J&J Talc Supplier Takes No Chances on Another Big Jury Loss

  • Imerys blamed by California woman for asbestos-related cancer
  • Trial is first since $4.7 billion award in St. Louis talc case

Johnson & Johnson baby powder

Photographer: Scott Eells/Bloomberg

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Imerys SA, which supplies talc to Johnson & Johnson, isn’t taking chances as another jury weighs whether to sock the health-care giant with a punishing verdict.

A unit of Imerys agreed to settle its part of a California woman’s lawsuit blaming both companies for causing her cancer with asbestos-tainted talc at the conclusion of a four-week state-court trial in Pasadena, just before the case was sent to jury for deliberations.