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Providing reliable and up- to-date news stories and information on asbestos and mesothelioma

MESOWATCH

<p>Mesothelioma is a cancer a person may get if they have occupational asbestos exposure. This is why almost all of the asbestos-related diseases occur in people who work with asbestos products or in facilities that use asbestos materials.</p><p>It&rsquo;s reported that almost<a href="https://www.cancer.org/cancer/malignant-mesothelioma/causes-risks-prevention/what-causes.html" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow"> all mesothelioma patients</a> acquire Mesothelioma from asbestos exposure, specifically through inhaling asbestos fibers. The other cause of Mesothelioma is chronic exposure to a rare volcanic mineral called<a href="https://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/mesothelioma/#:~:text=Although%20asbestos%20is%20the%20major,erionite%2C%20can%20also%20cause%20mesothelioma." rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow"> erionite</a> with a similar chemical composition to asbestos.</p><h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-risk-of-asbestos-occupational-exposure">The risk of Asbestos Occupational exposure</h2><p>Short, one-time asbestos exposure is unlikely to result in Mesothelioma, but chronic asbestos fiber inhalation, especially occupational exposure, further increases the risk of acquiring malignant Mesothelioma.</p><p>One of the most dangerous aspects of <a href="https://mesowatch.com/exposure/">asbestos exposure</a> is <a href="https://mesowatch.com/mesothelioma/latency/">its latency period</a>. It can take decades for asbestos <a href="https://mesowatch.com/mesothelioma/diagnosis/">disease to be diagnosed</a>, and by then, the damage would have been severe.</p><p>If a person suspects they are at risk for asbestos exposure, it is recommended to get medical help right away and avail of professional asbestos abatement services.</p><h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pleural-mesothelioma-and-occupational-exposure">Pleural Mesothelioma and occupational exposure</h2><p>There are over 3,000 mesothelioma diagnoses in the United States each year. Of those, 80% of patients are <a href="https://mesowatch.com/mesothelioma/pleural/">diagnosed with malignant pleural Mesothelioma</a>. Pleural Mesothelioma is a cancer that occurs in the thin lining of the lungs called the pleura.</p><p>Pleural Mesothelioma accounts for about 70% of all asbestos-related diseases, including lung cancer and asbestosis, making pleural mesothelioma the most common asbestos-related disease.</p><p>The main cause of pleural mesothelioma is linked to <a href="https://mesowatch.com/exposure/occupational/">occupational exposure to asbestos</a>. Specifically by inhaling asbestos fibers from asbestos products. Asbestos fibers accumulate in the lungs, and this causes scarring and inflammation. The scarring gets worse over time and eventually develops into mesothelioma tumors.</p><p>The health effects of Pleural Mesothelioma include dry cough, breathing problems, and chronic chest pains. The 5-year<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6643278/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow"> survival rate is at a low 5%</a>.</p><p>The most at risk of occupational asbestos exposure are asbestos workers or people who directly handle asbestos products.</p><h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-which-industries-have-a-high-risk-of-occupational-exposure">Which Industries have a high risk of occupational exposure?</h2><p>Here are the top 10 industries that have the highest risk of occupational asbestos exposure.</p><h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-automotive-or-the-car-repair-industry"><strong>Automotive or the car repair industry</strong></h3><p>Auto mechanics are exposed to a lot of health hazards, including asbestos exposure from certain car parts that make use of this toxic mineral.</p><p>Auto parts such as heat seals, clutches, and brakes all have asbestos due to how they can withstand high temperatures and are durable for repeated use.</p><p>Because of the health hazards brought by asbestos fibers and the closed spaces of a typical automotive repair shop, the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) penned<a href="https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/standardinterpretations/1995-03-22-0" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow"> two methods</a> to reduce occupational asbestos exposure in 1994.</p><h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-construction-workers-or-the-construction-industry"><strong>Construction Workers or the construction industry</strong></h3><p>Buildings constructed in the early 20th century made heavy use of asbestos products or asbestos materials. Asbestos was the preferred building material for its insulation and fire-resistant properties. The carcinogen was used for walls, roofing, ceilings, walls, pipes, boiler rooms, and more.</p><p>According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5749a1.htm" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow"> 1.3 million construction workers are exposed to asbestos each year</a> , mainly from renovation or demolition activities.</p><p>Based on a<a href="https://academic.oup.com/ije/article/47/6/1745/4925430" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow"> 2018 International Journal of Epidemiology study</a>, former construction workers are 500% more likely to develop Mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.</p><h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-industrial-workers">Industrial Workers</h3><p>The risk of asbestos exposure in industrial workers is all related to the equipment and tools they use that may contain asbestos. They could have also been exposed to asbestos by using protective equipment, especially a heat-resistant suit or a pair of gloves made with asbestos materials.