A Los Angeles jury has ruled that Johnson & Johnson must pay $40 million in damages to two women who said J&J’s talc-based baby powder caused their ovarian cancer. The trial was held in California Superior Court, where jurors found the company knew about potential dangers but did not warn users.
The payout includes $18 million for Monica Kent and $22 million for Deborah Schultz and her husband after they said they used the powder for decades and later developed ovarian cancer. The jury agreed that J&J’s warnings were not enough.
Johnson & Johnson has denied that its talc products cause cancer. The company said it will appeal the verdict and noted that major U.S. health authorities do not confirm talc causes cancer. J&J also said its baby powder is free of asbestos and has switched to cornstarch powder in recent years.
This decision comes as part of a larger wave of lawsuits. Tens of thousands of claims are pending in U.S. courts, with many plaintiffs saying long-term use of talc caused ovarian cancer or mesothelioma. Previous verdicts and settlements have varied widely in size and outcome.
#HealthRiskClaims
#JohnsonAndJohnson
#TalcLawsuit
#BabyPowderCancer
#OvarianCancerVerdict
#J&JTalcTrial
#ProductLiability
#JuryAward
#ConsumerSafety
#LegalNews
