch them to be available in North America in 2020–and the rest of the world later this year.

J&J intends to steer clear of the cost of going to trial. The company has won the majority of the cases that have been decided through trial, though some losses have been very harsh.
A highly-publicized trial in Missouri led to an $4.7 billion verdict against the drug maker and was later lowered to $2.1 billion following appeals.

Johnson & Johnson faces high-stakes hearing over ‘Texas Two Step’ talc strategy: report
Overall, J&J has lost nine cases involving talc, which are on appeal or have been concluded. Of the 41 trials, 32 of them ended in winning for J&J either through a mistrial or plaintiff verdicts that were reversed upon appeal. Rio tinto talcum powder lawsuit. In addition, J&J has announced plans to settle nearly 1,000 cases worth $110 million. Bloomberg published at the time.

 

Talcum Baby Powder Ovarian Cancer Lawsuit – Rio Tinto Talcum Powder Lawsuit

Our lawyers are handling baby powder lawsuits across all 50 states. The lawsuits involving talcum powder against Johnson & Johnson have been ongoing for many years. Rio tinto talcum powder lawsuit. The lawsuits contend that the prolonged use of the powder (or “talc”), the active ingredient in products such as the Baby Powder along with Shower to Shower which can cause ovarian cancer in some women.

This page offers an J&J talc power litigation update and provides an overview of how the upcoming bankruptcy ruling affects the final settlement amount in these ovarian cancer lawsuits.

Did the deadline expire for you to file a talcum powder lawsuit? Many people who think the deadline has passed to sue Johnson & Johnson are wrong. Call us now at 800-553-2082 or request a free and quick case review online.

 

Johnson and Johnson Talcum Powder Lawsuit Update 2023 – Rio Tinto Talcum Powder Lawsuit

June 2 2023 Update: During the trial for asbestos-containing talc that took place in California yesterday, a few technical issues halted the opening statements of the defense lawyers. Rio tinto talcum powder lawsuit. Jurors from their homes via Zoom but did not hear Johnson &Johnson’s lawyer express doubt about the science of the 70s affirming the presence of asbestos in their product prior to the session abruptly ended.

In the meantime, the plaintiff was able to present its first expert witness Arthur Langer. Langer said that the presence of other minerals alongside the talc mineral is a given. He claimed that his group informed J&J in 1971 of the presence of asbestos chrysotile in the company’s talc, albeit in less than 0.1 percent. He also uncovered more asbestos in 1976.

June 1st, 2023 Update: Rio tinto talcum powder lawsuit. The first trial since J&J has decided to separate its talc section and declaring bankruptcy marks an important point for the ongoing lawsuit drama. Trial began yesterday in the heartbreaking case of a young 24 year-old plaintiff who was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive type of mesothelioma in the past year, an illness that lawyers on both sides of the argument agree is a grave tragedy.

Opening statements revealed the huge differences between the sides’ narrative. The attorney for the plaintiff took aim against Johnson & Johnson, alleging the use of misleading tactics in research practices and throughout the litigation process. In the words of attorney, the company attempted to manipulate the definition of asbestos in spite of internal documents dating from the year 1978 and 1994 indicating that asbestos fibers that were found in the tissue of the plaintiffs are included.

Johnson &J’s highly uncertain $8.9 billion settlement proposal hangs in the balance with the progress of this trial. Despite the distinct nature of this mesothelioma case and its distinctive issues in comparison to most talcum powder lawsuits A verdict in favor of the plaintiff could cause a serious setback to J&J’s expectations of widespread acceptance of their proposed settlement among plaintiffs.

May 31, 2023: Update from Johnson & Johnson’s bankrupted talc unit has strongly defended it’s 2nd Chapter 11 filing in the opposition of the talc injury plaintiffs. In an objection submitted to the New Jersey bankruptcy court, the subsidiary argued that the case was distinct from the prior filing. It also emphasized the unprecedented commitment to $8.9 billion by J&J which is the largest ever settlement in any bankruptcy case that involves mass tort. Rio tinto talcum powder lawsuit. Not mentioned: how this amount implies that it is an equitable settlement. J&J also claimed that it received support from several plaintiffs’ legal companies representing over the 60,000 plaintiffs. This is hard to verify however it is likely to be incorrect.

