J&J Talc Setback: Missouri Court Decision Keeps Out-Of-State Plaintiff Door Open

06 Dec 2017

The numerous out-of-state plaintiffs waiting to take on J&J in Missouri over alleged talc harm may be able to litigate their cases after all, despite a recent US Supreme Court decision against plaintiff venue shopping. A Missouri circuit court judge has found grounds for jurisdiction in J&J's use of a Missouri-based manufacturing and packaging firm.

Missouri's 22nd Judicial Circuit Court in St. Louis issued a decision Nov. 29 that upholds a hefty May verdict against Johnson & Johnson and its talc supplier, while potentially keeping the door open for more nonresident Johnson's Baby Powder users to pursue cancer liability actions in the Show-Me State.

J&J is appealing the decision, which it says flies in the face of a controlling US Supreme Court decision and...