</p><p>Even if a person did not directly handle asbestos products, those that did might have spread asbestos fibers in the workplace, contaminating the air they breathe.</p><p>One study showed those who worked with industrial insulation or operated machinery have a<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9884740/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow"> high risk of developing</a> as well as other asbestos-related diseases such as lung cancer and asbestosis.</p><h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-power-plants">Power Plants</h3><p>Most power plants today still use old equipment that uses asbestos materials and poses risks for power plant workers as well as electricians. Some common materials in<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/294164/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow"> power plants that contain asbestos</a> include boilers, blocks, pipe coverings, blankets, and gaskets.</p><p>According to a 2015 British Medical Journal study,<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4480022/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow"> mesothelioma mortality is significantly higher in power plant workers than the average citizen.</a></p><p>Power plant workers who had a high risk of occupational asbestos exposure were those responsible for pipe installations and maintaining electrical appliances. The risk of asbestos exposure is also higher if the plant has poor ventilation, allowing asbestos fibers to circulate into the air they breathe.</p><h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sheet-metal">Sheet Metal</h3><p>Sheet metal workers use asbestos materials for insulation. These workers also cut and bend materials affixed to asbestos products. The profession involves intense fire and heat, which made the industry reliant on asbestos materials.</p><p>Sheet metal workers often wore protective gear like helmets, masks, and jackets that contained asbestos. They also worked inside areas with asbestos insulation or drywall. They also routinely sprayed or coated metals with asbestos to make them more resistant to heat.</p><p>Based on a 1985 study conducted in New York City, those who worked in the sheet metal industry are prone to asbestos-related diseases such as lung cancer, Mesothelioma, and asbestosis.</p><p>Another study revealed that in an eight-hour shift, the average sheet metal worker was exposed to<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3389368/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow"> no less than 16 asbestos fibers per cubic centimeter</a> during building renovations. For context,<a href="https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/OSHA3507.pdf" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow"> OSHA recommends no more than 0.1 asbestos fibers per cubic centimeter</a> in the same time frame.</p><h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-shipyards">Shipyards</h3><p>Shipyard workers in the US suffered chronic asbestos exposure for decades from various asbestos products used in shipbuilding. Even today, overhauling an old ship can put you at risk of asbestos exposure.</p><p>Working in a shipyard meant you were exposed to asbestos materials as well as airborne asbestos fibers all day. One study conducted research involving shipyard workers with more than 20 years of service and found that<a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ajim.4700010104" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow"> 86% of them developed lung cancer</a>.</p><h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-pipefitters">Pipefitters</h3><p>Pipefitters are those who primarily handle pipe systems in commercial buildings or manufacturing facilities. Historically, many pipes that had asbestos needed to be sanded down to meet project specifications.<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15141152/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow"> Sanding would release asbestos fibers into the air</a>, which leads to occupational asbestos exposure.</p><h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-refinery-workers">Refinery Workers</h3><p>One study in the UK reported that over 28,000 oil refinery workers between 1951 and 2003 had malignant pleural mesothelioma<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17244595/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow"> as an occupational hazard</a>. Exposure largely came from using<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17503616/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow"> asbestos-containing products</a>, including pipe covering, cement, roll board, millboard, and asbestos paper.</p><h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-railroad-workers">Railroad Workers</h3><p>Occupational asbestos exposure in railroad workers was expected because the railroad industry depended on asbestos materials between the 19th and 20th centuries.<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3674028/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow"> Railroad workers had frequent occupational asbestos exposure to materials such as gaskets, floor tiles, rope, brake clutches, and sealing cement.</a></p><h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-other-high-risk-occupational-exposure">Other high-risk occupational exposure</h2><p>Asbestos was used for fireproofing and insulating building materials, drywall floor tiles, gaskets, boilermakers, and other materials used to construct older buildings. This made it one of the most universally used industrial and construction materials in the world.</p><p>Even if you didn&rsquo;t directly handle asbestos products, if your job involves anything related to heating, construction, insulators, plumbing, car parts, and demolition, it can put you at an increased risk of asbestos exposure. Here are some examples:</p><ul>
<li>Boilermakers</li>



