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Kazan McClain Partners’ Foundation Celebrates its Grantees’ Landmark $16.5 Million Settlement for Section 8 Tenants

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Kazan McClain Satterley & Greenwood salutes Centro Legal de la Raza, Dardarian Ho Kan & Lee, the Impact Fund, Law Offices of Andrew Wolff, and the California Civil Rights Law Group for their amazing victory in U.S. ex rel. Terry v. Wasatch Advantage Group which resulted in a $16.5 million settlement on behalf of Section 8 tenants.

 

 

The outstanding victory includes the return of 100% of the unlawful excess rent paid by tenants plus interest, and injunctive relief eliminating the unlawful practices.

We whole-heartedly endorse The Daily Journal’s decision to present Centro Legal’s litigation director Jessie Newmark the 2025 California Lawyer of the Year (CLAY) award.

We are proud of our Kazan McClain Partners’ Foundation’s financial contribution to Centro Legal de la Raza and the Impact Fund. This financial support allows them to provide vital legal services to vulnerable and underserved communities, like the plaintiffs in this case.

The Kazan McClain Partners’ Foundation was founded in 1994, and to date has distributed over $38 million in grants to diverse organizations.  We look forward to being a part of their continued success.

Asbestos Personal Injury Law Firm Kazan, McClain, Satterley & Greenwood Has Been Recognized For Its Exceptional Expertise In Products Liability

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On Thursday, April 10, 2025, Chambers and Partners (Chambers) launched its new Spotlight California 2025 Guide and Rankings on Chambers.com. As part of Chambers comprehensive review of the legal market across California, Kazan Law based in Oakland, has been recognized for our exceptional expertise in Products Liability.  

Traditionally, Chamber and Partners selects law firms based on its in-depth research that assess lawyers and law firms across more than 200 jurisdictions around the world, providing independent and impartial intelligence for those in need of representation. The 2025 Guide highlights small to mid-sized firms with sophisticated expertise, superb reputations in their community, and nationally recognized practice areas that demonstrates intimate knowledge of the local courts, regulations and cost-effective solutions for sophisticated legal work.   

For over 50 years, Kazan Law has represented thousands of people suffering from asbestos-related illnesses, particularly mesothelioma. Our principals are the most experienced mesothelioma lawyers in California and have won precedent-setting rulings by the California Appellate and Supreme Courts. Kazan Law specializes in these complex catastrophic personal injury and wrongful death cases involving products liability, premises liability, negligence, intentional disregard of the life and safety of the victims,  and punitive damages.  

Kazan Law also has extensive expertise in representing claimants in the bankruptcy reorganizations of asbestos defendants, and before the resulting asbestos Bankruptcy Trust Funds, and indeed was proclaimed the nation’s leading claimants’ bankruptcy trust law firm by the Wall Street Journal. 

Kazan Law’s support for our clients extends beyond simply providing legal services. Kazan Law is a source of online information, attends and presents at legal and medical conferences, financially supports cutting-edge medical research, and supports legislative and regulatory efforts to ban asbestos.  We are deeply honored by Chambers’ recognition, which reflects Kazan Law’s commitment to delivering extraordinary service and accomplishing excellent results for our clients.

If you or a family member have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, contact us now to speak with one of our partners. We will bring you our more than 50 years of expertise and success. Kazan Law is located at 55 Harrison St., Suite 400, Oakland, CA 94607 and can be contacted by calling 888-887-1238 or online via our contact form.

Kazan, McClain, Satterley & Greenwood, PLC, Ranked 37th in Top 100 Bay Area Corporate Philanthropists List

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San Francisco Business Times
   

Kazan, McClain, Satterley & Greenwood announced today that it has ranked number 37 on the San Francisco Business Times’ 2024 Bay Area Top 100 Corporate Philanthropists List, published on July 26, 2024. 

The annual list recognizes 100 top corporate philanthropists ranked by local cash giving.  It includes both for-profit companies and nonprofit health care organizations that made contributions to Bay Area based charitable organizations in the following counties:  San Francisco, San Mateo, Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, Santa Clara, Solano and Sonoma.