May 24 2023 Update: As of Johnson & Johnson’s 2021 bankruptcy filing, the very first trial on its cosmetic talc items allegedly that contain asbestos is scheduled to begin jury selection on Monday, May 24, California within the Alameda County Superior Court, the most favored location for plaintiffs. The plaintiff claims his mesothelioma resulted from asbestos exposure resulting from J&J’s products, an allegation that the company does not deny. The trial also includes six retailers accused of selling talc-containing products.

May 22, 2023 Update: Lawyers involved in the second J&J Talc bankruptcy are in a dispute over who should be appointed to the role of future claims representative. This is the role is crucially critical to resolving claim for talc. Rio tinto talcum powder lawsuit. Randi Ellis, a lawyer who regularly appears in MDLs throughout the United States, was appointed as the claims representative in the previous bankruptcy. J&J’s defense group wants Ellis to be named to the position again, but lawyers for the talc plaintiffs have raised objections because Ellis has an interest conflict that would prevent her from taking on that role once more. The dispute stems from reality that Ellis was involved in drafting the controversially contesting second bankruptcy, raising doubts about her capacity to be neutral. In reality, the bankruptcy will be dismissed regardless.

May 17, 2023 Update The pretend company that J&J formed to settle the talc litigation bankruptcy told a New Jersey bankruptcy court that they had allocated $400 million to pay the allegations made by states who accuse the company of misleading advertising for its talc products. Rio tinto talcum powder lawsuit. So that makes it an $8.5 billion settlement for cancer sufferers. It is hard to imagine the scenario in which J&J can push the settlements of baby powder through given these numbers. While J&J’s $8.5 billion offer sounds like a lot of money initially, it may not look very appealing when you look at the numbers. The proposed settlement based on our rough calculations – would not be able to pay victims more than a median settlement of $100,000 per instance. It’s not enough.

May 15, 2023, Update J&J is potentially facing a lawsuit brought by an advocacy group representing cancer patients. Rio tinto talcum powder lawsuit. The group claims that J&J deliberately retracted a $61.5 billion contract for funding together with its parent company, LTL Management LLC, to create the appearance of financial hardship and verify the unit’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. The group claims this decision is a fraud transfer of the rights of compensation for victims. They will investigate J&J’s actions following of the decision to dismiss the LTL’s bankruptcy case in its first instance.

May 10 2023 Update: During the next week in this week the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in New Jersey will hear oral arguments in a motion dismiss the second bankruptcy filing that was filed by J&J company LTL Management. In the meantime, however, LTL Management has filed an Order that requires both parties to participate in a second settlement mediation hoping that a global settlement deal can reached.

May 5, 2023 Update: The talc supplier Whittaker, Clark & Daniels filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy due to numerous lawsuits alleging that its Talc products cause cancer from asbestos exposure. Rio tinto talcum powder lawsuit. Over 2,700 individuals have sued the company and it has been paying $1 million per month for legal defense. The company’s recent $29million settlement in South Carolina forced it to file for bankruptcy protection, arguing for a fair distribution of assets between the claimants of talc instead of being confiscated by the receiver. Other suppliers of talc have declared bankruptcy because of the litigation.

May 4, 2023 Update U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Michael Kaplan has directed Johnson & Johnson to relaunch settlement discussions with lawyers who turned down the company’s $8.9 billion deal. The court in Trenton, New Jersey yesterday, the parties gathered in court to discuss next steps for their second bankruptcy matter and Judge Kaplan has pushed for further settlement talks.

This is the solution to resolve these claims for J&J. A settlement for baby powder can get done. Rio tinto talcum powder lawsuit. But it will require more money – billions of dollars – coming from Johnson & Johnson.

Lawyers have a split opinion on whether or not to accept the plan and not every client sees the issue in the same manner their lawyer does. Second bankruptcy cases are expected to fail the judge Kaplan has scheduled a hearing in June to determine if she will dismiss the bankruptcy for the second time.

