What’s New in Dangerous Product Lawsuits Heading Into August 2025

July was a busy month for dangerous product lawsuits, with notable developments among several major litigations. From another baby formula lawsuit failing to get in front of a jury to Bayer setting aside significant money for the Roundup litigation, here’s what’s new over the last month.

Baby Formula NEC Lawsuits

In a major blow to plaintiffs, Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer once again awarded summary judgment to Abbott Laboratories in the upcoming baby formula bellwether trial. The first two bellwether cases have failed to get in front of a jury over claims that certain formulas can cause dire intestinal issues in premature infants.

Baby formula NEC lawsuits saw some major wins in state court last year, but that success has not translated to the MDL so far. Plaintiffs should have another chance to get a case before a jury in the next bellwether trial.

Despite these setbacks, the number of active cases is still ticking up. At the start of August, there were 759 lawsuits filed in the MDL, up about 15 cases from a month ago.

Talcum Powder Lawsuits

The Talcum Powder lawsuits continue to grow at a rapid rate in the months following Johnson & Johnson’s failed settlement attempt. There are now 66,509 lawsuits pending in the MDL, up more than 3,000 from this time a month ago, over claims that J&J’s talc is tied to ovarian cancer.

Despite J&J’s desire to settle and focus on taking an ovarian cancer bellwether to trial, a mediator has been appointed in the MDL. The first mediation session is set for early September.

While the MDL is focused on ovarian cancer cases, mesothelioma lawsuits continue at the state level as well. This month, a jury awarded more than $40 million to a man who developed mesothelioma after repeatedly using the company’s talc products.

Roundup Lawsuits

The Roundup lawsuits remain among the largest active litigations in the country, both in federal and state courts.

At the end of last month, Bayer announced that there were still 61,000 unresolved Roundup lawsuits in the U.S. following a settlement agreement with a law firm.

The company also said that it has established more than $1.3 billion in provisions for this litigation, which centers on claims that the weed killer is connected to the development of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

We are still awaiting word on whether the U.S. Supreme Court will weigh in on a Roundup case, which Bayer has pushed for in an attempt to end the overall litigation.

Depo-Provera Lawsuits

The Depo-Provera lawsuits are some of the newest dangerous product lawsuits, and their growth over the last few months has been significant. At the start of August, there were 550 cases grouped together in federal court, a hefty jump of more than 100 cases in just one month.

It’s not unusual for major lawsuits like this to be a bit contentious. However, the Depo lawsuits are benefiting from a straightforward process so far.

Judge M. Casey Rodgers praised both sides for how smoothly the litigation has gone up to this stage. “The Parties have worked diligently together … to resolve disputes without the need for Court intervention,” she said in a recent order. “This collegiality has resulted in a highly efficient process that not only benefits the Court but all litigants involved as well.”

We also learned more from a status report about how many Depo cases are pending in state courts. At the time of that report, there were 58 active cases in New York, with some lawsuits also in California, Pennsylvania and Delaware.