While most of the top donors are large corporations, such as Google, Genentech, and Wells Fargo, the Top 100 lists includes a handful of law firms. Kazan, McClain, Satterley & Greenwood, a 20-attorney firm, ranked as the second largest law firm donor, just behind Morrison & Foerster, a global firm with over 1,000 attorneys. Since Morrison Foerster formed its foundation in 1986, it has distributed over $44 million, while the Kazan McClain Partners’ Foundation, founded in 1994, has distributed over $38 million in grants to organizations that support research and treatment for occupational and environmental disease; increase awareness about workplace health and safety; enhance access to education about the legal system; advance programs that provide services to the underprivileged; and provide support for communities in distress, including grants to Bay Area Legal Aid, East Bay Community Law Center, International Ban Asbestos Secretariat, Seven Tepees, Stanford University Hospital, UC Law San Francisco’s Center for Gender & Refugee Studies, UCSF, and Worksafe. 

This year, Kazan Law celebrates its 50th anniversary with an intense focus on representing mesothelioma patients and their families. “Kazan, McClain, Satterley & Greenwood’s generosity helps to raise the bar on corporate philanthropy and inspires more giving,” said Mary Huss, Publisher of the San Francisco Business Times.  “Their participation in this program helps challenge others to do more.”

“I am so pleased to receive this honor on behalf of the Kazan Law firm and the Kazan McClain Partners Foundation which it funds,” said Steven Kazan, Founder and Senior Partner of Kazan Law.

 
 

ABOUT KAZAN, McCLAIN, SATTERLEY & GREENWOOD:

Since 1974, Kazan McClain, Satterley & Greenwood has represented people suffering from mesothelioma and related illnesses   Kazan Law principals are among the most experienced mesothelioma lawyers in the United States and have secured billions of dollars in settlements and jury verdicts. We are located at 55 Harrison St., Suite 400, Oakland, CA 94607 and can be contacted by calling 888-887-1238 or online.

ABOUT THE CORPORATE PHILANTHROPY AWARDS:

For 24 years the San Francisco Business Times has published the Corporate Philanthropists List.  The list features 100 top corporate philanthropists in the Bay Area ranked by local cash giving.  Each year the list is unveiled at the San Francisco Business Times’ Corporate Philanthropy Awards event.  The Corporate Philanthropy Awards program was founded in partnership with Northern California Grantmakers.  A portion of the proceeds goes to NCG to fund the Corporate Philanthropy Institute, with the mission to educate more companies about effective giving and best philanthropy practices.  The aim is to honor those who give the most and in doing so to help raise the bar and inspire more giving. 

Our Foundation will continue to provide grants to research and Bay Area organizations to increase better opportunities for all.

Kazan Law Pro Bono Immigration Clients Granted Asylum

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Our firm is privileged to provide pro bono representation to brave and deserving immigrants seeking asylum in the U.S. Many immigrants come from Honduras and other Central American countries because they face unimaginable dangers in their home countries and come to our shores for safety and a life free of violence. Refugees from these countries are eligible for asylum if they face or fear persecution in their home countries because of their race, religion, political opinions, or if they are targeted because of their gender, family memberships, or memberships in other groups protected under immigration law. 

 

 

In 2015, when a large number of children and families came to the U.S. seeking asylum from Central America and other countries, there was a great need to provide legal representation to these children and their families. Children were taken away from their families and put in protective custody. Parents were put in jail. None of them were criminals. They were all seeking the protections they are entitled to under our laws. Our firm agreed to represent a number of these children and their families pro bono because they needed help.

Since 2015, several of our children and families were granted asylum and they can now safely live here in the U.S.  In our most recent case, in November 2023, the San Francisco Immigration Court granted asylum to a young Honduran woman and her two children.  Our client came to the U.S. in 2015 from Honduras after the government forced the family off their farm, taking their source of food and family income.  Gang members killed several family members, assaulted and sexually abused other family members, and forced our client and the rest of the family to flee the country.  The Honduran authorities were unable then, and continue to be unable now, to stop MS 13 from carrying out its program of terror against our client, her family, and many other Honduran citizens.