May 3 2023 Update A group of cancer patients who have sued Johnson & Johnson (J&J) asked an order from they request that the Third Circuit halt the bankruptcy filed by J&J subsidiary LTL Management, claiming it attempts to block litigation regarding talc-related products. The group representing the claimants made a motion Tuesday, asking the Third Circuit to consider their case and send it back to a lower court with instructions for dismissing the bankruptcy. Rio tinto talcum powder lawsuit. They also asked that halted tort litigation against J&J should be permitted to proceed.
LTL has filed for Chapter 11 protection once again after its first bankruptcy filing was denied in the Third Circuit earlier this year and offered the possibility of an $8.9 billion deal. The committee believes that the recent ruling allowing LTL’s 2nd Chapter 11 to continue, and also stopping trials against J&J is a reason for urgent Third Circuit review. The US Trustee has also requested be the New Jersey bankruptcy court dismiss the LTL bankruptcy case. J&J’s global vice-president of litigation, Erik Haas, was quoted by Bloomberg as saying that J&J intends to file a reply to the appeals court declaring the filing an “desperate and legally inadequate attempt” by a select group of law firms with conflicting financial interests.
May 1 2023 Update: A common question that people ask is how could plaintiffs and their lawyers be able to turn off $8.9 billion. Of course, that’s an immense amount of money. But there are a lot of victims. Rio tinto talcum powder lawsuit. And these are really good case for plaintiffs. We were reminded of this last week when two talc cases led to huge verdicts for plaintiffs. In February the mesothelioma case involving talcum powder trial in Oregon resulted in an award worth $18.1 million. In the same month, a different mesothelioma talc case was brought to trials in South Carolina and resulted in a verdict of $29million on behalf of the plaintiff. In both instances, the defendant was Whittaker, Clark & Daniels Inc. One of the top manufacturers of talc in U.S.
April 30th 2023 Update: J&J initially attempted to pull the litigation over talcum powder into bankruptcy, it came with the option of putting aside $2 billion to settle the case. The sum was ridiculously low. The talc plaintiffs had not believed in it. However, this time, J&J has increased the offer to $8.9 If the talc plaintiffs accept a bankruptcy settlement and they have the backing of a significant part of the talc-related plaintiffs and their lawyers. Rio tinto talcum powder lawsuit. But with 75% of plaintiffs who are a talc, which is required to approve bankruptcy plans is not an easy task because of the number of lawyers who have huge inventories of baby powder litigations opposed towards the agreement.

What are the solutions to the impasse? More billions.
April 25 2023 update: Talc Cancer victims have requested a judge to dismiss their Chapter 11 case filed by LTL Management LLC, a ridiculously made-up Johnson & Johnson subsidiary, saying the company is not financially troubled. LTL applied for Chapter 11 to settle tens of thousands of claims that J&J’s baby powders caused cancer. Rio tinto talcum powder lawsuit. LTL was denied Chapter 11 in January. 3rd Circuit dismissed its first Chapter 11 case in January, saying LTL was not eligible to receive bankruptcy relief because it failed to show financial distress.

The claimants assert that LTL’s second Chapter 11 case is an fraud on the bankruptcy system and that the case is being handled in bad faith. J&J asserts that the bankruptcy settlement is backed by “significant backing” from the firms that represent around 60,000 people who are claiming. It’s safe to say that plaintiffs’ lawyers and victims ‘ lawyers are not united over this $8.9 billion settlement offer.

April 21, 2023 Update: A bankruptcy judge decided the company Johnson & Johnson must face new lawsuits alleging that the firm offered a baby powder with a contaminant that caused cancer. While trials in talc lawsuits are paused for a minimum period of 60 days but new lawsuits can be filed and lawyers can begin preparing their cases. Rio tinto talcum powder lawsuit. The judge expressed skepticism over J&J’s ridiculous effort to revive its strategy by filing a second bankruptcy case.

April 13, 2023: Update on the big news is the $8.9 billion over 25 years offer for settlement. Lawyers representing cancer victims involved in the MDL Class Action have promised to fight the settlement along with talc claimants. Why? They feel it’s not enough money for those suffering from cancer who are 70,000. Rio tinto talcum powder lawsuit. These lawyers believe that J&J should seek a bigger settlement or settle individuals’ claims if the current bankruptcy is declared unconstitutional.

But there is another group of lawyers that is not part of the leadership in that class action. These lawyers have amassed many thousands of cases. This group wants to settle today in what many believe to be far less than what these victims deserve. Their argument appears to be twofold. First, they argue the settlement – which amounts to the equivalent of $100,000 per plaintiff is fair.

This argument isn’t easy to make. But their second argument has more substance: the victims will not afford to wait any longer and need to get their money right now.

April 12 2023 Update: Some people are seeking out how J&J is able to file for bankruptcy once more. The answer is complex and confusing. Let’s try to clarify it simply.
Johnson & Johnson asserts that bankruptcy is the only option to deal with both present and future lawsuits involving talc conclusively. Also, it thinks it will pay less if there is an element of bankruptcy that puts pressure to settle. Rio tinto talcum powder lawsuit. Going back to the 400-year span of American past, the company argues that bankruptcy benefits all parties because it distributes settlements more equally and effectively than trial courts, where litigants are awarded significant awards while others receive nothing.

