Talcum Powder Multidistrict Litigation (MDL 2738) Updates & Analysis

As of August 2026, there are 68,914 talcum powder lawsuits grouped together in MDL 2738. These lawsuits claim that the use of Johnson & Johnson’s talc-based baby powder products led to the development of ovarian cancer in some women.

With tens of thousands of active cases, it is one of the largest dangerous product litigations in the country. 

This MDL has been active for a decade, which is an unusually long lifespan for lawsuits like this one. This is partially due to the litigation being subject to long pauses as J&J attempted, and eventually failed, to resolve claims through a controversial Texas Two-Step bankruptcy procedure.

The next phase for these lawsuits is the holding of bellwether trials, which give both sides a better understanding of the strength of their arguments and can play a big role in influencing wider settlement negotiations.

J&J, however, is now pushing to dismiss tens of thousands of lawsuits before those federal trials can begin.

July 22, 2026: Tens of Thousands of Talc Lawsuits at Risk of Dismissal

The judge overseeing the talc MDL has sided with J&J and ordered all 69,000 cases to show cause. This means that those lawsuits must justify why they should not be dismissed. 

It’s a major blow for people with cases, but as the judge noted, it will not lead to an “instant dismissal” of the MDL. 

The main issue to be resolved is whether the plaintiffs can provide admissible expert testimony to support their claims. This is a key ingredient in getting these cases to trial, and they may not survive without it.

July 1, 2026: Hundreds of New Talc Lawsuits Filed

Even as J&J pushes to have the talc MDL dismissed, new lawsuits continue to pour in. At the start of July, 68,435 talc ovarian cancer lawsuits were active in federal court.

That means that over 400 new lawsuits have been filed in just the last few weeks. Many other cases have also been filed in state court and have begun to go to trial.

June 11, 2026: J&J Pushing for All Claims in Talc MDL to Be Dismissed

In the wake of plaintiffs’ lawyers withdrawing two of their experts, J&J is now pushing to have the 60,000+ talc lawsuits active in federal court dismissed. The company claims that the lawsuits are based on “junk science,” an argument it has leaned on in the past.

It’s unclear which way the judge will lean on such a wide-spanning request that could impact tens of thousands of cases that were not part of the bellwether process.

June 10, 2026: J&J Hit With $32 Million Mesothelioma Verdict

As talc ovarian cancer lawsuits advance, J&J also continues to face claims that its talc-based baby powder is tied to the development of mesothelioma. 

An LA jury this week ordered the company to pay $32 million to the family of a woman who died after using baby powder for decades. It’s another major win for people who have brought lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson and a good sign for the wider mesothelioma litigation.

June 5, 2026: J&J Prevails in Latest Talc Ovarian Cancer Trial

J&J has won the latest ovarian cancer trial, which involved the cases of three women who died after using the company’s talc-based baby powder for years. 

This was the second bellwether trial to take place in California state court. In the first trial, which wrapped up in December, J&J had been ordered to pay $40 million.

March 25, 2026: The Lancet Retracts 1977 Talc Safety Commentary

The medical journal The Lancet has retracted a 1977 commentary that was often used to support the safety of cosmetic talc. Editors explained that the article’s author was a consultant for Johnson & Johnson, but this connection was not revealed when the piece was published. 

The commentary claimed that cosmetic talc posed no major health risks and argued against further regulation. Later, researchers found documents showing that the author shared drafts with the company before the article was published. This retraction may influence ongoing lawsuits about talcum powder, since the paper was previously used to defend the safety of talc products.

March 16, 2026: Judge Throws Out $950 Million in Punitive Damages in Talc Verdict

A judge in Los Angeles has thrown out $950 million in punitive damages that were awarded against Johnson & Johnson in a talcum powder mesothelioma case. However, the family of a woman who died after many years of using the company’s talc-based baby powder will still receive $16 million in compensatory damages. 

The original verdict, decided by a California jury in October 2025, was $966 million. This was one of the largest single-plaintiff talc verdicts so far. The judge said the evidence at trial did not meet the legal standard for punitive damages, which are meant to punish companies for especially serious wrongdoing. 

