J&J has consistently denied that its now-discontinued talc baby powder contains asbestos or causes cancer. Satterley asked jurors to award Hernandez punitive damages about nine times greater than so-called compensatory damages, which include $3.8 million for his medical costs as well as damages for pain and suffering. The U.S. Supreme Court has found that punitive damages should generally be no more than nine times compensatory damages, and that a higher ratio can be reduced on appeal as excessive. J&J has said its talc products are safe and do not contain asbestos, which has been linked to mesothelioma. J&J said in bankruptcy court filings that the costs of its talc-related verdicts, settlements and legal fees have reached about $4.5 billion.

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Persons: Johnson, Mike Segar, ” Joseph Satterley, Emory Hernandez Valadez, Satterley, Hernandez, Allison Brown, “, Michael Kaplan, LTL, J Organizations: Reuters, REUTERS, Alameda County Superior Court, U.S, Supreme, LTL Management, LTL’s Locations: California, Johnson, New York, Alameda County, Trenton , New Jersey