Talcum Powder and Ovarian Cancer Risk Legal News Articles & Interviews

Washington, DC The long-running Johnson & Johnson (J&J) talcum powder lawsuits have now taken a strangely contemporary turn as long-silent witnesses, both in this world and the next, tell tales. The Department of Justice (DOJ) and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have subpoenaed corporate documents, and Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) has requested information back to 1966. Could this end the corporate stonewalling that has stymied so many J&J talcum powder lawsuits for so long?

Three Forks, MT: Facing about 14,000 asbestos-talc cases claiming that talc causes ovarian cancer and mesothelioma, Imerys Talc America has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Court records indicate that defending a single case can cost Imerys $4 million and some juries have awarded damages up to $2.75 million against the company. Imerys is the sole supplier of cosmetic talc to Johnson & Johnson.


Reuters reported that a rising settlement threat and defense costs have instigated Imerys to file the bankruptcy protection claim. As well, insurers are growing reluctant to provide coverage for the talc cases, said a company representative. Imerys Talc has already settled a number of cases for undisclosed amounts. One lawsuit (and the first case that associated asbestos in talc to ovarian cancer) resulted in a jury ordering J&J to pay a record $4.69 billion to 22 women who said J&J’s baby powder caused ovarian cancer –of which Imerys settled prior to that verdict. And $117 million was awarded to a man who blamed Imerys and Johnson & Johnson for his mesothelioma.

Imerys Talc America produces in its mines about half of the country’s talc supply. Imerys talc is also used in many other products, from foods to adhesives to automotive parts. Lawsuits claim that Imerys and J&J knew for decades that talc contained asbestos but failed to warn consumers of its risks or replace it with less-toxic cornstarch.


Court documents reveal that Imerys made efforts through litigation to keep its talc from being listed as potentially carcinogenic. By 2006 the company lost interest in proving the safety of its product: an email by an Imerys executive shown to jurors by plaintiffs’ lawyers said that “the horse has already left the barn.” But the company has not acknowledged in court that its talc was tainted or dangerous.

Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

Chapter 11 bankruptcy allows companies to ward off creditors, while they can reorganize, continue operating and potentially resolve liabilities. While a California judge on February 14 asked jurors not to speculate on why the talc supplier is no longer in the case, Giorgio La Motta, President, Imerys Talc America, Imerys Talc Vermont, and Imerys Talc Canada said that “it is simply not in the best interests of our stakeholders to litigate these claims in perpetuity and incur millions of dollars in projected legal costs to defend these cases.” Imerys intends to operate its three locations as usual.

How Imerys Bankruptcy Affects J&J Talc Lawsuits

Under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, Imerys officials will be able to negotiate payouts with those who have sued them.


When a company files bankruptcy under Chapter 11, it can set up a trust that would handle and defend it against any future claims. According to CNBC, Imerys said it plans to use bankruptcy to establish a trust to pay personal injury claims, a strategy typically used by companies facing asbestos claims. The trust can deal with current talc cases and any future claims.


However, this filing is typically used as a way to protect against billion-dollar lawsuits: it allows cases to be tried under a single judge and plaintiffs are pressured to reach a lower settlement. For instance, Johns Mansville Corp. in 1982 faced unprecedented liability for asbestos injury claims and was the first company facing asbestos litigation to file for bankruptcy under Chapter 11. By 1988 the company emerged from bankruptcy and founded the Manville Personal Injury Settlement Trust, according to asbestos.com.


Independent trustees may decide how the money is split among talc plaintiffs and a trust could continue to operate for several years to oversee negotiation and payments of settlements. When the company leaves bankruptcy, current and future litigation claims will be channeled to the trust rather than Imerys, which will then be free from future talc lawsuits.


Imerys Talc America and Imerys Talc Vermont has listed its combined assets as $500 million and liabilities of as much as $100 million, according to the bankruptcy filing, and the Chapter 11 process is expected to end by 2020. Bloomberg Intelligence litigation analyst Holly Froum said the bankruptcy will probably have a negative impact on Johnson & Johnson in thousands of talc lawsuits as Imerys won’t be able to contribute much capital to potential settlements.

Santa Clara, CADespite a number of asbestos-talc lawsuits and studies to the contrary, Johnson & Johnson still stands by its talcum powder, asserting it doesn’t cause mesothelioma or ovarian cancer because their product sold to consumers never contained asbestos. J&J says plaintiffs are using attorney-driven science along with faulty studies. On the other hand, plaintiffs have brought scientific evidence showing studies linking talc exposure to cancer, adding that the giant pharma company knew the link for decades. As for the FDA, it’s still on the fence.

Los Angeles, CA: Another multi-million dollar jury verdict awarded to a woman who alleged she developed ovarian cancer from using Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder has been tossed by a California Judge.

Jefferson City, MO: A $72 million verdict in favor of the family of a woman whose death from ovarian cancer was allegedly linked to her long term use of Johnson and Johnson’s Baby Powder has been reversed by The Missouri Court of Appeals for the Eastern District.

Santa Clara, CA: A jury in Missouri has found against Johnson & Johnson (J&J) in the latest ovarian cancer talcum powder lawsuit brought by Lois Slemp of Virginia.

Santa Clara, CA: The fourth ovarian cancer trial brought against Talc maker Johnson & Johnson (J&J) and Imerys Talc America is set to go to court next week. It follows three previous trials, all of which saw multi-million dollar awards for plaintiffs who alleged they developed ovarian cancer from using J&J Talc-containing products. In 2016, talc-product ovarian cancer victims were awarded jury verdicts of $70 million, $72 million and $55 million against J&J.

St. Louis, MI: Facing thousands of lawsuits alleging its talcum powder is linked to an increased risk of cancer, Johnson & Johnson filed a bid to delay the trials, arguing the talcum powder cancer lawsuits were filed out of jurisdiction. In early January, however, the Missouri Court of Appeals rejected Johnson & Johnson's motion, allowing the lawsuits to move forward in the jurisdiction in which they were filed.

Lufkin, TX: A talcum powder lawsuit alleging wrongful death has been filed against Johnson & Johnson by a widower who says his wife's use of talcum powder caused her ovarian cancer, which ultimately killed her. The lawsuit joins scores of other lawsuits filed against Johnson & Johnson by plaintiffs who say they or their loved ones died of ovarian cancer thanks to their use of body powder.

New York, NY: “I’ve used Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder for more than 50 years and discovering that this talcum powder can cause ovarian cancer is concerning, to say the least,” says Cindy, “because I use it on my granddaughter as well.”