Disclosure: Johnson and Johnson Product Liability Claims

August 25, 2017
Gordon Platt
Drug Lawsuits, Drug Side Effects, Invokana, Major Lawsuits, Medical Devices, Risperdal, Talcum Powder, Transvaginal Mesh, Xarelto

Johnson and Johnson product liability claims are described in detail in the company’s quarterly report filed with the SEC and released earlier this month. The company declines to put losses on its balance sheet “until a loss is determined to be probable and can be reasonably estimated.”

According to Johnson and Johnson:

The most significant of these cases include: the DePuy ASR™ XL Acetabular System and DePuy ASR™ Hip Resurfacing System; the PINNACLE^® Acetabular Cup System; pelvic meshes; RISPERDAL^®; XARELTO^®; body powders containing talc, primarily JOHNSONS^® Baby Powder; and INVOKANA^®. As of July 2, 2017, in the U.S. there were approximately 2,000 plaintiffs with direct claims in pending lawsuits regarding injuries allegedly due to the DePuy ASR™ XL Acetabular System and DePuy ASR™ Hip Resurfacing System; 9,700 with respect to the PINNACLE^® Acetabular Cup System; 55,500 with respect to pelvic meshes; 13,800 with respect to RISPERDAL^®; 20,000 with respect to XARELTO^®; 4,800 with respect to body powders containing talc; and 800 with respect to INVOKANA^®.

ASR^™ XL Acetabular System and DePuy ASR^™ Hip Resurfacing System: Johnson and Johnson reports that at this point 9,500 claims have been settled for these products used in hip replacement surgery. There are approximately 2,000 cases pending. The claims were organized in a multidistrict litigation program and further litigation is expected.
Pinnacle Acetabular Cup System: Claims for personal injury have also been made against DePuy and Johnson & Johnson relating to the PINNACLE^® Acetabular Cup System used in hip replacement surgery. There are now 9,700 plaintiffs in pending law suits. Cases filed in federal courts in the United States have been organized as a multi-district litigation in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas.
Ethicon Pelvic Mesh Devices: Claims for personal injury have been made against Ethicon, Inc. and Johnson & Johnson arising out of Ethicon’s pelvic mesh devices used to treat stress urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. There are now 55,500 plaintiffs in pending law suits. Cases filed in federal courts in the United States have been organized as a multi-district litigation in the United States District Court for the Southern District of West Virginia.
Risperdal: Claims for personal injury have been made against Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Johnson & Johnson arising out of the use of RISPERDAL^®, indicated for the treatment of schizophrenia, acute manic or mixed episodes associated with bipolar I disorder and irritability associated with autism, and related compounds. Lawsuits have been primarily filed in state courts in Pennsylvania, California, and Missouri. There are approximately 13,800 cases pending.
Xarelto: Claims for personal injury arising out of the use of XARELTO^®, an oral anticoagulant, have been made against Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (JPI); Johnson & Johnson; and JPI’s collaboration partner for XARELTO^® Bayer AG and certain of its affiliates.There are now 20,000 plaintiffs in pending law suits
Johnsons Baby Powder: Claims for personal injury have been made against Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. and Johnson & Johnson arising out of the use of body powders containing talc, primarily JOHNSONS^® Baby Powder.There are now 4,800 plaintiffs in pending law suits. Lawsuits have been primarily filed in state courts in Missouri, New Jersey and California. Cases filed in federal courts in the United States have been organized as a multi-district litigation in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.
Invokana: Claims for personal injury have been made against a number of Johnson & Johnson companies, including Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Johnson & Johnson, arising out of the use of INVOKANA^®, a prescription medication indicated to improve glycemic control in adults with Type 2 diabetes.There are now 800 plaintiffs in pending law suits Cases filed in federal courts in the United States have been organized as a multi-district litigation in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. In addition, there are federal cases pending in the Southern District of California and the Eastern District of Missouri. Cases have also been filed in state courts in Pennsylvania, California and New Jersey. Class action lawsuits have been filed in Canada.