Over the last several years, our firm also successfully represented other clients who were granted asylum including:

  • A young teenage boy who was pursued by gang members after he witnessed the murder of his uncle.
  • A mother who was the victim of race discrimination and sexual assault where the government allows such practices to occur with impunity.
  • A young pastor and his wife and baby son who were brutally attacked by gang members for practicing their religion and preaching against gangs.
  • A 12-year-old girl who was brutally abused by her family in a country where the government does not intervene to protect children from abuse in their families.
  • A young woman and her child who fled severe domestic violence, where her partner kept her virtually enslaved, in a country that does not intervene on behalf of women facing spousal abuse.

We look forward to continuing our pro bono immigration work.  We are gratified to know that our clients are now living their lives here, safe from the dangers that forced them to leave their home countries.

We could not bring these cases alone.  We are grateful to our partnering organizations, the Center for Gender and Refugee Studies (CGRS), Centro Legal de La Raza, and Immigrant Legal Defense (ILD) for providing training and assistance to us, and to pro bono immigration lawyers here in the Bay Area and throughout the United States.

Kazan Law Ranked Number 41 on the San Francisco Business Times’ 2023 Bay Area Corporate Philanthropists List

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Kazan Law San Francisco Business Times' 2023 Bay Area Corporate Philanthropists List

 

Kazan, McClain, Satterley & Greenwood announced today that it has been ranked number 41 on the San Francisco Business Times’ 2023 Bay Area Corporate Philanthropists List, which was published in a supplement in the San Francisco Business Times on July 28, 2023. The Corporate Philanthropy Awards’ list and supplement celebrates the Bay Area’s most generous corporate citizens and recognizes those companies that also give their time, talent, and resources. The annual list recognizes 100 top corporate philanthropists ranked by local cash giving. It includes for-profit companies and nonprofit health care organizations that made contributions to Bay Area based charitable organizations in the following counties: San Francisco, San Mateo, Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, Santa Clara, Solano and Sonoma.

For nearly 50 years, Kazan, McClain, Satterley & Greenwood has represented almost exclusively mesothelioma patients. Thirty years ago, the Kazan Firm had the foresight and aspiration to create the Kazan McClain Partners Foundation so the Firm could provide funds to support organizations and institutions that fight for the little guy. Over the years, the Kazan McClain Partners Foundation has given more than $25 million in grant money to many diverse organizations and hospitals including, the University of California San Francisco, Stanford University, the International Ban Asbestos Secretariat (IBAS), as well as Bay Area Legal Aid, East Bay Community Law Center, UC Berkeley School of Law and UC Hastings Center for Gender and Refugee Studies.

For example, Kazan Law has been a major donor to San Francisco Bay Area and Alameda County food banks. It also supports groups that provide legal assistance to underserved communities, and funds scholarships to increase professional diversity in the law. Kazan Law is a significant supporter of WORKSAFE, a California nonprofit that is committed to systemic change to protect the health and safety of workers, including those exposed to the hazards of asbestos. Kazan Law is in the forefront of providing grants to universities for medical research to acquire a better understanding and treatment of all aspects of mesothelioma.

“Kazan, McClain, Satterley & Greenwood’s generosity helps to raise the bar on corporate philanthropy and inspires more giving,” said Mary Huss, Publisher of the San Francisco Business Times. “Their participation in this program helps challenge others to do more.”

“I am so pleased to receive this honor on behalf of the Kazan Law firm and the Kazan McClain Partners Foundation which it funds,” said Steven Kazan, Founder, Senior and Managing Partner of Kazan Law.

