Judge Vacates $260M Verdict Against Johnson & Johnson; Plaintiff’s Dallas-Based Lawyers Plan to Appeal

A $260 million jury verdict obtained by Dallas-based law firm Dean Omar Branham Shirley against Johnson & Johnson over its talc-based baby powder is in jeopardy after an Oregon judge ruled to vacate the verdict. 

Judge Katharine von Ter Stegge, in the Circuit Court of the State of Oregon for the County of Multnomah, did not offer a reason for her ruling during a hearing Friday but indicated she would issue a written opinion, said DOBS partner Trey Branham, whose firm represented the plaintiff, Kyung Lee, in the trial that concluded in June.