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Online Sources

1. Johnson & Johnson Quietly Switches Venues, Shortens 2015 Shareholders Meeting

   Apr 14, 2015 | New Brunswick Today

   By Dave Schatz
   
   
   A group of five individuals who were injured by one of J&J's products flew to NJ at their own cost and visited the Hub City to protest the mesh implants and request an internal investigation over the shredding of papers, at last year’s annual shareholders meeting.
2. *New* New Brunswick Today Covers J&J Upcoming Shareholders Meeting

   Apr 14, 2015 | Mesh Medical Device News Desk

   By Jane Akre
   
   
   Thanks to reporter David Schatz of New Brunswick Today for the reminder about next week’s Johnson & Johnson shareholder’s meeting.

Client Attorney Privileged/Attorney Work Product/At Request of Counsel

Online Sources

1. Johnson & Johnson Quietly Switches Venues, Shortens 2015 Shareholders Meeting

   Apr 14, 2015 | New Brunswick Today

   By Dave Schatz

   For the first time since April 26, 1989, Johnson & Johnson's annual shareholders meeting will be held at the historic State Theatre in New Brunswick.

   After frequent protests at previous shareholder meetings, the consumer products giant has quietly moved the big meeting, coming up on April 23 at 10 a.m., from its usual location, the Hyatt Regency Hotel, and has significantly shortened the meeting to one hour.

   Previous meetings included a free lunch and gift bag for all in attendance, but that won't be the case this year.

   “We are pleased to be hosting the 2015 Annual Meeting at The State Theatre of New Jersey. Johnson & Johnson is a long-time supporter of this wonderful space, and it has hosted our Annual Shareholders Meeting in the past,” said a J&J spokeswoman.

   J&J said they've adjusted the format of the upcoming meeting “to better align with current industry practices.” It will be webcast live, and also available for replay following the meeting. 

   But the running time of the meeting is scheduled for only one-hour, while 2014's ran for at least an hour and one-half. According to J&J it will include the formal completion of items of business for the year, a brief update from Chairman/CEO Alex Gorsky, and an open question and answer session.

   “The agenda for the meeting remains essentially unchanged, but the business highlights presentation has been streamlined,” J&J told NB Today.

   “We conducted a benchmarking study of our peer companies to understand best practices for these meetings and have adjusted our program to align with those standards.”

   A group of five individuals who were injured by one of J&J's products flew to NJ at their own costand visited the Hub City to protest the mesh implants and request an internal investigation over the shredding of papers, at last year’s annual shareholders meeting.

   The group held a news conference on the public sidewalk where many shareholders saw the demonstration.

   Last year, police constructed a fire and set off an explosion after the meeting was over.

   “It was exploded after everything was over, like they didn't need it anymore,” said journalist Jane Akre, who gathered the group for the trip to New Brunswick. She added that she thought setting up the explosion was “overreaction.”

   “You have to believe they were surprised by our visit last year,” Akre told NB Today.

   “They brought in the state troopers and angry German Shepherds and even had an explosion designed to designate as a diversion if necessary.”

   J&J will report financial ratios in today's First Quarter Earnings Call, which will also be available as a Webcast. Its shares fell 1.5 percent to $100.55 yesterday.

   “Investors and other interested parties may access the live audio webcast of the [annual shareholders] meeting by visiting the Company's website at www.jnj.com and clicking on the webcast icon,” reads a release.

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2. *New* New Brunswick Today Covers J&J Upcoming Shareholders Meeting

   Apr 14, 2015 | Mesh Medical Device News Desk

   By Jane Akre

   Thanks to reporter David Schatz of New Brunswick Today for the reminder about next week’s Johnson & Johnson shareholder’s meeting.

   Included in the story is a link to Mesh News Deskand coverage of those We Are Mesh Survivorsmembers who attended last year’s event at the Hyatt Regency, directly across from J&J headquarters.

   Three women made it inside to speak directly to J&J CEO Alex Gorsky before hundreds of shareholders.

   Linda Wilcox spoke of her life since a Prolift implant and her dim prognosis. Gay Courter, a mesh survivor, reminded Mr. Gorsky that a company that enjoys the consumer-friendly reputation of  Johnson & Johnson needs to rethink its medical device division that produces polypropylene transvaginal mesh.

   Linda Wilcox and Gay Courter addressing J&J CEO Alex Gorsky, April 24, 2014

   A number of news stories about the mesh-injured women were generated, primarily by Associated Press reporter Linda Johnson, which were picked up by numerous other publications.

   Huffington Post’s Alyona Minkovski provided coverage as well (here) interviewing your editor and Estelle Tasz, a mesh survivor.   (The interview is 5 minutes in).

   Those of us present noted the presence of fully equipped state troopers and their snarling German Shepherds which stood in sharp contrast to the dozen or so women, many using canes to help them walk, who flew or drove to New Brunswick. The We Are Mesh Survivors members did not appear to be intimidated.

   Even a firebomb was exploded during the gathering, allegedly by law enforcement, which may have been set as a possible diversion if necessary.

   Alex Gorsky, Nov. 2011

   Outside placards were set up to greet the bus loads of people who are invested in the company.

   The night before a Light Brigade shone a message on J&J headquarters. See the video produced by FitzGibbon media! Here. 

   Theresa Sawyer

   Those present called for a Senate investigation into J&J for the destruction of hundreds of thousands of pages of  mesh-related documents that were supposed to be held for upcoming litigation.

   Here is a Mesh News Desk story from last year.

   New Brunswick, NJ April 2014

   Johnson & Johnson is the largest producer of polypropylene transvaginal mesh implants used to treat prolapse and incontinence. In federal court in West Virginia, where cases are consolidated in multidistrict litigation, J&J has more than 25,000 cases filed. See the numeric count here.

   This year’s shareholder’s meeting has been moved to a new venue, at the historic State Theatre in New Brunswick.

   The last time that occurred was in 1989.  The shareholders annual meeting has been shortened from nearly two hours last year to just one hour.

   Forget the free lunch and gift bags for attendees as well.

   Here is his story.

   Schatz reports a webcast will be aired live. No doubt Mr. Gorsky will talk about First Quarter earnings for J&J. See story here.

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