Talcum Powder Settlements & Verdicts
Johnson & Johnson is not currently pursuing a global talcum powder ovarian cancer settlement, but can still agree to settlements in individual cases. According to legal industry estimates, a talc settlement could pay out between $100,000 and $1 million per person. Courts have also awarded billions of dollars in talcum powder lawsuit verdicts.
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- Legally reviewed by Julie Lawson Timmer, Esquire
- Last update: November 21, 2025
- Est. Read Time: 5 min read
- Global Settlement Status:
- There is no global talcum powder lawsuit settlement.
- Latest Settlement Proposal:
- Johnson & Johnson's $9 billion settlement proposal to resolve talcum powder cancer claims was rejected by a Texas bankruptcy judge in April 2025.
- Potential Global Settlement Amount:
- J&J is sticking to its last offer of $9 billion in bankruptcy proceedings, but a Bloomberg Intelligence analyst suggests it may ultimately pay up to $11 billion to settle all lawsuits.
- Current MDL Status:
- As of November 2025, there are 67,229 lawsuits in the talcum powder multidistrict litigation. MDL 2738 is being tried in the U.S. District Court for New Jersey, presided over by District Judge Michael A. Shipp.
How Much Is the Talcum Powder Lawsuit Settlement Amount?
The amount that you can get from a talc settlement will vary by case. You may receive between $100,000 and $1 million, according to legal industry estimates. Industry experts project the average payout to be about $500,000.
Several factors can affect how much compensation each person may receive from a settlement.
- Age
- Cost of medical treatment
- How much of your costs were covered by insurance
- Severity of injuries or death
- The location where your case is tried
- Type of injury (mesothelioma vs. ovarian cancer)
In addition, there can be significant differences in a settlement amount compared to winning a jury verdict outright. For example, while legal experts estimate the average settlement could total around $500,000, a Los Angeles jury in October 2025 awarded $966 million to the family of Mae Moore. Their lawsuit over her death claimed her mesothelioma resulted from talcum powder use.
People who lost their spouse to cancer caused by talcum powder may also claim loss of consortium. Wrongful death cases may receive a larger settlement. Settlement administrators determine settlement amounts of each case by using these factors along with a general settlement matrix that assigns point values.
Who Is Eligible for a Talcum Powder Settlement?
People who used a cosmetic or commercial talcum powder product and developed ovarian cancer or mesothelioma may be eligible to file a lawsuit and receive a talcum powder settlement. Family members or spouses who have lost someone to ovarian cancer or mesothelioma from talcum powder use may also be eligible to file a claim.
Many people who developed cancer used talcum powder for several years before they were diagnosed. Only an attorney can tell you if you qualify for a talcum powder settlement.
Contact a lawyer for a free talcum powder lawsuit case review. Time limits to file a case may apply, so you should speak to an attorney as soon as possible to preserve your right to file a lawsuit.
Before speaking with a lawyer about a potential talcum powder lawsuit, gather as much evidence and paperwork as possible. Being prepared will allow the lawyer to assess your case quickly.
Information and Evidence for Talcum Powder Lawsuits
- List of talcum powder products used, including the brand, type and purchase years.
- Photos of product containers or packaging in your home.
- Receipts, online purchase records, loyalty card data or other proof of purchase.
- Witness statements from friends, family or caregivers who can attest to your use.
- Clear description of how and for how long you used the product (daily, genital use, cosmetic use).
- Employment records if you worked with or around talcum powder in an occupational setting.
- Any documented communications with manufacturers or retailers (emails, warranties).
- Official diagnosis of ovarian cancer, mesothelioma, or another linked cancer.
- Pathology and biopsy reports, surgical records, or oncology clinic notes.
- Comprehensive medical records showing your treatment and timeline of diagnosis.
- Death certificate or autopsy report (for wrongful death or estate claims).
- Proof of relationship to the deceased (marriage certificate, birth certificate, executor identification).
- Documentation that the deceased used qualifying talcum powder products.
- Documentation of damages (medical bills, lost wages, funeral expenses).
- Any correspondence with previous attorneys, if relevant.
