Oregon Jury Awards $260 Million in Mesothelioma Case Against Johnson & Johnson

Dean Omar Branham Shirley secures verdict on behalf of mother diagnosed with mesothelioma

A jury in Portland, Ore., has found in favor of a mother of three suffering from the deadly cancer mesothelioma and ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay her $260 million.

Kyung Lee, 49, of Beaverton, Ore., has used Johnson & Johnson cosmetic products throughout her lifetime and now suffers from the incurable cancer. Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the lungs caused by exposure to asbestos. Ms. Lee was diagnosed in August 2023.

“For years, Kyung and her family used Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder not having any idea it could lead to a life-ending illness,” said Ms. Lee’s attorney Ben Adams of Dean Omar Branham Shirley. “Today, Ms. Lee was able to see justice and secure a future for her family after she is gone.”

The jury decided that Johnson & Johnson was directly responsible for Ms. Lee’s illness through its negligence and defective products, including the talc in Johnson’s Baby Powder, which has been shown to contain asbestos. During the trial, the jury heard testimony and saw evidence of the pharmaceutical company testing the talc powder, finding asbestos, but not taking the product off the market until recent years.

The jury awarded $60 million in compensatory damages and $200 million in punitive damages.

“Throughout this trial, J&J showed their true colors, attacking the plaintiff’s lawyers rather than acknowledging their conduct,” said partner Trey Branham. “We are so thankful that in this country there still is a mechanism to hold bad actors accountable.”

Dean Omar Branham Shirley attorneys represented Ms. Lee along with Devin Robinson of the Law Offices of Devin Robinson, P.C.

The case is Kyung H. Lee et al. v. Bi-Mart Corporation et al., No. 23-CV-40369 in the Circuit Court of the State of Oregon for the County of Multnomah.

About Dean Omar Branham Shirley, LLP

Dean Omar Branham Shirley, LLP is a nationally recognized trial firm that handles cases across the country for individuals who have suffered catastrophic injuries or have died as a result of the irresponsible conduct of others. For more information, visit http://www.dobslegal.com.

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