Talcum Powder Legal News Articles & Interviews

New Brunswick, NJJohnson & Johnson boosted its $9 billion proposed settlement to over $10.1 billion to resolve potentially 100,000 talc lawsuits claiming its baby powder caused ovarian and other gynecological cancers. The proposal, which will be paid over 25 years, has created a rift with plaintiffs’ lawyers, one of whom rejected previous proposals to settle the cases through bankruptcy court and now approves.

Trenton, NJ In May, Johnson & Johnson offered to pay roughly $6.48 billion over 25 years to settle all current and future talcum powder lawsuits. These lawsuits allege that baby powder containing asbestos-contaminated talc caused ovarian cancer. Erik Haas, J&J's worldwide vice president of litigation, insists that this offer is fundamentally different than the two that courts rejected before. If accepted, it would resolve 99.75 percent of J&J’s remaining talc lawsuits in the U.S.

Trenton, NJ On March 27, District Court Judge Michael Shipp issued a brief order that permits J&J to contest scientific evidence linking talc products to ovarian cancer. The ruling could seriously disrupt the 53,796 talcum powder lawsuits that have been consolidated in the District Court for the District of New Jersey. The order cites recent changes in the law and new scientific evidence. The changes in law – specifically the federal rules governing expert witnesses -- may have a significant impact on class action lawsuits in general.

Trenton, NJ Until mid-2023, the Johnson & Johnson talcum powder cancer lawsuits consolidated in the District Court of New Jersey have been essentially frozen in place, while the Third Circuit Court of Appeals evaluated J&J’s bankruptcy petitions. The stay involved a complicated bankruptcy scheme, commonly known as the “Texas two-step,” which would have permitted J&J to limit its financial liability by shifting the cancer claims to a newly-created, but severely underfunded subsidiary.

Trenton, NJ Johnson & Johnson has reportedly agreed to pay $700 million to settle talcum powder lawsuits brought by 42 states. These state lawsuits allege that the company wrongfully marketed a product that it either knew or had reason to know was dangerous to human health.

Alameda, CA Opening statements in Valadez v. Johnson & Johnson began in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Alameda on May 31. US Chief Bankruptcy Judge Michael Kaplan permitted the trial to go forward despite a stay on most talcum powder lawsuits pending resolution of J&J subsidiary, LTL Management’s petition for bankruptcy.

Newark, NJ On May 10, the states of New Mexico and Mississippi joined cancer victims and the U.S. Department of Justice in moving to dismiss the latest LTL bankruptcy petition. The bankruptcy is an essential element of Johnson & Johnson’s $8.9 billion offer to settle all outstanding and future talcum powder lawsuits. Of that $8.9 billion, $400 million is reportedly  to be set aside to settle state consumer protection lawsuits. That is news.

Newark, NJ On April 4, Johnson & Johnson made a new offer of $8.9 billion to settle tens of thousands of talcum powder lawsuits. The lawsuits allege that widespread asbestos contamination of the company’s talc products caused users to suffer from mesothelioma and various gynecological cancers.

Washington, DC Twenty women who sued Johnson and Johnson, claiming its baby powder was key in their ovarian cancers, stuck to their guns: the U.S. Supreme Court won’t overturn a $2.1 billion against J&J, which was cut from a 2018 Missouri Court verdict of $4.7 billion. These women persevered through an exhaustive and harrowing court battle including the company’s last ditch appeal in March. But nine women have died from ovarian cancer since the trial began six years ago.

St. Louis, MO A panel of three judges with the Missouri Appeals Court has found Johnson & Johnson “Outrageous because of Evil Motive or Reckless Indifference” and upheld an award of over $2 billion in damages: $500 million in compensatory damages, plus another $1.62 billion in punitive damages. This group of 22 ovarian cancer victims-- all of whom developed ovarian cancer from J&J’s baby powder-- has now received the sixth largest award in U.S. legal history.