Although the judge removed the punitive damages, the court kept the jury’s decision that the company’s talc products caused the woman’s mesothelioma. Johnson & Johnson says it plans to appeal the $16 million compensatory award, and the family may also appeal the removal of the punitive damages.

February 27, 2026: Federal Judge Allows Lawsuit Against Plaintiffs’ Talc Expert to Proceed

A federal judge in New Jersey has allowed a lawsuit against a prominent talc expert to move forward, ruling that the expert can be sued over a study she published linking talcum powder to mesothelioma. 

The decision follows allegations that some of the study’s underlying data were inaccurate and that certain participants had additional asbestos exposures. 

The expert, Dr. Jacqueline Moline, has served as a witness in many talc and asbestos cases, and the ruling could affect other pending litigation in which her research or testimony has been used.

February 13, 2026: J&J Ordered to Pay $250,000 in Latest Ovarian Cancer Trial

A Philadelphia jury has awarded $250,000 to the family of a woman who died from ovarian cancer after using J&J talc products. This is the second trial win for people who have filed lawsuits since J&J’s settlement attempt fell through in 2025. 

This is significant for the overall litigation, as J&J has now lost both ovarian cancer cases to go before a jury since the company decided to resume litigating these cases.

February 5, 2026: Verdict Expected Soon in Pennsylvania Talcum Powder Trial

A Pennsylvania jury is considering evidence in a case brought on behalf of a woman who died of ovarian cancer. The lawsuit claims her cancer was caused by her lifelong use of Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder. 

The company has recently lost several major court cases, with verdicts totaling billions of dollars. J&J has promised to fight each case in court, but if losses continue, they may have to reconsider their approach.

January 20, 2026: Plaintiffs’ Experts Can Present Evidence That Talcum Powder Causes Ovarian Cancer

Retired Judge Freda Wolfson, who was appointed as special master in the talcum powder MDL, reviewed the plaintiffs’ expert witnesses and their testimony. She had previously overseen the MDL before Judge Shipp took over in 2023. 

This week, she recommended that plaintiffs should be allowed to present testimony from their expert witnesses supporting claims that baby powder can cause ovarian cancer. J&J tried to block expert witness testimony that Judge Wolfson had already ruled admissible in 2020, before the company’s bankruptcy attempts paused the litigation.

In her report, Judge Wolfson said there have been no major changes in the scientific evidence that would affect her earlier decisions. She also noted that epidemiologic studies, “taken as a whole, demonstrate a positive, statistically significant association between genital talc powder use and ovarian cancer.” 

She added that recent scientific developments “support the association between talc and ovarian cancer, without any new studies concluding that no causal link exists.” This update is positive for plaintiffs, as it means juries will be able to hear all expert opinions on whether J&J’s baby powder caused ovarian cancer and use that evidence to decide future cases.

January 5, 2026: Hundreds of Non-Ovarian Cancer Cases Dismissed

As anticipated, more than 600 lawsuits have been dismissed from the talcum powder MDL. This does not impact the wider litigation in any way. 

The MDL is simply meant to be used for ovarian cancer cases, and these lawsuits involved other gynecologic cancer claims.

January 1, 2026: Tens of Thousands of Talc Lawsuits Pending With More Trials Expected

As 2026 gets underway, more than 67,000 active talcum powder lawsuits are pending in federal court. That number may dip in the coming weeks, with any cases not involving ovarian cancer expected to leave the MDL. 

The next few months will be critical for the ovarian cancer cases, with bellwether trials anticipated at both the state and federal levels. The outcome of those trials will play a big role in determining the future of these lawsuits.

December 22, 2025: Jury Awards Over $1.5 Billion to Woman in Historic Talc Verdict

A Baltimore jury has ordered Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiaries to pay more than $1.5 billion in a case involving a woman who developed mesothelioma after using talc products. 

That staggering sum is believed to be the largest ever verdict awarded to a single person in a talc lawsuit. It’s a big win not just for the plaintiff but for many others who have brought similar lawsuits and are seeking justice.

December 19, 2025: J&J Ordered to Pay $65.5 Million in Mesothelioma Trial

A Minnesota jury has awarded $65.5 million to a woman who claimed that she developed mesothelioma after using J&J’s talc products. 

This is another big win for people who have filed lawsuits. In the last week, J&J has now been ordered to potentially pay out millions over both ovarian cancer and mesothelioma claims.