ABOUT KAZAN, McCLAIN, SATTERLEY & GREENWOOD:

Since 1974, Kazan McClain, Satterley & Greenwood has represented people suffering from mesothelioma and related illnesses. Kazan Law principals are among the most experienced mesothelioma lawyers in the United States and have secured billions of dollars in settlements and jury verdicts. Kazan, McClain, Satterley & Greenwood is located at 55 Harrison St., Suite 400, Oakland, CA 94607 and can be contacted by calling 888-887-1238 or online at: https://www.kazanlaw.com/

ABOUT THE CORPORATE PHILANTHROPY AWARDS:

For 23 years the San Francisco Business Times has published the Corporate Philanthropists List. The list features 100 top corporate philanthropists in the Bay Area ranked by local cash giving. Each year the list is unveiled at the San Francisco Business Times’ Corporate Philanthropy Awards event. The Corporate Philanthropy Awards program was founded in partnership with Northern California Grantmakers.  A portion of the proceeds goes to NCG to fund the Corporate Philanthropy Institute, with the mission to educate more companies about effective giving and best philanthropy practices.  The aim is to honor those who give the most and in doing so to help raise the bar and inspire more giving. 

Kazan Law Wins a $18.8 Million Mesothelioma Verdict In Johnson & Johnson Talc Baby Powder Lawsuit

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On July 18, 2023, a California Jury returned an award of $18.8 million to Emory Valadez who was diagnosed with mesothelioma after a lifetime of using Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder. The Kazan Law attorneys proved to another jury that Johnson & Johnson’s talcum baby powder was contaminated with asbestos and that Johnson & Johnson worked to hide this from the public.

Valadez’s Story

This 24-year-old plaintiff is represented by Joe Satterley, Denyse Clancy and Michael Reid of Kazan Law and suffers from pericardial and plueral mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the heart and the lining of the lungs. When Emory was a baby, his mother used Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder talc on him every day, during diaper changes and after baths. Emory claimed that Johnson & Johnson knew that asbestos was present in its talc, before and during the years that he used Johnson’s baby powder. Johnson & Johnson failed to warn Emory, his mother and the public about talc and asbestos contained in its products.

 

Outstanding Trial Result

The verdict is an outstanding result under the most challenging circumstances. Johnson & Johnson twice stalled the trial of the case by filing fraudulent bankruptcies. Bankruptcy is meant for companies that cannot afford to pay their debts, but Johnson & Johnson is one of the most financially stable companies in the world and the appellate court determined it was wrong for them to use bankruptcy to stall mesothelioma lawsuits.

Emory’s case has received national coverage including from the Los Angeles Times, CNN, Reuters, NBC and the New York Post.

Emory Valadez was awarded $18.8 million with 100% fault allocated to Johnson & Johnson.

 

Reach Out to Our Experienced Mesothelioma Lawyers Today

If you or a family member has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, get in touch with our experienced California mesothelioma lawyers here at Kazan Law. You can schedule a free review of your case by calling 888-887-1238 or filling out our online form so you can learn more about your case and the most appropriate legal options for you. Our mesothelioma lawyers have decades of experience handling mesothelioma cases and have secured billions of dollars in settlements or jury verdicts for our clients since 1974.

Five Kazan Law Firm Attorneys Named in “Lawdragon 500 Leading Consumer Plaintiff Lawyers for 2023”

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Oakland, California — May 3, 2023 – Five Kazan Law Firm attorneys have been named to the “Lawdragon 500 Leading Consumer Plaintiff Lawyers for 2023” list. Congrats to Steven Kazan, David McClain, Joseph Satterley, Gordon Greenwood, and Denyse Clancy!

 

Lawdragon 500 Leading Consumer Plaintiff Lawyers

The Lawdragon 500 Leading Consumer Plaintiff Lawyers list is one of the most prestigious distinctions for attorneys in the United States.

Lawdragon is a leading legal magazine that features legal news and editorial articles. They are well-known for their comprehensive leading lawyer guides. Lawdragon uses a meticulous process of researching independent legal journalism to determine which lawyers make the widely respected list.

Their Leading Consumer Plaintiff Lawyers list highlights attorneys who advocate for injured people and people impacted by wrongful death incidents. This elite distinction aims to honor plaintiff attorneys who accept great responsibility and risk to seek justice for others.

