Mark P. Robinson Jr.

A record $417 million verdict in August against Johnson & Johnson over cancer-causing baby powder continued what’s become a legacy for Robinson of huge wins against major companies.

Propelled early in his career by a landmark verdict over the Ford Pinto in 1978, Robinson has made a career fighting corporate giants in personal injury and product liability cases that make he strives to ensure have a lasting impact.

“You can help people in one verdict, and then it’ll hopefully help others and get the word out,” Robinson said.

That’s what Robinson hopes happens as a result of the Johnson & Johnson verdict, which ended a month-long trial that dominated most of his time this year.

“Johnson & Johnson is very powerful, very wealthy, so it’s a battle with these guys,” Robinson said.

The bellwether verdict, which includes $70 million in economic damages and $347 million in punitive, is the largest in the nationwide talc powder lawsuits. Lloyd et al. v. Johnson & Johnson, BC628228 (L.A. Super. Ct., filed July 25, 2016).

Two weeks after the jury came back, Robinson was headed to a Los Angeles area hospital to visit plaintiff Eva Echeverria, who is stricken with ovarian cancer. He said she’s concerned about how other women can be educated about the dangers of Johnson & Johnson’s product, “so that’s my focus right now.”

“I feel responsibility to these people who come to us and want our help,” he continued. “I really think this case can be a message to these manufacturers who place women at risk of various types of cancers.

Next up for Robinson includes a similar lawsuit regarding morcellators, a device used in gynecological procedures that the Food and Drug Administration has linked to uterine cancer. He’s also on the plaintiff’s executive committee in the consolidated class actions against General Motors over defective ignition switches. In re: General Motors LLC Ignition Switch Litigation, 14-MD-2543 (S.D. N.Y., filed June 12, 2014).

Another looming battle is a class action against OxyContin-maker Purdue Pharma over the opioid epidemic gripping the nation. Robinson & Calcagnie is working the case with the Santa Clara County and Orange County district attorney’s offices. People v. Purdue Pharma et al., 2014-00725287 (O.C. Super. Ct., filed May 31, 2014).

Robinson expects a trial by early 2018, because, he said, “Purdue’s not going to settle.”

“That’s a national message we can send out if we can win that thing,” he said.

— Meghann M. Cuniff