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Kelley Jasons Helps Secure a Defense Verdict in Cosmetic Talcum Powder Trial in Allegheny County

Kelley Jasons served as local counsel on a team lead by King Spalding that secured a defense verdict in a cosmetic talcum powder product case following a six-week trial in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This verdict marks the first trial win for Johnson & Johnson in 2025 in talcum powder litigation. The jury ultimately found that the company did not cause the plaintiff’s cancer. The verdict furthers the plan of Johnson & Johnson to pursue several parallel paths to achieve a comprehensive and final resolution of the talc litigation, including working with a vast majority of talc claimants on a consensual resolution of ovarian claims through bankruptcy and prior resolution of over 95% of the mesothelioma matters. While the ovarian negotiations are proceeding, Johnson & Johnson will continue to defend any remaining talc claims in the tort system, with firms such as King & Spalding and Kelley Jasons, along with others, leading the effort in courtrooms across the country.

Chris Arnold, a Kelley Jasons partner, was primarily responsible for case work up during the discovery phase of the matter and served as defense liaison counsel in the case that was filed in the Court of Common Pleas in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania in June of 2023. Mr. Arnold served on the trial team as local counsel over the course of the six-week trial. Lisa Poutous, a paralegal with Kelley Jasons, also joined and supported the trial team. The trial team was led by Will Stute of King & Spalding. The King & Spalding trial team also included Tara Blake, Cori Steinmann, Val Leppert, Brittany Ford, Thomas Rukaj, Jake Keester, Christine Allen and Noah Strohaker.