The Tylenol Mafia (71 page)

Details of the settlement were sealed:
Szymczak
, P. Davis. “Settlement Reached In Tylenol Suit.”
Chicago Tribune
, May 14, 1991.

 
“
some
estimates put the settlement at close to $50 million”: Smith,
Zay
N. “Tylenol settlement - Kin of 7 dead to get millions in out-of-court agreement.”
Chicago Sun-Times
, May 14, 1991.

Based on settlement information:
Deyo
, Russell.
Confidential Tylenol Settlement Agreement, May 13, 1991. – Relatives of Tylenol murder victims. Confidential interviews by author, 2010.

Conversely, just eight days:
 
David Berg and Stephen Robb.
“Crisis Management and the ‘Paradigm Case,’” in
Rhetorical and Critical Approaches to Public Relations
, ed.
Toth
, Elizabeth.
Hillsdale: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1992, pg. 92-107.

 
“
people
don’t blame”: David Berg and Stephen Robb.
“Crisis Management and the ‘Paradigm Case,’” in
Rhetorical and Critical Approaches to Public Relations
, ed.
Toth
, Elizabeth.
Hillsdale: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1992, pg. 92-107.

Burke made up his mind
Johnson & Johnson: “The Comeback” A Special Report from the Editors of Worldwide Publication of Johnson & Johnson Corporate Public Relations,” 1982.

 
“It would almost”:
 
Atkinson, Rick. “The Tylenol Nightmare: How a Corporate Giant Fought Back.”
The Kansas City Times
, November 12, 1982.

“You hold back”:
 
David Berg and Stephen Robb.
“Crisis Management and the ‘Paradigm Case,’” in
Rhetorical and Critical Approaches to Public Relations
, ed.
Toth
, Elizabeth.
Hillsdale: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, 1992, pg. 92-107.

In November 2002, Jack O’Dwyer, of O’Dwyer PR
:
 
O’Dwyer, Jack. “PR Industry’s Amicus Brief Has a Flaw.” ReclaimDemocracy.org
http://www.reclaimdemocracy.org/nike/pr_brief_retort_kasky_nike.html

The brief said, “Johnson & Johnson maintained an open dialogue
”:
 
Nike Inc. et al. v. Marc Kasky. 02-575. U.S. Supreme Court, 2002.

O’Dwyer sees it quite differently
:
 
O’Dwyer, Jack. “PR Industry’s Amicus Brief Has a Flaw.” ReclaimDemocracy.org
http://www.reclaimdemocracy.org/nike/pr_brief_retort_kasky_nike.html

Prior to re-launching Tylenol:
 
Moore, Thomas.
“The Fight to Save Tylenol.”
TIME
, November 29, 1982.

“We ran a series”:
 
Foster, Lawrence, interview by PSU students, 2002

 
“We want you”:
Minderovic
, Christine Miner.
“Tylenol Ad Campaign.”
Jiffynotes.com.
http://www.jiffynotes.com/a_study_guides/book_notes_add/emmc_0001_0001_0/emmc_0001_0001_0_00177.html

For Burke, the tamper-resistant packaging
:
 
Johnson & Johnson: “The Comeback: A Special Report
From
the Editors of Worldwide Publication of Johnson & Johnson Corporate Public Relations.” 1982.

In mid-November 1982:
 
Federal Drug Administration.
“A Public Service announcement about over-the-counter medicine.”
 
The Galveston Daily News
, November 8, 1982.

The poisonings were:
 
Federal Drug Administration.
“A Public Service announcement about over-the-counter medicine.”
 
The Galveston Daily News
, November 8, 1982.

The New York Times
reported:
 
Kleinfield
, N.R. “Tylenol’s Rapid Comeback.”
New York Times
, September 17, 1983.

In 1984, Johnson & Johnson tested
:
 
United Press International. “Tylenol Maker Rejected New Tamper-Resistant Capsule in 1984.”
LA Times
, February 21, 1986.

The Sterling Drug company
United Press International. “Tylenol Maker Rejected New Tamper-Resistant Capsule in 1984.”
LA Times
, February 21, 1986.

In late October 1982:
Associated Press. “Man Recovering After Taking Tainted Capsule.”
Dispatch
, October 26, 1982.

Bruce Pfaff:
 
Associated Press. “Families of poisoning victims can sue Tylenol, judge rules.”
Syracuse Herald-Journal
, September 13, 1990.

In February of 1986:
 
Kerr, Peter Tylenol is
Linked
to a Cyanide Death in Yonkers.”
The New York Times
, February 11, 1986.

The Tylenol brand quickly recovered
:
 
McFadden, Robert D. “Maker of Tylenol Discontinuing All Over-The-Counter Drug Capsule.”
 
The New York Time
, February 18, 1986. – Shiver,
Jube
Jr. “Tylenol Maker Faces Difficult Task to Rescue Product.”
The New York Times
, February 15, 1986.

PART 2

28
   
The 1986 Tylenol Murder

On Friday, February:
 
Cimons
, Marlene; Jackson, Robert L. “Latest Tylenol Poisoning: A Nightmare Comes True.”
LA Times
, February 23, 1986.

Michael and Diane spent:
 
Cimons
, Marlene; Jackson, Robert L. “Latest Tylenol Poisoning: A Nightmare Comes True.”
LA Times
, February 23, 1986.

Although the Tylenol comeback had been “absolutely brilliant”: Green, Michelle. “Once More Cyanide Poisons the Market for a Popular Pill, but J&J Boss James Burke Stands Fast.”
People
, March 3, 1986.

