The Latest: Jury awards nearly $4.7 billion in powder case

The Latest on a St. Louis jury award in a lawsuit claiming asbestos in Johnson & Johnson talcum powder caused women's ovarian cancer (all times local):

6 p.m.

A St. Louis jury has awarded nearly $4.7 billion in damages to 22 women and their families after they claimed asbestos in Johnson & Johnson talcum powder caused their ovarian cancer.

Jurors on Thursday awarded the women $4.14 billion in punitive damages and $550 million in compensatory damages after a six-week trial in St. Louis Circuit Court.

Plaintiffs' lawyer Mark Lanier told the jurors during closing arguments Wednesday that Johnson & Johnson knew its products contained asbestos and didn't warn consumers.

Johnson & Johnson spokeswoman Carol Goodrich said in a statement that the company believes its products are safe and will pursue "all available appellate remedies."

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4:30 p.m.

A St. Louis jury has awarded $550 million to nearly two dozen women who claimed asbestos in Johnson & Johnson's talcum powder caused their ovarian cancer.

Jurors announced the award for compensatory damages Thursday in a lawsuit that included 22 plaintiffs. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports this case differed from five previous lawsuits against the company because it focused on claims that asbestos allegedly found in the baby powder caused the cancer.

The jury has yet to decide on punitive damages.

Plaintiffs' lawyer Mark Lanier told the jurors during closing arguments Wednesday that they were the first to see documents showing that Johnson & Johnson knew its products contained asbestos and didn't warn consumers.

Johnson & Johnson said in a statement it was disappointed in the verdict but would not comment further until the punitive damages are announced.

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Information from: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, http://www.stltoday.com