At Kazan Law, we are proud to be recognized as a plaintiff law firm with integrity that seeks justice for our clients. We understand that representing plaintiffs is a paramount responsibility more than a business.

 

Steven Kazan

Steven Kazan, our Founder, Senior and Managing Partner was not only named to Lawdragon’s 500 Leading Consumer Plaintiff Lawyers for 2023, but he was also inducted into Lawdragon’s  Hall of Fame for 2023.. Mr. Kazan is widely recognized as one of the top plaintiff’s attorney in the United States. He is a leader in his diverse fields of law and serves as a distinguished speaker, lecturer, and program chairman at legal, medical and insurance conferences around the world focusing on asbestos, toxic torts, and mass torts. Mr. Kazan is a regular presenter at the International Mesothelioma Interest Group and has testified as an expert before Congress ­­­on behalf of asbestos victims and before the Senate and House Judiciary Committees on asbestos litigation and legislation.  His nearly five decade dedication in representing workers suffering from mesothelioma and protecting settlements for injured parties in bankruptcy proceedings makes him a perfect choice for Lawdragon’s elite 500 list, and inclusion in their  Hall of Fame.

 

David McClain

Partner David McClain was also inducted in Lawdragon’s Hall of Fame for 2023. Mr. McClain is a prominent asbestos lawyer in the United States.  For 40 years at the firm, Mr. McClain has specialized in complex litigation involving catastrophic personal injury cases and has negotiated settlements totaling over $5 billion.  Amazingly, in his 50 years as a civil and criminal trial lawyer, Mr. McClain has never lost a trial. Mr. McClain has presented to the Consumers Attorneys of California state convention, the National Judicial College, National Lawyers Guild, and many other organizations and law schools.  Mr. McClain is Founder and President of the Kazan McClain Partners’ Foundation, Inc., which has given over $22 million in grants since its formation in 1994.  Mr. McClain’s monumental legacy as a trial attorney makes him an exceptional fit for Lawdragon’s elite 500 list and inclusion in Lawdragon’s Hall of Fame for 2023.

 

Joseph Satterley

Partner Joseph Satterley is a dedicated and accomplished personal injury attorney with over 23 years of experience of providing exceptional representation for injured clients. With a focus on asbestos cases, he approaches cases with a refined balance of compassion and tenacity to fight for his clients. Mr. Satterley has been in the forefront of talc litigation, including his 29M baby powder verdict in Leavitt v. Johnson & Johnson  2021 WL 3418410.  He has won more mesothelioma verdicts for individuals exposed to talc than any other lawyer in the nation.  Mr. Satterley is a renowned keynote speaker on asbestos cases across the country. In addition to this Lawdragon distinction, Super Lawyers has named Mr. Satterley as a top personal injury attorney for 9 years.  

 

Gordon Greenwood

For 35 years, Partner Gordon Greenwood has provided outstanding legal representation to hundreds of clients on diverse matters.  Mr. Greenwood has represented clients across the country with a focus on seeking justice for those impacted by asbestos, construction accidents, elder abuse, and medical malpractice.  Mr. Greenwood’s extensive criminal and civil trial experience provides distinctive skills in the courtroom while displaying compassion and consideration for his clients.  Mr. Greenwood is a knowledgeable and well-versed personal injury attorney and legal lecturer. As a true defender of his clients, he is a worthy fit for this Lawdragon 500 list recognition.

 

Denyse Clancy

Partner Denyse Clancy is a distinguished and nationally recognized appellate and trial lawyer with a focus on asbestos and talc litigation. She is in an elite group of attorneys who were named in the National Law Journal Top 100 Verdicts and has served as an appellate attorney in several state Supreme and Appellate Courts. Ms. Clancy was co-first chair in Schmitz v. Johnson & Johnson and Colgate (2019), in which the jury awarded her client $12 million.  She was selected by San Francisco Magazine as one of the top women attorneys in Northern California.  Ms. Clancy is a recipient of the Pound Civil Justice Institute Award and named a Super Lawyer for Products Liability and Personal Injury from 2020-2023.  She is undoubtedly an industry-leading attorney and an superior choice for this renowned Lawdragon award.