December 12, 2025: Plaintiffs Win Ovarian Cancer Trial

In a major win for people who have filed lawsuits, J&J has been ordered to pay $40 million in the talc ovarian cancer bellwether trial in California. 

The trial had involved two women who said they developed ovarian cancer after using talcum powder products for years. 

This is a significant development in the litigation, as J&J had pivoted to attempting to win these cases before juries after its settlement attempt failed. More losses in the upcoming trials could potentially impact that strategy.

December 2, 2025: Hundreds of New Talc Lawsuits Filed

At the start of December, there are a staggering 67,670 active talc lawsuits grouped together in federal court. 

This means that more than 400 new cases have been filed in federal court in the last month alone, demonstrating how many people have been impacted by these potential issues.

November 28, 2025: FDA Withdraws Proposed Rule That Would Have Required Asbestos Testing of Cosmetic Talc

The FDA has withdrawn a proposed rule that, if approved, would have required the manufacturers of cosmetic products containing talc to test for asbestos. 

Many of the health issues connected to talc usage, including ovarian cancer and mesothelioma, stem from potential asbestos contamination of these products. 

The FDA said that it was withdrawing the rule because of possible “unintended consequences,” such as the rule applying to talc-containing drugs.

November 20, 2025: Key Differences Between Ovarian Cancer and Mesothelioma Talcum Powder Cases

Exposure to Johnson & Johnson’s talcum powder products has been associated with two distinct types of cancer. Mesothelioma primarily affects the lining of organs, most often the lungs, and is allegedly caused by inhalation of asbestos fibers present in the powder. 

In contrast, some women claim they developed ovarian cancer after using the powder in the genital area. Those lawsuits claim that talc fibers migrate to the ovaries, resulting in inflammation and, over time, the development of cancer cells. 

The ongoing trial in California is the first in several years to address ovarian cancer claims, with most previous trials focusing on mesothelioma. The outcome of this trial is expected to significantly influence future litigation strategies for the tens of thousands of active ovarian cancer cases. 

A win for plaintiffs may encourage Johnson & Johnson to settle outstanding cases, while a loss could prompt the company to continue contesting these claims in court.

November 10, 2025: When Will We Know the Outcome of the California Ovarian Cancer Trial?

A key trial over claims that J&J’s talc is tied to ovarian cancer is underway in California, but it could still be a while before we know the verdict. Previous ovarian cancer trials in 2017 and 2018 lasted weeks, with one St. Louis jury hearing six weeks of testimony. 

Once we do have a verdict, it will be a significant milestone for the litigation. J&J has been adamant in recent months that it is not interested in pursuing a settlement for the ovarian cancer lawsuits, but some mediation talks have taken place. A trial win for plaintiffs could influence the direction of those negotiations.

November 3, 2025: Growth Slowing for Talc Lawsuits

At the start of November, there are 67,229 talc lawsuits active in federal court, a modest jump of 25 new cases from this time last month. It looks like things have begun to slow down a bit after several months of mass case filings following the failure of J&J’s settlement plan earlier this year. 

The focus is now on the upcoming bellwether trial.

October 28, 2025: J&J Ordered to Pay $20 Million in Mesothelioma Trial

A Florida jury has awarded $20 million to the family of a man who died from mesothelioma after using J&J’s talc-based baby powder for years. 

This is the second major mesothelioma loss for J&J this month, following a Los Angeles jury’s $966 million award in a similar case a couple of weeks ago.

October 23, 2025: Major Talc Ovarian Cancer Trial Coming Up Soon

A series of talc ovarian cancer bellwether trials in California state court is quickly approaching. The first of three trials, which centers on claims that J&J’s talc-based baby powder is tied to the development of ovarian cancer, is scheduled for Nov. 3.

This is a big moment in the litigation after several years of J&J’s unsuccessful attempts to resolve these lawsuits via settlement. 

The outcome of these bellwether trials can affect the broader litigation. A win for plaintiffs would be a significant development.

October 15, 2025: What’s Next for the J&J Cases in Federal Court?

There are currently more than 67,000 talc lawsuits grouped together in federal court, more than any other litigation in the country, and the number keeps growing. 