<li>Carpenters</li>



<li>Demolition workers</li>



<li>Drywall installers</li>



<li>Furnace workers</li>



<li>Grinders</li>



<li>Insulators</li>



<li>Laborers</li>



<li>Merchant marines</li>



<li>Plumbers</li>



<li>Roofers</li>



<li>US Navy Personnel</li>



<li>Welders</li>
</ul><h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-occupational-exposure-statistics">Occupational exposure Statistics</h2><ul>
<li>According to the CDC, <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/66/wr/mm6608a3.htm?s_cid=mm6608a3_w" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">there were 45,221 Malignant Mesothelioma deaths</a> in the US from 1999 to 2015. The patients&rsquo; ages were all 85 years and older, but recent observations saw an increased number of deaths in those below 55 years old. This means asbestos fiber exposure and inhalation are ongoing.</li>



<li>Every 170 tons of produced and consumed asbestos<a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15070022/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow"> will cause at least one person</a> to die of mesothelioma through occupational exposure.</li>



<li>Every 48 tons of asbestos consumption causes one asbestos-related lung cancer death.</li>



<li>In 1998, The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) revealed the results of a study that followed<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/asbestos/default.html" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow"> the effects of asbestos exposure on asbestos workers from the 1970s</a> . The study involved 3,276 workers. Researchers said 63 deaths from lung cancer, 17 deaths from mesothelioma, 90 deaths from asbestosis, and 413 from heart disease. Heart disease was considered because lung problems can cause heart problems.</li>



<li>NIOSH published a study in 1990 that highlighted the frequency of detection of chrysotile and amosite. They also noted the increased risk of respiratory symptoms increased as the frequency of handling asbestos increased.</li>



<li>NIOSH&rsquo;s<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/nengapdxc.html" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow"> recommended exposure limit</a> to asbestos is 0.1 fiber per cubic centimeter of air in over 100 minutes and no more than 1 fiber per cubic centimeter in 30 minutes.</li>



<li>The World Health Organization (WHO) said about 125 million people in the world are exposed to asbestos, and 107,000 people die from<a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/asbestos-elimination-of-asbestos-related-diseases" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow"> mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer each year.</a></li>



<li>The CDC analyzed annual underlying cause-of-death data from 1968 to 2005 to investigate <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5749a1.htm" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">trends in premature death linked to asbestosis</a> . Researchers found those in construction, shipbuilding, and military had the most premature deaths related to asbestos exposure. Those who worked on insulators also had the highest number of premature deaths.</li>



<li>According to SEER, the risk of<a href="https://training.seer.cancer.gov/lung/intro/risk.html" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow"> death from lung cancer is</a> seven times greater for asbestos workers than for the public.</li>



<li>Based on<a href="https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/toxprofiles/tp61.pdf" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow"> the Toxicological Profile</a> provided by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) on asbestos, about 568,000 workers in services industries and production and 114,000 in construction industries were exposed to asbestos in the workplace at any given time.</li>