 
“
hugely
successful comeback”:
 
Green, Michelle. “Once More Cyanide Poisons the Market for a Popular Pill, but J&J Boss James Burke Stands Fast.”
People
, March 3, 1986.

Early Saturday afternoon:
 
Cimons
, Marlene; Jackson, Robert L. “Latest Tylenol Poisoning: A Nightmare Comes True.”
LA Times
, February 23, 1986.

That night he dreamed that the Tylenol poisonings:
 
Cimons
, Marlene; Jackson, Robert L. “Latest Tylenol Poisoning: A Nightmare Comes True.”
LA Times
, February 23, 1986.

It’s Chicago all over again:
 
Cimons
, Marlene; Jackson, Robert L. “Latest Tylenol Poisoning: A Nightmare Comes True.”
LA Times
, February 23, 1986.

The police returned:
 
Cimons
, Marlene; Jackson, Robert L. “Latest Tylenol Poisoning: A Nightmare Comes True.”
LA Times
, February 23, 1986.

Since November 1982, Tylenol: Norman, Michael. “Officials Say Fatal Tampering of Tylenol was Isolated Case.”
 
The New York Times
, February 12, 1986.

Harriet Notarnicola, Michael’s mother: John Elsroth as Administrator of the Estate of Diane Elsroth v. Johnson & Johnson et al. 87 Civ. 1524, US District Court for the Southern District of New York, November 14, 1988.

At 4 p.m. Monday:
 
Associated Press. “Tylenol pulled off store shelves after fatal poisoning in New York.”
Daily Intelligencer
, February 11, 1986.

 
“Jim,” he said, “We have a serious problem.
”:
 
Cimons
, Marlene; Jackson, Robert L. “Latest Tylenol Poisoning: A Nightmare Comes True.”
LA Times
, February 23, 1986.

 
“He was pale”:
 
Cimons
, Marlene; Jackson, Robert L. “Latest Tylenol Poisoning: A Nightmare Comes True.”
LA Times
, February 23, 1986.

Burke ordered what:
 
Cimons
, Marlene; Jackson, Robert L. “Latest Tylenol Poisoning: A Nightmare Comes True.”
LA Times
, February 23, 1986.

Yonkers Police Commissioner, Joseph
Fernandes
:
 
Herald news service. “Laced Tylenol kills NY woman.”
The Daily Herald
, February 11, 1986.

 
“It is not known”:
 
Kerr, Peter. “Tylenol is
Linked
to a Cyanide Death in Yonkers.”
The New York Times
, February 11, 1986.

As “a precautionary measure,
”:
News Service Reports. “Poisoned Tylenol Suspected in Death.”
The Post-Standard
, February 11, 1986.

The FDA immediately assured the public that the tampering was a local:
 
Herald news service. “Laced Tylenol kills NY woman.”
The Daily Herald
, February 11, 1986.

 
“While Johnson & Johnson has no reason to believe”:
 
Herald news service. “Laced Tylenol kills NY woman.”
The Daily Herald
, February 11, 1986.

James Burke said the company believed:
 
News Service Reports. “Tylenol Death Considered Isolated Incident.”
The Post Standard
, February 12, 1986.

J&J spokesperson, James Murray, further:
 
Associated Press. “Tylenol Poisoning
A
‘Case Of Murder’.”
Daily News-Record
, February 12, 1986.

New York Governor, Mario Cuomo, advised, “I have instructed”:
 
News Service Reports. “Poisoned Tylenol Suspected in Death.”
The Post-Standard
, February 11, 1986.

The Westchester Medical Examiner’s Office tested: Norman, Michael. “Officials Say Fatal Tampering of Tylenol was Isolated Case.”
 
The New York Times
, February 12, 1986.

He said the potassium cyanide would be expected to eat through the gelatin capsules within 8 to 10 days:
Drogin
, Bob. “Tylenol Death Called Isolated But Stores in 34 States Pull Bottles Off Shelves.”
LA Times
, February 12, 1986 -- Herald news service.
 
“Laced Tylenol kills NY woman.”
The Daily Herald
, February 11, 1986.

Westchester County Medical Examiner Dr. Millard Hyland said the test results:
 
Norman, Michael. “Officials Say Fatal Tampering of Tylenol was Isolated Case.”
 
The New York Times
, February 12, 1986.

We are dealing with a case of murder”: Associated Press. “Tylenol Poisoning
A
'Case Of Murder'.”
Daily News-Record
, February 12, 1986.

Owen McClain, the Yonkers Deputy Police Chief:
 
Drogin
, Bob. “Tylenol Death Called Isolated But Stores in 34 States Pull Bottles Off Shelves.”
LA Times
, February 12, 1986.

 
“We don’t intend”:
 
Norman, Michael. “Officials Say Fatal Tampering of Tylenol was Isolated Case.”
 
The New York Times
, February 12, 1986.

 
“We’re obviously exploring”:
 
Norman, Michael. Tylenol Inquiry Officials Find ’82 Case Unrelated.”
The New York Times
, February 13, 1986.

 
“We have no reason”:
 
Norman, Michael. “Officials Say Fatal Tampering of Tylenol was Isolated Case.”
 
The New York Times
, February 12, 1986.

After a jurisdictional:
 
Cimons
, Marlene; Jackson, Robert L. “Latest Tylenol Poisoning: A Nightmare Comes True.”
LA Times
, February 23, 1986