After the June recall, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) initially approved Philips’ plan to “repair and replace” the defective foam with a different silicone-based foam. However, during a manufacturing facility inspection, the FDA later found that the silicone-based foam used in a similar device marketed outside the United States had failed a safety test for the release of certain concerning chemicals. As a result, the FDA warned Philips that the replacement machines may also be defective.

Plaintiffs have prevailed in five of the previous seven bellwether trials, including a $7.1 million verdict in April in a three-plaintiff trial — mostly punitive damages, a $1.7 million win in June, and another victory in October that ended in an $8.2 million award. 3M beat the claims in the second and fifth trials, which ended in defense verdicts.

There are approximately 29,000 talc claims currently pending in Federal Court alleging a link between J&J’s talc and ovarian cancer or asbestos cancer mesothelioma. While continuing to deny liability for devastating injuries to thousands of women, J&J is pursuing a strategy known in legal circles as the “Texas Two Step” authorized under Texas law.

A Florida federal jury awarded U.S. Army veteran Brandon Atkins $8.2 million in the fourth bellwether trial in the massive 3m defective military earplugs litigation.

New legislation has been proposed after a recent report by the U.S. House of Representative's Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy revealed dangerous levels of arsenic, lead, mercury and cadmium in various commercial baby food products.

Valsartan, a common drug used to treat high blood pressure and heart failure, has been recalled over NDMA contamination. NDMA is a probable human carcinogen that was once used as an ingredient in rocket fuel and is currently actually used to create cancer in rats for cancer research.