California Jury Awards $32 Million to Family of Woman Who Developed Mesothelioma After Decades of Johnson's Baby Powder Use
A Los Angeles County jury in Van Nuys, California, has awarded $32 million in compensatory damages to the family of Maria Lozano, a wife, mother, and longtime Johnson's Baby Powder user who died from pleural mesothelioma after decades of exposure to asbestos-contaminated talcum powder.
Ms. Lozano retained Early, Lucarelli, Sweeney & Meisenkothen after her mesothelioma diagnosis in 2023. ELSM worked with co-counsel Dean Omar Branham Shirley (DOBS) to represent Ms. Lozano and her family throughout the litigation. Following Ms. Lozano's death in 2024, her family continued the lawsuit on her behalf.
Ms. Lozano used Johnson's Baby Powder daily for more than five decades after moving from Mexico City to California in 1967. In addition to personal use, she regularly used the product during diaper changes for her children and was exposed when her husband applied the powder. She was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma in 2023 and died approximately one year later.
During the trial, Johnson & Johnson acknowledged that Ms. Lozano's mesothelioma was caused by asbestos exposure but argued that her exposure came from other sources, including environmental conditions in Mexico City, cosmetic products, and her husband's automotive work. The jury rejected those arguments and assigned no fault to any source other than Johnson & Johnson.
After reviewing the evidence, the jury concluded that Johnson's Baby Powder was responsible for causing Ms. Lozano's mesothelioma and awarded damages to compensate her family for their loss.
The case is Lozano v. Johnson & Johnson, Coordinated Proceeding Special Title LAOSD Asbestos Cases, Coordinated Case No. JCCP 4674, in the Superior Court of California, County of Los Angeles.
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Attorney Meisenkothen is a member of several professional organizations, including the Connecticut Trial Lawyers Association, the American Association for Justice, the American Bar Association, and the Connecticut Bar Association.
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