The number of active cases increased by nearly 300 over the course of September. The next milestone for these cases is a final pretrial conference on Nov. 5 for the upcoming bellwether trial. That trial will be a critical moment for these lawsuits.

Bellwethers help both sides better understand the strength of their cases and can influence talc settlement negotiations.

October 16, 2025: Non-Ovarian Cancer Claims Could Soon Be Dismissed from the MDL

Both sides in the talc MDL have reached an agreement that could result in the dismissal of upwards of 1,100 lawsuits. While the MDL exists for ovarian cancer lawsuits, claims involving other gynecological cancers like uterine, endometrial and cervical cancer have also been filed.

Both sides now agree that the science does not support those claims and are moving toward having them dismissed in federal court unless each plaintiff can provide an expert report supporting their claim. 

The focus of this litigation is on ovarian cancer lawsuits. They should not be affected by this development.

October 7, 2025: J&J Hit With Massive $966 Million Talc Verdict

A Los Angeles jury has awarded a staggering $966 million verdict to the family of a woman who died from mesothelioma after using J&J’s talcum powder. 

The jury awarded $16 million in compensatory damages and $950 million in punitive damages. J&J will likely look to appeal the ruling.

October 2, 2025: Mesothelioma Plaintiff Gets Increased Damages

A Connecticut judge has increased the verdict for a man who claimed he developed mesothelioma after using J&J talcum powder.

A jury had awarded $15 million to the man following his trial last year, and the judge has now added another $10 million in punitive damages to that total.

September 17, 2025: Talc Lawsuits Advancing to Trial in California

While much of the attention on the talc ovarian cancer lawsuits goes to the more than 60,000 cases filed in federal court, cases in state court are advancing as well. 

An ovarian cancer trial is now scheduled to take place in California state court this November. This is a potentially significant moment for all of the tens of thousands of active cases across the country. 

Any trial result can help both sides better understand the strength of their cases and how similar trials may play out. A win for plaintiffs could be significant.

September 2, 2025: Talc Cases Continue to Grow

The number of active talc lawsuits continues to grow as both a potential trial and settlement negotiations approach. 

At the start of this month, there were 66,910 active cases grouped together in federal court. That’s an increase of about 400 new cases over just the last few weeks.

August 4, 2025: Pretrial Conference for Talc Bellwether Set

A final pretrial conference for the first talc bellwether case in the MDL has been set for early November, meaning the trial will likely take place soon after. 

This will be a significant step in this litigation that could impact tens of thousands of pending cases. Bellwether trials give both sides the chance to better understand the strength of their cases and can influence settlement negotiations.

July 2025: Talc MDL Judge Pushing for Settlement

The judge overseeing the talc lawsuits in federal court is taking steps to encourage both sides to at least discuss a potential settlement, granting a motion to appoint a mediator. 

J&J did not object to appointing a mediator to help with these talks, but stated in a court document that “the Johnson & Johnson Defendants do not believe that mediation is necessary or likely to be productive at this time.” The first mediation session is set for early September.

June 24, 2025: First Federal Bellwether Case Selected

The lawyers representing plaintiffs in the talc MDL have selected the lawsuit that they would like to serve as the first bellwether trial. Bellwethers are a key part of the MDL process. 

They essentially act as test cases, with the outcome of the trial giving both sides a better idea of the strength of their arguments and the direction of the litigation. If defendants lose the bellwether trials, they sometimes agree to a settlement for all cases rather than risk taking more cases to trial.

April 2025: MDL Up and Running Following Bankruptcy Rejection

In the wake of the talc bankruptcy rejection, work in the MDL is once again underway. A status conference has been scheduled for June 17 as some of the outstanding issues in the MDL return to the spotlight, including the defendants’ motion for summary judgment.

March 31, 2025: Judge Rejects Bankruptcy Plan

In a major development, Judge Christopher Lopez has rejected Red River Talc’s bankruptcy plan.

This brings an end to Johnson & Johnson’s proposed multibillion-dollar talcum powder settlement. This is the third time that the company has tried and failed to resolve the litigation through this strategy.

In a noteworthy statement about where the litigation could go from here, J&J says it does not plan to appeal the decision and will instead focus on combating the existing litigation.

