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RPWB Announces the Passing of J. David Butler

It is with great sorrow and heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our friend, colleague and law partner, J. David Butler on September 30, 2023, after a valiant three-year battle with cancer. He was a friend to all and was, quite simply, the nicest guy one could have the pleasure of knowing.

Dave devoted his 30-year legal career to representing individuals across the country who suffered harm from corporate wrongdoing. Dave was a fierce advocate for asbestos and mesothelioma victims and was known for his compassion, integrity and dedication to his clients and their loved ones. Over the last three years, Dave selflessly and bravely continued helping other families seek justice as he underwent cancer treatments himself.

Above all, Dave was a kind and generous family man who put his loved ones and friends before himself. He had no love greater than that for his wife, Kim, and three daughters – Elizabeth, Hannah and Rebecca. He was a passionate Florida State fan and was most at home when grilling for his family on game day.

Working with and knowing someone like Dave is a rare gift, and he will be missed tremendously at RPWB. We send our love and condolences to his family and many friends.

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    Johnson & Johnson Talc Bankruptcy Petition Dismissal is a Win for Mesothelioma and Ovarian Cancer Victims

    mesothelioma attorney Dave Butler

    By Dave Butler

    In a significant victory for injured consumers, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed the bankruptcy petition of a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary that holds the company’s liabilities for claims brought by thousands of consumers injured by exposure to asbestos-contaminated talc in Johnson & Johnson products.  The dismissal, on January 30, 2023, ends for now J&J’s efforts to avoid full responsibility for the claims of those suffering from mesothelioma, ovarian, and other cancers caused by its asbestos-contaminated products.

    Through a series of corporate transactions under a unique Texas law, Johnson & Johnson created two new entities with the intention to funnel its liabilities for claims brought by thousands of injured talc claimants into a new entity which it named LTL Management; while simultaneously funneling all of its profitable business into another entity.  Two days after its formation and freshly saddled with J&J’s talc liabilities, LTL Management filed a petition under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code claiming that its talc liabilities placed it in financial distress sufficient to allow it to seek the protections afforded by U.S. bankruptcy laws.

    Injured talc victims sought dismissal of the bankruptcy petition, but were denied by a federal court in New Jersey.  Victims appealed that denial to the Third Circuit Court of Appeals, which ruled that the J&J subsidiary had not demonstrated that its petition was filed in good faith and should be dismissed.

    In its opinion the court found that “At base level, LTL, whose employees are all J&J employees, is essentially a shell company “formed,” almost exclusively, “to manage and defend thousands of talc-related claims” while insulating at least the assets in a non-bankrupt entity.  The court went on to find that “Because LTL was not in financial distress, it cannot show its petition served a valid bankruptcy purpose and was filed in good faith under” the United States Bankruptcy Code.  In conclusion, the court held that:

    Our decision dismisses the bankruptcy filing of a company created to file for bankruptcy. It restricts J&J’s ability to move thousands of claims out of trial courts and into bankruptcy court so they may be resolved, in J&J’s words, “equitably” and “efficiently.” But given Chapter 11’s ability to redefine fundamental rights of third parties, only those facing financial distress can call on bankruptcy’s tools to do so. Applied here, while LTL faces substantial future talc liability, its funding backstop plainly mitigates any financial distress foreseen on its petition date.

    Read the court’s full opinion here.

    RPWB continues to seek justice for victims of exposure to Johnson & Johnson talc products. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma after exposure to Johnson & Johnson talc products, please call us at u 1-866-594-8765 or fill out the form on this page to begin your case review.

    Dave Butler has 30 years of experience representing mesothelioma victims and their families in cases throughout the United States. He can be reached at 1-866-594-8765 or by emailing dbutler@rpwb.com.

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