Each state has a time limit for filing talcum powder lawsuits, typically ranging from one to three years from the date of diagnosis or death. Missing this deadline could mean losing your chance for compensation. Consult a lawyer quickly if you’re interested in filing a lawsuit, because the laws can be complex.
How Long Does It Take for a Talc Lawsuit To Settle?
Talcum powder lawsuits may take anywhere from two to several years to settle. Some cases are more complicated than others because of the medical records and science needed to connect cancer to talcum powder.
According to mass torts and product liability attorney Trent Miracle, a complex talcum powder lawsuit could take three to seven years to settle. In addition, many of these cases stalled in courts because of COVID-19.
Settlement timelines are different for MDLs and individual lawsuits. MDLs typically take longer.
In an MDL, similar cases are consolidated before one federal judge. This speeds up the process for evidence gathering and potential settlements. In contrast, individual lawsuits are processed in state courts, where they are settled either through negotiations or trial.
Comparing Settlement Timelines
- Filing Your Lawsuit
- Case Consolidation
- Discovery (both sides exchange information & gather evidence)
- Bellwether Trials (test trials)
- Settlement Negotiations
- Claim Review (claims by insurers, legal fees)
- Judge’s Approval
- Payment
- Filing Your Lawsuit
- Discovery
- Settlement Negotiations or Trial
- Payment
Many attorneys expected the $100 million settlement to be the first of many more global settlements. J&J tried in 2021, and again in 2023, to use bankruptcy to avoid facing full liability for the ovarian cancer cases consolidated in New Jersey. A New Jersey bankruptcy court denied J&J’s bankruptcy petition both times. In September 2024, J&J tried to file bankruptcy again, this time in Texas, asking the court to approve the $6.48 billion settlement offer J&J made in May 2024. The court has not yet ruled.
Talcum Powder Lawsuit Settlement Updates
There have been three public talcum powder settlement offers by Johnson & Johnson, all of which have failed to be completed. The most recent settlement plan, which was worth approximately $8 billion and would have been paid out to plaintiffs over 25 years, was rejected by a judge in March.
Despite J&J’s offers to settle the cases, the health care product giant still faces 67,229 talcum powder lawsuits in New Jersey as of November 2025.
The bulk of cases against J&J are consolidated in multidistrict litigation (MDL 2738) in New Jersey and plaintiffs in these cases say J&J’s talc products caused them to develop cancer.
While manufacturers vowed to defend their brands against talc lawsuits, companies like Johnson & Johnson, Imerys Talc and Colgate-Palmolive resolved certain disputes privately and reached settlement agreements before entering a courtroom. Most of these claims were for mesothelioma, not ovarian cancer, which represents the bulk of claims.
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March 2025:
Red River Talc's bankruptcy plan has been rejected by the judge overseeing the case, bringing an end to J&J's latest talcum powder settlement attempt. Following the judge's decision, the company said it will not appeal and instead focus on the ongoing litigation.
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February 2025:
Red River Talc's bankruptcy hearing, which is critical for the completion of J&J's $8 billion talc settlement, is now underway in Texas court. The bankruptcy will need to be approved in order for the settlement to move forward. The hearing is set to be completed near the end of the month.
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September 2024:
J&J subsidiary Red River Talc filed for bankruptcy as part of an effort to complete the latest talc settlement offer. J&J had added additional money to the offer this month, increasing it to around $8 billion. J&J says that the settlement has the support of more than 80% of claimants.
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June 2024:
J&J officially agreed to the $700 million talc settlement offer originally announced in January. The settlement, involving 42 states and Washington, D.C., does not impact the ongoing MDL or individual talc cases.
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May 2024:
J&J offered a $6.48 billion settlement of its ovarian cancer lawsuits to be funded by the bankruptcy of its subsidiary, LTL Management. J&J said in May that if 75% of plaintiffs claiming ovarian cancer agreed to that settlement, it would file bankruptcy, seeking court approval of that settlement offer. J&J received the confirming votes required, and filed bankruptcy (through a subsidiary) in September 2024. J&J will settle mesothelioma claims separately.