February 2025: Red River Talc Bankruptcy Hearing Begins

Red River Talc’s bankruptcy hearing is now underway. This hearing is key to the future of J&J’s $8 billion ovarian cancer settlement. 

For the settlement to be completed, Red River Talc’s bankruptcy must be approved. The hearing began on Feb. 18 and is set to last more than a week.

January 2025: Objections Filed to Talc Bankruptcy Plan

As the bankruptcy hearing key to J&J’s settlement plans nears, multiple objections have been filed. The U.S. Trustee, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Health and Human Services have all objected to the bankruptcy, with the two departments stating that the settlement would disrupt their right to reimbursement of health care costs they have incurred in relation to these claims.

The U.S. Trustee, which has fought against the settlement plan since it was introduced, continues to claim that the case was filed in bad faith. J&J is attempting the controversial Texas two-step bankruptcy strategy, in which a subsidiary assumes liabilities and files for bankruptcy in place of the parent company. The bankruptcy hearing remains set for Feb. 18.

In other talc lawsuit news, a jury this month attempted to award $22 million to a plaintiff in a mesothelioma trial despite delivering a winning verdict to J&J. Jurors were not meant to fill out information on damages awarded to the plaintiff since the defendants had won the trial.

December 2024: Talc MDL Remains Paused

The pause on talc ovarian cancer litigation will remain in place until March as Red River Talc’s bankruptcy proceedings continue. Talc lawsuits have been stayed since September as J&J has worked to complete its $8 billion settlement to resolve thousands of ovarian cancer lawsuits. 

The bankruptcy trial is set for Feb. 18.

November 2024: $260 Million Talc Verdict Upheld

An Oregon judge has upheld a $260 million verdict in a J&J baby powder trial from June. 

Kyung Lee had been awarded the verdict after she developed mesothelioma at 49 years old following lifelong use of J&J’s talc-based powder.

October 2024: Department of Justice Against Talc Bankruptcy Maneuver

The DOJ’s bankruptcy watchdog has filed a new motion to dismiss Red River Talc’s bankruptcy case, citing its similarities to J&J’s past settlement attempts. The judge overseeing the bankruptcy case said that a trial will likely be held in January or February over the motions to dismiss, along with claims questioning the plaintiff’s support for the settlement.

But in a big win for J&J’s talc settlement hopes earlier this month, Judge Lopez allowed the bankruptcy case to remain in Texas. There had been pressure to move the case to New Jersey court, where the company’s past settlement attempts had failed. This is a key step toward completion of the $8 billion settlement.

September 2024: Red River Talc Files for Bankruptcy

J&J’s subsidiary Red River Talc has filed for bankruptcy in a Texas court. This is a necessary step to complete the company’s talc settlement proposal, which is estimated at about $8 billion. Shortly after the case was filed, Judge Christopher Lopez ordered an automatic stay on talc litigation.

J&J had tacked another $1.1 billion onto its proposal in early September. According to Reuters, the company also gained the support of a plaintiffs’ lawyer representing thousands of clients, which helped secure the 75% threshold of plaintiff support that J&J needed to move forward.

An Oregon state judge has overturned a June win for plaintiff Kyung Lee. J&J had been ordered to pay Lee $260 million after she blamed her mesothelioma on decades-long use of the company’s baby powder.

August 2024: Plaintiff Wins Mesothelioma Case

On Aug. 15, a South Carolina state court jury ordered J&J and co-defendant American International Industries to pay $63.4 million in damages to Michael Perry, who blamed his mesothelioma on J&J’s baby powder. Perry had used the powder daily due to a deodorant allergy before he was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2023.

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals denied J&J’s third attempt at bankruptcy. Bloomberg reported that sources told the news outlet J&J had met the 75% plaintiff-voting threshold to get the $6.5 billion settlement approved in bankruptcy. The settlement still hasn’t received court approval.

July 2024: Big Month for Talc Lawsuits

July has been a busy month for talc-related lawsuit updates. A federal judge allowed J&J’s $6.48 billion, 25-year lawsuit settlement plan to proceed despite plaintiffs’ objections. The plan aims to settle thousands of talcum powder cancer lawsuits through a subsidiary’s bankruptcy. Critics point out that two previous attempts to settle through bankruptcy failed, and the offer denies plaintiffs fair compensation.