 

Kazan Law Featured on the San Francisco Business Times’ 2022 Bay Area Top 100 Corporate Philanthropists List

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Kazan Law was ranked as a top bay area corporate philanthropist by San Francisco Business Times; ranked by local cash giving in 2021.  The ranking was announced the morning of July 28, 2022 in a special publication in the San Francisco Business Times.

 

Kazan Law Top 100 Bay Area Philanthropists
Screenshot of Top 100 Bay Area Corporate Philanthropists List Featuring Kazan Law

 

Oakland, California — August 3, 2022 – Kazan Law announced today that it has been ranked number 45 on the San Francisco Business Times’ 2022 Bay Area Top 100 Corporate Philanthropists List which will be published in a supplement in the San Francisco Business Times on July 29, 2022. Kazan Law’s 2021 cash contributions to Bay Area charities totaled $1.2 million. The Corporate Philanthropy Awards, list and supplement celebrates the Bay Area’s most generous corporate citizens and recognizes those companies that also give their time, talent, and resources. The annual list recognizes 100 top corporate philanthropists ranked by local cash giving. It includes for-profit companies and nonprofit health care organizations that made contributions to Bay Area based charitable organizations in the following counties: San Francisco, San Mateo, Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, Santa Clara, Solano, and Sonoma.

The attorneys at Kazan Law in Oakland, California, are nationally recognized pioneers in asbestos litigation, particularly mesothelioma.

“Kazan Law’s generosity helps to raise the bar on corporate philanthropy and inspires more giving,” said Mary Huss, Publisher of the San Francisco Business Times. “Their participation in this program helps challenge others to do more.”

“We are proud to be included on this year’s Bay Area Corporate Philanthropist List and to be the second highest ranked law firm in the Bay Area,” said Steven Kazan, Founding Partner of Kazan Law. “Giving back to the community is a core goal of our firm and we are honored to be recognized for this important part of our work.”

 

ABOUT KAZAN LAW:

Since its founding in 1974, Kazan Law has represented thousands of people suffering from asbestos related illnesses, particularly mesothelioma. Its principals are among the most experienced mesothelioma lawyers in the country.

 

ABOUT THE CORPORATE PHILANTHROPY AWARDS:

For 22 years the San Francisco Business Times has published the Corporate Philanthropists List. The list features 100 top corporate philanthropists in the Bay Area ranked by local cash giving. Each year the list is unveiled at the San Francisco Business Times’ Corporate Philanthropy Awards event. The Corporate Philanthropy Awards program was founded in partnership with Northern California Grantmakers. A portion of the proceeds goes to NCG to fund the Corporate Philanthropy Institute, with the mission to educate more companies about effective giving and best philanthropy practices. The aim is to honor those who give the most and in doing so to help raise the bar and inspire more giving.

Eight Kazan Law Attorneys Named to 2022 Super Lawyers and Rising Stars Lists

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Super Lawyers Kazan LawKazan Law is proud to announce that all seven of its partners, Steven Kazan, David McClain, Joseph Satterley, Gordon Greenwood, Denyse Clancy, John Langdoc and Justin Bosl, have been selected as 2022 Top Rated Super Lawyers. Steven and David have each been recognized as Super Lawyers for nineteen consecutive years. Joseph has been recognized as a Super Lawyer for nine consecutive years. Gordon has been recognized as a Super Lawyer for a total of eighteen years. Denyse has been recognized as a Super Lawyer for three consecutive years and was previously recognized as a Rising Star for five consecutive years. John has been recognized as a Super Lawyer for a total of eight years and was previously recognized as a Rising Star for three consecutive years. Justin has been recognized as a Super Lawyer for seven consecutive years and was previously recognized as a Rising Star for five consecutive years.

In addition, Henry Steinberg has been recognized as a Rising Star for five consecutive years, including 2022.

