$4.69 billion talc verdict in Missouri heads towards appellate court

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that a Missouri trial judge has "affirmed" the $4.69 billion talc verdict against Johnson & Johnson.  It seems like a bit of a non-story.  Johnson & Johnson elected not to file post-trial motions, so the trial judge did not really affirm anything, he just entered judgment based on the jury's verdict.  J&J says it plans to appeal.