\nSimon Greenstone Panatier PC secures major plaintiff victory against Vi-Jon LLC<\/i><\/p>
MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A Minnesota jury has awarded $10.2 million to Daniel Heyer and his wife, Nicole Heyer, in a mesothelioma lawsuit against St. Louis-based Vi-Jon LLC and other major body powder companies involving allegations that asbestos-contaminated cosmetic talc products caused Mr. Heyer\u2019s cancer.<\/p>
\nThis is believed to be the second highest mesothelioma-related personal injury award in Minnesota history.<\/p>
\n\u201cThis family is going through pain almost no one can understand and that did not need to happen. The jury in this case recognized that and acted accordingly,\u201d said Shaina Weissman<\/a>, shareholder at Simon Greenstone Panatier PC<\/a>, who tried the case with Simon Greenstone colleague Holly Peterson and co-counsel Chad Alexander of Sieben Alexander, P.A.<\/p> \nVi-Jon manufactured store-brand baby powders, body powders and foot powders using talc for years. The trial highlighted several store-brand powders, including Walmart\u2019s \u201cEquate,\u201d Target\u2019s \u201cUp & Up\u201d and Walgreens\u2019 talcum powders. Despite receiving repeated warnings about asbestos in talc, the evidence showed that Vi-Jon did not investigate or test its products and even assured customers to continue selling it after Vi-Jon had stopped manufacturing and destroyed its remaining inventory.<\/p> \nAccording to evidence presented at trial, Mr. Heyer was exposed over decades to baby powder, body powder and foot powder, including store-brand talc products sold by Target, Walmart and Walgreens. He was diagnosed with mesothelioma in late 2024 at age 43 and given a year to live. He testified in the trial, but he is on oxygen and confined to a wheelchair, and his health is rapidly declining.<\/p> \nThe jury found that Vi-Jon and several other major companies, including Gold Bond, Merck (Dr. Scholl\u2019s), Johnson & Johnson and Perrigo Co. of Tennessee, manufactured talc powder products in a defective and unreasonably dangerous condition and failed to provide adequate warnings regarding the risks associated with the products, concluding that those defects directly caused Mr. Heyer\u2019s mesothelioma.<\/p> \n\u201cWe are happy that the jury heard the evidence and found justice for the Heyers. This is an important statement in Minnesota against companies that take our neighbors\u2019 health lightly,\u201d said Mr. Alexander.<\/p> \nSimon Greenstone Panatier is a pioneering trial firm leading the way in nationwide litigation against cosmetic talc companies such as Vi-Jon that have endangered the public for decades without being held accountable.<\/p> \nThe case is Daniel J. Heyer and Nicole Heyer v. Vi-Jon, LLC, <\/i>case number: 62-CV-25-5182 in the Second Judicial District Court of Ramsay County, Minnesota.<\/p> \nAbout Simon Greenstone Panatier\n