Later the same month, a Connecticut jury awarded $15 million to the family of Nicholas Barone who died of mesothelioma after exposure to asbestos-containing talc at work. -
January 2024:
J&J tentatively agreed to a new, $700 million settlement with over 40 U.S. states related to its allegedly deceptive talcum powder marketing. The settlement wouldn’t directly affect individual talcum powder lawsuits, but it could avert future case filings.
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November 2023:
J&J confidentially settled the cases of Rosalino Reyes and Marlin Eagles, who claimed they developed mesothelioma after exposure to asbestos in J&J’s talc powder.
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April 2023:
Johnson & Johnson proposed an $8.9 billion settlement to about 60,000 plaintiffs who it said agreed to its latest bankruptcy plans. The settlement was never court-approved.
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February 2023:
Emtal Talc reached a $72.5 million settlement with rubber workers who developed asbestos-linked lung cancer after exposure to the company’s talc.
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October 2020:
J&J announced its first global talc settlement, offering to pay $100 million to settle more than 1,000 talcum powder ovarian cancer claims.
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July 2018:
After confidential out-of-court negotiations, Colgate-Palmolive compensated Paul Garcia, who blamed his mesothelioma on using baby powder made by former Colgate-Palmolive affiliate Mennen.
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March 2018:
During jury deliberations in Florida state court, Vanderbilt Minerals settled a potential $11.5 million lawsuit with Robert Lord, a former tile worker. The plaintiff attributed his mesothelioma to inhaling asbestos in the company’s industrial talc products.
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November 2017:
Colgate-Palmolive agreed to confidential out-of-court negotiations with Carol Schoeniger. The plaintiff blamed the company’s talc-based products for her asbestos exposure and mesothelioma.
J&J’s first 2020 settlement came shortly after the company announced it would stop selling talcum powder products in the U.S. and Canada in May 2020. Before the announcement, J&J issued a talcum powder recall for 33,000 bottles of Johnson’s Baby Powder after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found trace amounts of asbestos in a sample. In August 2022, J&J announced it would stop selling talcum powder products globally in 2023.
Bankruptcy and Global Deal Explainer
Johnson & Johnson developed a bankruptcy plan as part of its $9 billion settlement offer. In bankruptcy, businesses or subsidiaries seek legal protection from creditors. The plan, known as a “Texas Two-Step,” was rejected in April 2025 when a bankruptcy judge ruled it invalid.
- J&J set up new companies (LTL and Red River Talc) to file for bankruptcy in Texas and New Jersey courts. These entities, not J&J itself, would handle the lawsuits.
- J&J attempted to settle all talcum powder cancer claims for approximately $8 billion to $9 billion, but required 75% of the victims to agree to the plan. Though J&J claimed 80% of plaintiffs were in favor of the settlement, Federal Judge Christopher Lopez questioned the vote’s legitimacy.
- Judge Lopez decided J&J and its subsidiaries were not truly bankrupt in April 2025, so the plan was rejected and lawsuits resumed.
Judge Lopez said the voting process had issues. He said that thousands of people didn’t have enough time to vote, and it appeared that the company was trying to reach the required 75% approval “at any cost.”
Recent Verdicts
Recent talcum powder litigation features landmark jury verdicts, rare settlements and a rejected bankruptcy deal. Courts continue to hold Johnson & Johnson accountable for asbestos-contaminated products linked to cancer nationwide.
- Oct. 29, 2025 | Fort Lauderdale, Florida | $20 million plaintiff verdict
- A jury awarded $20 million to the family of a physician who died from mesothelioma linked to J&J talcum powder.
- Oct. 8, 2025 | Los Angeles, California | $966 million plaintiff verdict
- The family of a mesothelioma victim awarded $16 million in compensatory and $950 million in punitive damages against J&J, impacting MDL settlement talks.
- July 30, 2025 | Boston, Massachusetts | $42 million plaintiff verdict
- A Boston jury awarded roughly $42 million to a mesothelioma patient, reinforcing the link between talcum powder and asbestos-related cancers.
- June 18, 2025 | Suffolk County, Massachusetts | $8 million plaintiff verdict
- A Massachusetts woman with mesothelioma was awarded $8 million due to long-term use of J&J talcum powder.
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