<li>In the aftermath of 9/11, it is estimated that<a href="https://www.cdc.gov/wtc/ataglance.html#top10Conditions" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow"> 12.5% of those exposed to ground-zero emissions were diagnosed with cancer</a>. Experts attributed it to their exposure to airborne asbestos fibers when the buildings collapsed.</li>
</ul>


Occupational Exposure

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Pintos, J., Parent, M. É., Case, B. W., Rousseau, M. C., & Siemiatycki, J. (2018). Risk of mesothelioma and occupational exposure to asbestos and man-made vitreous fibers: Evidence from two case-control studies in Montreal, Canada. International Journal of Epidemiology, 47(6), 1745–1758. 

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Occupational asbestos exposure & Mesothelioma

<p>Frontiers in Oncology provisionally accepted a <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2024.1410322/abstract" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">case report</a> Friday suggesting the use of first-line nivolumab and ipilimumab could be more effective than chemotherapy in malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPM) treatment.&nbsp;</p><p>A team of researchers working in France reported a 74-year-old woman with MPM had a &ldquo;major and sustained 12-month response&rdquo; to the anti-PD-1 nivolumab and the anti-CTLA 4 ipilimumab.&nbsp;</p><p>&ldquo;Our findings suggest a role for ICI in non-resectable diffuse MPM exhibiting PD-L1 overexpression and loss of BP1 expression, and install new hope in their treatment,&rdquo; the report stated.&nbsp;</p><p>The researchers believe this is only the second recorded case of a major clinical response to the use of dual immunotherapy as a treatment for MPM.&nbsp;</p><h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-types-of-peritoneal-mesothelioma-treatment">Types of Peritoneal Mesothelioma Treatment&nbsp;</h2><p>Mesothelioma, a form of cancer whose only known risk factor is asbestos exposure, usually originates in the lining of the lungs. This variant of the disease is called <a href="https://mesowatch.com/mesothelioma/pleural/">pleural mesothelioma</a>. However, <a href="https://mesowatch.com/mesothelioma/peritoneal/">peritoneal mesothelioma</a> affects the membrane around the digestive tract. The prognosis is poor for both these variants, but peritoneal mesothelioma is studied even less because it is so rare.</p><p>Peritoneal mesothelioma patients <a href="https://mesowatch.com/treatment/surgical/">can undergo surgery to remove tumors</a>. Although it has proven successful when combined with <a href="https://mesowatch.com/treatment/chemotherapy/">chemotherapy</a>, the procedure is incredibly invasive. Sometimes the peritoneum must be removed. In some cases, parts of the structures that the peritoneum adheres to, such as the ovaries, uterus and gall bladder, and even parts of the intestines are removed.</p><p>Another treatment option is chemotherapy. It isn&rsquo;t very effective by itself when used for mesothelioma patients, but it works better in combination with surgery and/or <a href="https://mesowatch.com/treatment/radiation/">radiation treatments</a>.&nbsp;</p><h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-immunotherapy-is-the-next-wave-of-treatment">Immunotherapy is the Next Wave of Treatment</h2><p>Immunotherapy is a promising new frontier in <a href="https://mesowatch.com/treatment/">mesothelioma treatment</a>. Its goal is to stimulate the body&rsquo;s immune system to destroy cancer cells.&nbsp;</p><p>Some immunotherapy drugs target proteins that inhibit the body&rsquo;s natural ability to fight cancer. Other drugs, such as nivolumab and ipilimumab, use antibodies instead. The FDA approved the use of those two medications in 2020 to treat some patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma who either didn&rsquo;t respond to surgery or weren&rsquo;t surgical candidates.&nbsp;</p><p>A <a href="https://www.jtocrr.org/article/S2666-3643(20)30186-7/fulltext" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">2021 study</a> showed an overall 23.5% survival rate in malignant pleural mesothelioma patients given nivolumab. However, research into how nivolumab might help those with peritoneal mesothelioma has lagged behind. That&rsquo;s why the case report published Friday is a crucial next step in helping these patients live longer.&nbsp;</p>


