Mema Nikoghosyan v. Johnson & Johnson

I. INTRODUCTION

On October 2, 2018, Plaintiff Mema Nikoghosyan (“Plaintiff”), individually and on behalf of the estate of Zaruhi Nikoghosyan, filed a complaint in Los Angeles Superior Court against Johnson & Johnson, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc., and Imerys Talc America (collectively, “Defendants”). Plaintiff alleges ten causes of action related to products liability. Defendants Johnson & Johnson and Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. (collectively, “J&J”) removed the case to this Court on July 9, 2021, asserting diversity jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. § 1332.

Presently before the Court is Plaintiff’s Motion to Remand (ECF No. 15) and J&J’s Motion to Stay (ECF No. 12) pending this case’s transfer by the judicial panel on multidistrict litigation. For the following reasons, the Court GRANTS Plaintiff’s Motion to Remand and DENIES J&J’s Motion to Stay as moot.

II. FACTUAL BACKGROUND

Plaintiff alleges that her mother, Zaruhi Nikoghosyan, used Defendants’ talc-based products for feminine hygiene every day for approximately 25 years. In 2014, Ms. Nikoghosyan was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and died as a result of her cancer in 2017. Plaintiff now seeks damages from Defendants…