By Karen Roman
The deadline to vote in favor of an $8 billion settlement in a class action lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) regarding its talcum powder products is 5pm ET Friday, leaving claimants just hours to act.
The Ad Hoc Group of Counsel representing more than 77,500 people who say they were harmed by J&J’s talcum products including women diagnosed with ovarian cancer are encouraging claimants to support the settlement. Terms stipulate that 75% of all claimants voting must vote “yes” for the deal to move forward. More information about voting can be found at OfficialTalcClaims.com or by calling 1-888-431-4056.
The $8 billion plan has a net present value of $6.475 billion and will compensate for 25 years people who claim J&J’s powder products made them sick, putting an end to a long litigation process. Under the plan, claimants may be paid $75,000 to $150,000 each.
This historic solution covers current and future claimants, gives recovery to tens of thousands of harmed people and delivers an equitable compensation plan without lengthy and expensive trials. In over a decade of litigation, only 17 ovarian cancer cases have gone to trial. J&J has prevailed in 16 of the 17 cases, with plaintiffs in those 16 cases recovering no money.
Among the women supporting the proposal is Nonnie Hightower from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, an ovarian cancer survivor, who says the plan helps petitioners financially and provides closure.
“I used J&J baby powder my whole life. We put it on our babies, used it to smell better, even to slip into form-fitting clothes in the 90’s! Now I’m angry – for myself, for my daughter, and for my granddaughter,” Ms. Hightower said. “I wonder if I potentially harmed my own family by using baby powder on them. Battling cancer while raising my granddaughter was grueling. The bone pain from chemo was the worst thing ever. I’m supporting this settlement because there are many women waiting for justice, and financially, I need to. It might be our only choice, but it’s a step towards closure for all of us affected.”
Ovarian cancer survivor Rhonda McKey also supports the deal, saying it’s a way for J&J to support harmed people.
“Baby powder was a part of my life since I was literally a baby. Now, after battling cancer, my life has completely changed. I’ve gone from being self-employed to being on disability, unable to work as I did before,” Ms. McKey said. “Now, I’m not able to physically or financially help my family as I had wanted to and planned for. I support this settlement because I’ve seen companies take years to resolve these issues. If you’ve damaged people’s lives, you should help in some way. For those of us still here, it’s important that J&J follows through. We’ve lost quality time, and this settlement could help us regain some of that. I don’t want to just survive. I want to live. But it’s not just about me – it’s for all the women who have suffered, and for the families who have lost loved ones.”
“It’s a highly democratic and efficient process that gives our clients a voice, for the first time, about whether the plan goes through or someone else decides for them,” said Anne Andrews, a member of the Ad Hoc Group and Founding and Managing Partner of Newport, CA-based law firm Andrews & Thornton. Ms. Andrews represents over 10,000 claimants, including Ms. McKey and Ms. Hightower.
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