Promising Immunotherapy Case for Peritoneal Mesothelioma

<p>A scientist has scored a victory over Johnson &amp; Johnson, which alleged her influential research linking <a href="https://mesowatch.com/talcum-powder/talc-cosmetics-asbestos-mesothelioma/">asbestos-contaminated cosmetic products</a> to the deadly cancer mesothelioma was libelous and fraudulent.&nbsp;</p><p>On Friday, U.S. District Court Judge Georgette Castner granted Dr. Jacqueline Moline&rsquo;s motion to dismiss the lawsuit that LTL, a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of J&amp;J, filed against her. Castner&rsquo;s ruling stated the article was based on scientific opinions protected under the First Amendment.&nbsp;</p><p>In January 2020, Moline, an occupational medicine professor and specialist, and several co-authors published an article in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine that described 33 cases of <a href="https://mesowatch.com/mesothelioma/">malignant mesothelioma </a>among individuals who used cosmetic talcum powder. The article is considered a key reason for a nationwide wave of litigation against J&amp;J by individuals who contracted mesothelioma or ovarian cancer after prolonged, continued use of Johnson&rsquo;s Baby Powder and Shower-to-Shower products.&nbsp;</p><p>LTL claimed Moline knew the article&rsquo;s premise was false, &ldquo;or recklessly ignored available information demonstrating its falsity&rdquo; because she was an expert witness for plaintiffs in the underlying tort cases where patients identified other <a href="https://mesowatch.com/exposure/">sources of possible exposure to asbestos</a>.&nbsp;</p><p>In particular, LTL alleged that some tissue samples referenced in the article containing a type of asbestos associated with talc also tested positive for asbestos &ldquo;encountered in cases of industrial and occupational exposure, not cosmetic talcum powder.&rdquo;</p><p>However, Castner noted in her ruling that the article was upfront about the study&rsquo;s limitations and disclosed that the cases were referred to Moline for evaluation as part of tort litigation.</p><p>The ruling also stated the other alleged sources of asbestos exposure identified by LTL &ldquo;do not render Dr. Moline&rsquo;s finding that the individuals had &lsquo;no known asbestos exposure other than cosmetic talcum powder&rsquo; a verifiably false statement of fact as opposed to a nonactionable scientific conclusion.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p><p>The ruling noted the article stated that it only took into consideration tissue analysis conducted by one of the co-authors, and any analysis that might have been done by other investigators was not presented.&nbsp;</p><p>The ruling also stated that the court &ldquo;must also consider the content of the whole communication and its apparent purpose,&rdquo; and that the article&rsquo;s self-described purpose of underlying the importance &ldquo;of collecting detailed exposure histories &hellip; in patients presenting with mesothelioma.