According to a story published by Bloomberg July 12, 2019, the U.S. Justice Department is conducting a criminal probe into Johnson & Johnson’s repeated denials of the presence of asbestos in its talcum powder. Earlier this year, it was reported that multiple government agencies had subpoenaed J&J for documents related to their baby powder products. The investigation process has now moved forward and a grand jury in Washington, D.C. is examining documents to see if company officials had any knowledge of carcinogens in their products. Once they have completed their review, further action may be taken.
Company officials have maintained their position that safety tests of its Baby Powder over the last few decades reveal no asbestos contamination, while internal memos unearthed during past civil trials show scientists warning executives that the asbestos in talc may be a “severe health hazard.”
With more than 14,000 lawsuits pending against J&J related to talc, the product that was once a flagship of the company has become a magnet for negative press and sudden drops in their stock price. Friday morning’s news of the DOJ criminal probe caused J&J’s shares to slide as much as 5.1%, a drop which correlates to a $19 billion loss in market value.
What Does This Mean For My Case?
This criminal probe by the federal government does not affect the validity of your claim or our ability to pursue that claim on your behalf. If anything, we are hoping that the news of this investigation and the resulting drop in J&J’s stock price is another push in the direction of settlement. But please rest assured that the criminal probe by the DOJ and the civil litigation that you are a part of can continue simultaneously without any issues. Stay tuned for further updates as both the investigation and the litigation continue to develop!
