Los Angeles Jury Awards $40 Million to Two Women in Talc Case

A Los Angeles jury has awarded $40 million to two women who claim that talcum powder made by Johnson & Johnson caused their ovarian cancer. This verdict, delivered on Friday, is a significant development in a protracted legal battle concerning allegations that talc in the company’s Baby Powder and Shower to Shower body powder is linked to serious health issues, including ovarian cancer and mesothelioma, a type of cancer affecting the lungs and other organs.

In this latest case, the jury awarded $18 million to Monica Kent and $22 million to Deborah Schultz and her husband. Their attorney, Daniel Robinson of the Robinson Calcagnie law firm, emphasized the loyalty the women showed to the company over decades, stating, “The only thing they did was be loyal to Johnson & Johnson as a customer for only 50 years. That loyalty was a one-way street.”

The healthcare giant announced plans to appeal the jury’s decision regarding both liability and compensatory damages. Erik Haas, J&J’s worldwide vice president of litigation, expressed confidence in the company’s legal standing, pointing out that it has successfully defended 16 out of 17 ovarian cancer cases previously tried. He labeled the jury’s findings as “irreconcilable with the decades of independent scientific evaluations confirming that talc is safe, does not contain asbestos, and does not cause cancer.”

The case adds to a growing list of legal challenges Johnson & Johnson faces over its talc-based products. In October 2023, another California jury ordered the company to pay $966 million to the family of a woman who died from mesothelioma, asserting that her cancer was caused by asbestos contamination in the baby powder she regularly used.

Johnson & Johnson ceased the sale of talc-based powder globally in 2023, opting instead for cornstarch in many of its products following declining sales and increasing scrutiny. Earlier this year, a U.S. bankruptcy court judge denied the company’s proposed settlement plan of $9 billion to resolve claims related to ovarian cancer and other gynecological cancers tied to talc products.

This ongoing saga underscores the complexities surrounding consumer safety and corporate responsibility in the healthcare sector. As the legal proceedings continue, the implications for Johnson & Johnson and the patients involved remain significant.