, Columnist
Why Johnson & Johnson Is a Litigation Magnet
Consumer health products, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices all generate plenty of legal fights.
This article is for subscribers only.
I asked a corporate lawyer not long ago which company tends to be involved in the most litigation. He didn’t hesitate: Johnson & Johnson. A quick look at last year’s annual report would seem to confirm this: Its “legal proceedings” section runs close to 10,000 words. The number of suits climbs into the mid-five digits.
For most companies, lawsuits are just another cost of doing business. What makes J&J unique is that its businesses—consumer health products, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices—tend to be litigation magnets. The company trades suits with everyone from rival companies to powerful government agencies to classes of consumers.