Also this month, a judge dismissed J&J’s subsidiary LTL Management’s lawsuits against Dr. Jacqueline Moline, a scientist who wrote an influential paper on the link between asbestos-contaminated talc and cancer. J&J accused Moline of fraud and libel, among other things, but the judge found the lawsuit presented no evidence to prove its case.

In early July, the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer re-classified talc from a “possible carcinogen” to a “probable carcinogen,” the second-highest level of certainty that a substance causes cancer. Scientists reached their decision in part from limited evidence that talc increases the risk of ovarian cancer.

Johnson & Johnson proposed a $505 million settlement with bankrupt talc miners Imerys Talc America and Cyprus Mines Corporation. In mid-July, the settlement addresses long-standing disputes and indemnification agreements related to talc liabilities as Imerys and Cyprus have historically been co-defendants in lawsuits against J&J for its talc-based products.

June 2024: J&J Suffers Major Talc Verdict and Reaches Marketing Settlement

On June 4, an Oregon jury ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay Kyung Lee $260 million. 

Lee, a 48-year-old woman, claimed that her mesothelioma was caused by her lifelong use of the company’s baby powder tainted with asbestos.

Also, J&J tentatively agreed to a $700 million settlement with more than 40 U.S. states over its talcum powder marketing. 

While the settlement doesn’t directly affect individual talcum powder lawsuits, it could avert future case filings claiming that the company knew of a link between its talc powder products and cancer.

May 2024: J&J Renews Settlement Attempt

J&J offered ovarian cancer plaintiffs a $6.48 billion settlement over 25 years, facilitated through the bankruptcy of subsidiary LLT Management, which replaced the former subsidiary, LTL Management. 

This third attempt at a settlement would require three-quarters of the plaintiffs claiming ovarian cancer injuries to agree to the offer within 90 days.

April 2024: Plaintiff Wins Mesothelioma Trial

An Illinois trial ended in victory for the family of Theresa Garcia, a woman who died of mesothelioma allegedly linked to her use of J&J’s talcum-based baby powder. The jury ordered J&J and its Kenvue division to pay the family $45 million in damages.

In a separate case this month, a Sarasota, Florida, jury ruled that Johnson & Johnson’s talc-based baby powder was not the cause of Pat Matthey’s cancer and subsequent death in 2019. In 2016, doctors diagnosed her with ovarian cancer, and her son filed a wrongful death lawsuit against J&J on behalf of his mother’s estate.

March 2024: Talc Case Ends in Mistrial

A Florida trial involving plaintiff Bob Sugarman, who sued J&J on behalf of his deceased wife Marilyn Seskin, ended in a mistrial on March 5 when the jury was unable to reach an agreement. 

Seskin was diagnosed with a rare form of ovarian cancer allegedly caused by Johnson’s Baby Powder, according to the plaintiff.

December 2023: What’s Next for Talc Lawsuits

Several bellwether trials were scheduled in 2024 and 2025. J&J’s LTL Management subsidiary was denied bankruptcy proceedings twice and expected to file a third time to push its $9 billion settlement through. In the meantime, cases had been quietly settling for confidential amounts.

April 2023: J&J Subsidiary Refiles for Bankruptcy

According to a regulatory filing, LTL Management refiled for bankruptcy protection in a New Jersey court. Under a proposed agreement, J&J would pay about $8.9 billion over 25 years to current and future plaintiffs to settle talcum powder lawsuits.

This comes after Judge Michael Kaplan nullified the LTL Management bankruptcy he had previously affirmed.

January 30, 2023: Talc Bankruptcy Attempt Fails

In Philadelphia, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit dismissed LTL Management’s bankruptcy status. 

The ruling temporarily prevented J&J from exploiting bankruptcy law to resolve the multibillion-dollar talc powder lawsuits it faces.

October 2021: J&J Looks to Controversial Bankruptcy Maneuver

J&J created the subsidiary LTL Management, which assumed the company’s then-$4.5 billion potential liabilities from talcum powder lawsuits. LTL Management filed for “Texas Two-Step Bankruptcy” soon after.

October 2016: Talc MDL Created

A multidistrict litigation is formally established for lawsuits that claim Johnson & Johnson talcum powder products led to the development of ovarian cancer.