Johnson & Johnson Hit With Massive $966 Million Verdict Over Talc Lawsuit
Johnson & Johnson has been hit with a significant verdict in the latest trial over claims that its once-popular talc-based baby powder is tied to cancer. On Monday, the company was ordered to pay a staggering $966 million to the family of a woman who died from mesothelioma after using J&J baby powder.
The Los Angeles jury awarded $16 million in compensatory damages and $950 million in punitive damages.
J&J has continued to battle talcum powder lawsuits claiming its baby powder is tied to the development of mesothelioma with varying success. Just last week, a Connecticut judge increased a 2024 verdict against J&J for a man who developed the rare cancer from $15 million to $25 million. J&J stopped selling talc-based baby powder in North America in 2020.
The company will likely look to appeal this week’s verdict and potentially reduce the $950 million punitive damages amount.
J&J Talc Ovarian Cancer Lawsuits Approaching Trial
In addition to claims involving mesothelioma, Johnson & Johnson is also facing tens of thousands of lawsuits over claims that its talc products are connected to the development of ovarian cancer.
At the start of October, more than 67,000 ovarian cancer claims were pending in federal court, with others moving through the legal process in state court as well.
A plan is now in place for some talc ovarian cancer cases to go before a jury in California state court. The trial, which is slated to begin on Nov. 3, will combine claims of two women who say they developed ovarian cancer after using the company’s talc product.
This trial is separate from the federal litigation, which is progressing toward holding its own trial as well. Yet its outcome could still impact wider talc litigation.
Trial results help both sides gauge the strength of their case and gain a better understanding of their chances if they were to take more cases to trial.
If J&J were to suffer losses across the ovarian cancer trials, it could be motivated to negotiate a new settlement for these cases.
