Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) and a unit of talc-mining company Imerys SA (NK:PA) were ordered to pay an additional US$80mln in punitive damages to an investment banker who claimed their talc-based products caused him to develop a deadly cancer, Reuters reported.
A New Jersey state court jury awarded the additional damages today, the report said. The decision brings the total award to $117 million. The jury last week ordered the two companies to pay $37 million in compensatory damages.
Johnson & Johnson shares were little changed at US$129.73 at 3:43 p.m.