California likes to be different. Attorney Mark Robinson made the state’s distinction clear when discussing how to move forward on dozens of California lawsuits filed on behalf of more than 300 women who claim they now have ovarian cancer from prolonged use of Johnson & Johnson’s talcum powder products.

“I don’t want to wait for the MDL to do things in this state,” Robinson, lead plaintiffs counsel in the California cases, told Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Maren Nelson at a Jan. 12 hearing.