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p><p>Erik Haas, global vice president of litigation for J&amp;J, said Monday that the company <a href="https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/scientist-defeats-jj-lawsuit-over-cancer-research-2024-07-01/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">will appeal</a> Castner&rsquo;s ruling.&nbsp;</p><h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-why-ltl-and-not-j-amp-j-filed-the-fraud-claim">Why LTL, and Not J&amp;J, Filed the Fraud Claim</h2><p>In the wake of mounting lawsuits from consumers who contracted cancer after using J&amp;J products, the company created LTL in 2021 to assume all its talc liability. LTL then filed for bankruptcy protection in Texas. However, the court has twice rejected LTL&rsquo;s maneuver, known as the &ldquo;Texas Two-Step.&rdquo;</p><p>After both bankruptcy failures, J&amp;J announced it was lowering its proposed settlement agreement with ovarian cancer claimants.&nbsp;</p><p>Last month, attorneys for talc claimants filed a <a href="https://mesowatch.com/cancer-victims-motion-judge-to-block-jjs-bankruptcy-settlement/">class action suit</a> in an effort to prevent J&amp;J from filing for bankruptcy for a third time through LTL after the subsidiary proposed a reorganization plan to pay a proposed $6.48 billion to settle claims filed by <a href="https://mesowatch.com/talcum-powder/lawsuits/johnson-and-johnson/">tens of thousands of women</a> with ovarian cancer. Lawyers for the women called the payout grossly inadequate because each client would receive only $43,000 on average, and liens and attorney fees would be deducted from that amount.&nbsp;</p><p>However, on the same day, Castner threw out LTL&rsquo;s libel and fraud suit, U.S. District Court Judge Michael Shipp <a href="https://mesowatch.com/judge-dismisses-bid-to-block-jjs-6-48b-talc-settlement/">dismissed a preliminary order</a> in the class action suit asking the New Jersey federal court to block J&amp;J&rsquo;s bankruptcy settlement plan.&nbsp;</p><p>If 75% of the claimants agree to the proposed settlement by July 26, the reorganization plan will go forward.&nbsp;</p><h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-long-history-of-j-amp-j-talc-and-cancer">The Long History of J&amp;J, Talc, and Cancer</h2><p>Cancer patients have been filing personal injury lawsuits against J&amp;J for decades, claiming they got sick due to asbestos in its talcum powder products. However, research studies on the link between talc and cancer have shown mixed results.</p><p>The company allegedly knew in 1971 that its baby powder contained talc that had been contaminated with asbestos during the mining process, but continually stated its products were asbestos-free.&nbsp;</p><p>In 2019, J&amp;J finally recalled 33,000 bottles of its baby powder after testing revealed trace amounts of asbestos. The following year, the company ceased baby powder sales in the United States and Canada.&nbsp;</p><p>In recent years, J&amp;J has won some of the lawsuits filed against it but has also had to pay millions to consumers through verdicts and settlements. The company recently settled claims from nearly all the U.S. states plus the District of Columbia for <a href="https://mesowatch.com/breaking-down-the-jj-talc-settlement-by-state-who-gets-what/">$700 million</a>.&nbsp;</p>


