Johnson & Johnson’s numerous failed attempts to remove Kleiner v. Johnson & Johnson to federal court proved unnecessary Sept. 24, when a Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas jury sided with the pharmaceutical company. The jury rendered a defense verdict in what was the first talc case to go to trial in Philadelphia, a venue that is often thought of as favoring plaintiffs. 

The city’s pro-plaintiff reputation is well deserved, said Jim Heller, a Cozen O’Connor products liability attorney who was not involved with the case, but that does not mean that jurors won’t favor the defense if that is what the evidence supports.