THE WHAT? A US federal judge has granted shareholders permission to launch a class action lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson for allegedly hiding the asbestos content of its talc products. Johnson & Johnson continues to maintain that its products are safe and do not contain asbestos.

THE DETAILS According to a report published by Reuters, shareholders claim that the talc scandal caused share prices to fall on six occasions between late 2017 and 2018. The New Jersey district judge rejected Johnson & Johnson’s argument that all six drops could not be connected to the talc cases as no new information was uncovered.

THE WHY? Erik Haas, Johnson & Johnson Worldwide President of Litigation said in a statement, per Reuters, “Johnson & Johnson always strives to provide truthful and fulsome disclosures. We will continue to vigorously litigate cases that challenge the safety of our product or the accuracy of our public statements.”