Bart Williams and Manuel Cachán were preparing to defend Johnson & Johnson against its fourth trial over talcum powder’s health risks when, five minutes into his oral argument, plaintiffs’ lawyer Allen Smith fainted.  Smith ended up returning for the trial, but not before Williams and Cachán, both Los Angeles partners at Proskauer Rose, asked to start the trial again.

“You can’t help but have sympathy for somebody who collapses in front of you,” said Williams.