Judge Rejects J&J’s Fraud Allegations in Mesothelioma Talc Study Case

<p>On June 28, a federal judge rejected a preliminary order by cancer victims aimed at blocking Johnson &amp; Johnson from moving forward on its proposed&nbsp; $6.48 billion bankruptcy settlement plan. The plan was created to settle tens of thousands of lawsuits alleging the company&#8217;s <a href="https://mesowatch.com/talcum-powder/talcum-powders-that-contain-asbestos/">talc products contain asbestos</a>, which led to victims developing ovarian cancer or mesothelioma, a deadly cancer linked to asbestos exposure.</p><p>Victims in New Jersey <a href="https://mesowatch.com/cancer-victims-motion-judge-to-block-jjs-bankruptcy-settlement/">filed the preliminary order</a> as part of a class action lawsuit. Lawyers for talc claimants filed the order to prevent another planned J&amp;J bankruptcy from being filed in Texas or any other jurisdiction outside New Jersey.</p><p>The move comes just weeks after Johnson &amp; Johnson&rsquo;s subsidiary LLT Management submitted a new plan called &ldquo;Plan of Reorganization&rdquo; to pay ovarian cancer claimants around $6.48 billion over 25 years to resolve 99.75% of its U.S.-based talc lawsuits. If successful, the order would have prevented J&amp;J from filing for bankruptcy outside the state and put a wrench in its plan to push through the settlement plan.&nbsp;</p><p>During Friday&rsquo;s proceedings, U.S. District Judge Michael Shipp said he could not grant the motion because any harm to the victims was &#8220;strictly hypothetical.&#8221; He said he had no jurisdiction to resolve a dispute over &#8220;events that have not, and may never, occur.&#8221;</p><p>J&amp;J hopes to receive support from 75% of the claimants out of the more than 61,000 lawsuits as part of the prepackaged bankruptcy plan. The voting deadline on the plan is July 26.</p><h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-bankruptcy-plan-projected-to-pass">Bankruptcy Plan Projected to Pass</h2><p>According to a <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/breaking-news-jj-talcum-powder-lawsuit-settlements-expected-to-be-approved-by-end-of-july-says-legal-bay-lawsuit-funding-302183920.html" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">press release</a> by Legal-Bay LLC, the multiple, years-long legal disputes against Johnson &amp; Johnson regarding ties between the use of their <a href="https://mesowatch.com/talcum-powder/talcum-powder-and-ovarian-cancer/">talc-based baby powder and ovarian cancer </a>may finally be coming to an end. The bankruptcy filing would enable an expedited plan to be enacted, allowing for a $6.475 billion payout to almost 60,000 plaintiffs.&nbsp;</p><p>Under the new settlement plan, victims would receive smaller payouts as retribution for serious medical conditions. Due to the volume of claimants, each settlement value is expected to be between $50k to $150k for each of the nearly 60,000 claims.</p><p>J&amp;J continues to maintain its talc is safe, asbestos-free, and does not cause cancer. The company says that its bankruptcy settlement is a fair and equitable solution for claimants who could walk away with nothing at all if their case went to court.</p><p>Plaintiffs&#8217; attorneys oppose the plan and say it is a fraudulent attempt to short-change plaintiffs and keep them from getting the retribution they deserve. The settlement is also an attempt by J&amp;J to place billions of dollars of the company&#8217;s assets out of plaintiffs&#8217; reach.</p><h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-j-amp-j-s-700m-finalizes-settlement-over-talc-marketing">J&amp;J&rsquo;s $700M Finalizes Settlement over Talc Marketing</h2><p>On June 11, the company finalized a separate $700 million settlement of an investigation by 42 states and Washington, D.C., into the marketing of its talc-based products linked to causing cancer.</p><p><a href="https://www.nj.gov/oag/newsreleases24/2024-0611_JNJFinalCO.pdf" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">Under the settlement</a>, J&amp;J resolved charges that it misled consumers for decades into believing its talc powders were safe. New Jersey will receive just over $30.2 million as part of the resolution, <a href="https://www.njoag.gov/attorney-general-platkin-42-states-announce-700-million-johnson-johnson-settlement/" rel="noreferrer noopener nofollow">state Attorney General Matthew Platkin said.&nbsp;</a></p><h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-johnson-amp-johnson-attempts-multiple-bankruptcy-maneuvers">Johnson &amp; Johnson Attempts Multiple Bankruptcy Maneuvers</h2><p>For decades, people have used talcum powder in a variety of consumer products including baby and hygiene body powder. Studies then began to surface linking the popular talcum powder to deadly diseases such as mesothelioma and ovarian cancer. As a result, people<a href="https://mesowatch.com/talcum-powder/lawsuits/johnson-and-johnson/"> filed thousands of lawsuits </a>against the significant talcum powder producer Johnson &amp; Johnson.</p><p>Johnson &amp; Johnson has made numerous attempts to disrupt these proceedings and avoid having to pay damages to the victims. Part of those maneuvers were two failed attempts by J&amp;J to execute bankruptcy proceedings aimed at ending current and future talc lawsuits.</p><p>The pharmaceutical giant made a strategy, known as a <a href="https://mesowatch.com/jj-faces-new-mesothelioma-trial-in-texas-over-talc-claims/">Texas two-step</a>, a term coined in 2023 when it attempted to create a subsidiary that could absorb its talc liability, and then declare bankruptcy. In both bankruptcy cases, two separate courts found that J&amp;J&#8217;s subsidiary lacked the &#8220;financial distress&#8221; necessary to legitimize a bankruptcy filing.</p>


Occupational asbestos exposure & Mesothelioma

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Occupational asbestos exposure & Mesothelioma

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