According to an article published in CDR by Dippy Singh (23/09/2024), Johnson & Johnson’s (J&J) subsidiary, Red River Talc, has filed for bankruptcy in the United States as part of its effort to resolve a growing number of lawsuits alleging a link between its talc products and ovarian cancer. This marks the company’s third attempt to settle such claims through the controversial "Texas two-step" bankruptcy strategy, where liabilities are transferred to a subsidiary that then seeks protection through bankruptcy, consolidating claims into one settlement.

While this filing has significant implications for U.S. claimants, UK consumers should note that these developments do not directly impact their claims. Tom Longstaff, a partner at KP Law, has clarified that this U.S. settlement does not affect UK claimants:

"It is, of course, a matter for claimants in the US to decide if the specific detail of the USD 10 billion settlement is acceptable, which does not affect UK claimants, and on whose behalf we will continue to seek justice," Longstaff explained in the article.

Despite J&J’s efforts to address the lawsuits through the U.S. courts, UK consumers have their own rights to pursue justice. As Longstaff reiterated, the UK legal process remains distinct, and UK claimants are not bound by the outcome of the U.S. bankruptcy proceedings.

For those concerned about the implications of this U.S. bankruptcy filing on their own cases, KP Law has been clear: the UK cases will continue unaffected. As Longstaff emphasized, "We will continue to fight for the rights of UK claimants and ensure that they are not sidelined by the outcomes of U.S. bankruptcy courts."

UK claimants seeking justice for harm caused by talc-based products should remain confident in their legal recourse, knowing that their claims will not be influenced by this latest development in the U.S. courts.

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