The essence of the 3rd Circuit decision was this is not a case – the profit-making company that has a subsidiary to take the legal liability and declare bankruptcy Congress contemplated when drafting the Bankruptcy Code. But it also said it was not financially crisis because J&J offered unlimited financing.
This is why J&J did not hesitate to take advantage of the unlimited funding part of the holding but did not pledge that it would provide unlimited funds for the litigation. J&J claims that its updated financing arrangements with its subsidiary address appeals court’s concerns while still providing funds for claims. As if providing victims with less money will solve the overall issue.

Attorneys representing cancer victims who oppose the deal counter this with what you conclude is a defense against legal nonsense by pointing out legal absurdity: J&J fraudulently transferred $50 billion of assets away from LTL Management to circumvent the appeals court’s previous decision. Hyperbole was not spared by the victims’ lawyers, who call this the biggest “fraudulent move ever in United States history.”

Notwithstanding the legal mumbo jumbo, J&J does not really believe this bankruptcy will be able to last. However, it’s a means to push for this $8.9 billion settlement to keep the pressure on plaintiffs.

April 10, 2023 Update Bloomberg is running an intriguing article about a new law in New Jersey that is shedding new light on the funding of litigation in the baby powder Class action suit. Litigation funders Virage Capital Management and TRGP Capital invested in hundreds of lawsuits in the case of Johnson & Johnson (J&J) over talc products in exchange in exchange for a portion of settlements. J&J has now offered to pay $8.9 billion to settle any lawsuits.

The funders’ involvement is publicly available because of an New Jersey court rule requiring the disclosure of certain information about funders outside the state. The rules aim to address the rising calls for the regulation of litigation funders. J&J faces over 60,000 claims when you take into account federal and state Baby Powder lawsuits. Third-party funding for mass tort lawsuits has its pros and cons. But there is no question that we are witnessing how third-party funding can level the playing field between people and big corporations in court.

April 4, 2023 Update: It is enjoyable to see the worm turning in this lawsuit. J&J was hit again this week when they were denied by the Third Circuit denied J&J’s request to extend the automatic stay while J&J appeals a bankruptcy decision at the U.S. Supreme Court. Automatic stays have stopped hundreds of cases involving talcum powder and prevented new lawsuits from getting filed ever since J&J initiated the controversial effort to spin the talc liabilities into a bankrupt entity over a year earlier. Rio tinto talcum powder lawsuit. When the 3rd Circuit ruled that this bankruptcy was not legal a few months ago, the stay was lifted. J&J was hoping to have it remain in effect until the SCOTUS appeal. The answer was no.
April 1st, 2023 Update Johnson & Johnson announced it will appeal its 3rd Circuit bankruptcy loss to the U.S. Supreme Court last week. The chance for the Supreme Court is willing even to accept the appeal? Low.
March 16th 2023 Update: with the bankruptcy stay having been fully lifted, the first new cases have been filed and transferred into the talcum powder class action MDL within a year. Seven new talc cases were added to the MDL in the last month, bringing the total number of cases in the pending process up to 37,522.

February 25 2023 Update This morning, a Congressmen from Tennessee is now demanding that authorities from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) launch an investigation into the cost J&J products containing talc have cost the government in the decades.
in a letter addressed to the GAO, Rep. Steven Cohen (D-Ten.) claimed that J&J of ignoring the dangers of its talc product for many years, while tax dollars were spent treating those injured by exposure to the products. This lawsuit comes a few weeks following J&J’s dramatic loss in the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals.

Rio tinto talcum powder lawsuit. J&J should begin to make reasonable settlements to victims to begin in putting this behind. It is a stain on one of the greatest firms.

February 14 , 2023 Update: At a hearing today in New Jersey, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Michael Kaplan announced his intention following his 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling to dismiss the bankruptcy case.

 

You May be Entitled to Significant Compensation Rio tinto talcum powder lawsuit. Johnson & Johnson powders were proven to contain asbestos (a cancer causing agent) and the company failed to notify users of the cancer risk. $2 BILLION has already been awarded to claims. Free To File! No Fees Unless A Settlement Is Awarded!

 

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