Feb. 27 (Bloomberg) -- Johnson & Johnson, which has spent at least $68.7 million to resolve U.S. lawsuits filed by women who suffered blood clots, heart attacks or strokes after using the Ortho Evra birth-control patch, agreed to settle similar claims in three Canadian provinces.

J&J, the world’s largest maker of health-care products, avoided trials through the confidential settlements in the U.S. and took the same approach in Canada with 22 plaintiffs in Ontario, British Columbia and Quebec.

The Canadian plaintiffs accused J&J’s Janssen-Ortho unit of failing to properly warn patients and doctors that Evra increases risks of blood clots, strokes and heart attacks compared to oral contraceptives. The plaintiffs had sought C$400,000 ($315,000) each in compensation and C$20 million in punitive damages.

J&J, based in New Brunswick, New Jersey, didn’t admit any wrongdoing in the settlement.

An Ontario judge will be asked to end the suit at a hearing March 23, said Matthew Baer of Siskinds LLP, lawyer for the Ontario plaintiffs. Anyone else with a valid claim can still come forward and be included in the settlement, he said.

The case is Between Maria Fodor and Janssen-Ortho Inc. Ontario Superior Court of Justice (London, Ontario). Court File No.: 07-cv-331344CP.

To contact the reporters on this story: Joe Schneider in Toronto at jschneider5@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: February 27, 2009 12:25 EST