Super Lawyers rates lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The ratings are comprised of independent research, peer nominations and peer evaluations. “We are honored to have eight of our attorneys recognized as Super Lawyers. As always, we are most proud of our firm’s commitment to professionalism in providing excellent representation for our clients, and hope they are pleased that their decision to select us has been seconded during Super Lawyers’ rigorous selection process. I congratulate all the attorneys recognized by Super Lawyers this year”, said Steven Kazan, our Founding Partner.

Kazan Law Wins a $26.5 Million Verdict in Johnson & Johnson Talc Baby Powder Lawsuit

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A California jury awarded over $26.5 million in damages to Christina Prudencio on claims that the multi-billion dollar company, Johnson & Johnson, ignored warnings that its popular talc baby powder contained asbestos. The 35-year-old plaintiff is represented by Joseph Satterley and Ian Rivamonte of Kazan Law and suffers from terminal mesothelioma, which is a type of cancer that affects the thin tissue lining the lungs, abdomen, and chest wall.

Prudencio was awarded $20 million for past and future pain-and-suffering damages, $4.1 million in past and future lost earnings, over $1.57 million in past and future household services, and $800,000 in past and future medical expenses. The jury also found that Johnson & Johnson acted with malice or oppression, and awarded $100,000 in punitive damages.

 

2022-02-Verdicts-Magazine-Excerpt-Prudencio3153039.1Download

 

Prudencio’s Story

Prudencio had used Johnson’s Baby Powder from birth up until she was 16 years old. She also continued to be indirectly exposed to the baby powder because it was used on her two younger siblings. According to her attorneys, Prudencio was pursuing a master’s degree while also working as a preschool teacher when she was diagnosed with mesothelioma and was forced to stop working.

In 2020, she underwent two invasive surgeries to remove malignant cancer. Prudencio’s attorneys also said that Johnson & Johnson knew that its talc contained cancer-causing asbestos before, during, and after Prudencio and her family were using Johnson’s Baby Powder. The company also failed to disclose this fact to the FDA and users of its baby powder. Johnson & Johnson only stopped selling the product in 2020 in the United States and Canadian markets because of the lawsuits. The jury rejected Johnson & Johnson’s defense that Prudencio’s cancer most likely resulted from a genetic mutation.

 

More Trouble for Johnson & Johnson

Johnson & Johnson is facing various claims that its talc baby powder caused cancer. In June 2021, the United States Supreme Court declined to hear Johnson & Johnson’s appeal from a judgment worth $2.1 billion that the Missouri Court of Appeals affirmed. The appellate court stated that the company’s conduct was reprehensible because they denied for decades the link between ovarian cancer and talc powder use.

The lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson alleged that the plaintiffs used the company’s talc baby powder and later discovered that they developed ovarian cancer. Likewise, they accused Johnson & Johnson of intentionally marketing and selling a product that raises an individual’s risk of developing ovarian cancer.

In response to the mounting jury verdicts and overwhelming ongoing litigation, the company has employed a legal maneuver called the “Texas two-step,” which permits companies to split in two, with one part of the company remaining viable and keeping valuable assets while the other seeks bankruptcy protection because it is saddled with the asbestos liabilities. But this scheme would delay and frustrate the rights of cancer victims to get their lawsuits resolved before a jury and a judge. As a result, cancer plaintiffs have asked the bankruptcy court to dismiss Johnson & Johnson’s “bad faith” bankruptcy case and allow them to pursue their lawsuits. A decision is expected by the end of February 2022.

 

Reach Out to an Experienced California Mesothelioma Lawyer Today

If you or a family member is suffering from mesothelioma, get in touch with our experienced California mesothelioma lawyers here at Kazan Law. You can schedule a free review of your case by calling 888-887-1238 or filling out our online form so you can learn more about your case and the most appropriate legal options for you. Our California mesothelioma lawyers have decades of experience handling mesothelioma cases and have secured billions of dollars in settlements or jury verdicts for our clients since 1974.

 

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