Janssen, L. P., The Plaintiffs Steering Committee and the State Liaison Committee of The Propulsid Multi-District Litigation Announce Agreement To Resolve Remaining Federal and State Court Cases

(December 15, 2005) -- Janssen, L. P., a Johnson & Johnson company, Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee (PSC), through its lead counsel, Russ M. Herman and the State Liaison Committee (SLC), through Richard J. Arsenault, Dawn M. Barrios, James T. Capretz and Barry M. Hill of the PROPULSID® Federal Multi-District Litigation (MDL- 1355, E.D. La.) announced today that they had reached an agreement in principle to resolve all remaining federal and state court lawsuits related to the product PROPULSID (cisapride).

There are approximately 2069 individuals with cases pending in state court or filed in federal court after the deadline for eligibility to participate in the First MDL resolution program announced in February of 2004 expired. The agreement on the Second MDL Program becomes effective once 90 percent of the plaintiffs with death claims, and 95 percent of the plaintiffs with injury claims agree to the terms of the settlement. In addition, 5,000 individuals who have not filed lawsuits, but whose claims are the subject of "tolling agreements" suspending the running of the statutes of limitations against those claims, must also agree to participate in the settlement before it will become effective.

The Second MDL Program will essentially mirror the First MDL Program. It requires all participating plaintiffs to submit medical records to a court appointed independent medical panel. The medical panel will determine whether the claimed injuries were caused by PROPULSID and otherwise meet the standards for compensation. If those standards are met, a court-appointed special master will determine compensatory damages. As part of the agreement, defendants will waive a number of defenses.

Janssen will pay as compensation a minimum of $14.5 million and a maximum of $15 million, depending upon the number of plaintiffs who enroll in the program. Janssen will also establish an administrative fund not to exceed $3 million, and will pay legal fees to the PSC and SLC up to $4 million, subject to court approval.

Inquiries should be directed as follows:

Plaintiffs' Steering Committee

Russ M. Herman 504-581-4892

State Liaison Committee

Richard J. Arsenault 800-256-1050

Dawn M. Barrios 504-524-3300

James T. Capretz 949-724-3000

Barry M. Hill 304-233-4966

Janssen and Johnson & Johnson

Press Contact: Doug Arbesfeld 908-218-7592

Investor Contacts:

Louise Mehotra 732-524-6491

Stan Panasewicz 732-524-2524

II. (links to)

Propulsid II Settlement Program Term Sheet

The Court’s Consent Order Approving Propulsid II Settlement Program

Propulsid II Enrollment Form

Propulsid II Program Death Claim Form

– Attachment A – for Wrongful Death and Personal Injury Claims

– Attachment B – Certificate of Service for Wrongful Death Claims

Propulsid II Program Personal Injury Claim Form

– Attachment B – Certificate of Service for Personal Injury Claims

Propulsid II Medical Records Reimbursement Form - Short Form

These forms are in "PDF" format. They must be downloaded and completed manually.