J & J Talc Supplier Imerys Files for Bankruptcy Over Cancer Lawsuits
Seeking protection from rapidly mounting litigation, Imerys Talc America and two of its subsidiaries filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Wednesday in Delaware.
Imerys is a major talc supplier for Johnson & Johnson consumer goods, including the company’s iconic baby powder and Shower to Shower line.
Litigants claim the talc-based products were contaminated with asbestos, leading to cases of mesothelioma and ovarian cancer.
The bankruptcy filing comes in the midst of an ongoing, high-profile trial in California in which a woman is blaming Imerys talc for her mesothelioma, a rare cancer caused almost exclusively from asbestos exposure.
“After carefully evaluating all possible options, we determined pursuing Chapter 11 protection is the best course of action to address our historic talc-related liabilities and position the companies for continued growth,” Imerys Talc America President Giorgio La Motta said in a statement.
Subsidiaries Imerys Talc Vermont and Imerys Talc Canada Inc. also filed for bankruptcy protection Wednesday.
Imerys Facing 14,000 Claims
According to court filings Wednesday, Imerys is facing more than 14,000 claims in courts across the U.S. regarding asbestos-contaminated talc.
Johnson & Johnson, a much-larger company, is facing even more claims but has the financial resources to withstand the onslaught. The majority of claims include both companies.
Most of the filings involve women who allege the talc caused their ovarian cancer. Only...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Matt Mauney Source Type: news
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