LAOSD Asbestos Cases

BACKGROUND

This was a lengthy and complicated trial, but it essentially involved two issues: 1) whether there was asbestos in Avon’s talc products at the time Mrs. Chapman used those products; and 2) whether asbestos in talc products can cause, and did cause, her mesothelioma. Mrs. Chapman used Avon talc powder products primarily from 1954 to 1978, and again from 1995 to 2010. By way of general background, in cases such as this, where the plaintiff’s use of talc products goes back 50 or more years, proving the composition of the talc products is a major challenge for the plaintiff. Few, if any, individuals retain samples of every product they have used over their lifetime.

(filed April 24, 2023) and notice of cross-appeal (filed May10, 2023) in Case No. B327749, and notice of appeal filed May 10, 2023 in Case No. B330345 are dismissed.

Avon advised us that its first notice of appeal was from the initial judgment and its second notice of appeal was from an amended judgment later issued by the trial court. It believes its two appeals (all under Case No. B327749) are operative. We agree.

4 A. The Chapmans Produced Evidence That Avon Talc Products Contained Asbestos “Asbestos”…