Steve Hoke is quoted in an article in the cosmetic industry trade publication HBW Insight (Citeline): “J & J Agrees to Pay $700M To Settle Talc Claims With 43 State AG’s.”  The article can be accessed  here. If you are unable to access the article, Hoke’s article quotes are provided below.  

“Stephen Hoke, a partner at Chicago-based Hoke LLC – who has experience in general liability, financial and professional liability and specializes in insurance coverage issues related to talc/asbestos contamination, believes J&J has made sound arguments in defense of its products.” 

“In product liability litigation, the judge acts as gatekeeper to ensure that the jury is only allowed to hear evidence that has a reasonable scientific basis,” he said in a 13 June email. “J&J makes strong credible arguments that there is insufficient evidence that talc causes ovarian cancer and that judges should not allow juries to be swayed by emotion rather than fact.” 

However, “it goes without saying that if a jury is permitted to hear the disputed causation evidence, it is much more likely to return a guilty verdict.”  

He also questions the blurring of accusations against the products. “I come back to what is J&J actually accused of doing? Covering up asbestos contamination risk, or that talc alone causes ovarian cancer, or both?  Mesothelioma and ovarian cancer are unrelated diagnoses.” 

If you wish to learn more about the issue and article or obtain a copy please contact Steve Hoke at shoke@hokellc.com or (312) 575-8576. You can view his bio here.