Johnson & Johnson Offer $6.5 Billion in Talcum Lawsuits Settlement
Johnson & Johnson, the global company known for its gentle baby powder and baby soap products, has offered a settlement to resolve about 40,000 talcum powder lawsuits filed against it. Johnson & Johnson has proposed a $65 billion settlement that would be paid out over the next 25 years to those who have had cancer due to using the company's talcum-based products, namely its baby powder. The claimants in these lawsuits will have three months to decide whether to accept or reject the proposed settlement.
Talcum Lawsuits Against Johnson & Johnson
Thousands of women nationwide filed lawsuits in recent years against Johnson and Johnson following the use and harm of the company's talcum-based products. While their product names may include "baby," their baby powder has been far from safe for consumers despite their constant insistence otherwise. The bulk of these lawsuits have been filed by women suffering from ovarian cancer after consistently using Johnson & Johnson baby powder. A smaller subset of lawsuits alleges the company's products have caused a different form of cancer, mesothelioma, which is an aggressive form of lung cancer. The complainants have argued that Johnson & Johnson marketed its baby powder as safe for decades despite knowing it contained ingredients that could cause cancer.
How Talcum-Based Products Cause Cancer
Talcum is a mineral found in mountain ranges, mainly in the Appalachian Mountains in the U.S. While harmless on its own, talcum is often found near asbestos in nature. Because of the close proximity of the two minerals, it is common for talcum to become contaminated with asbestos during the talcum mining process. Asbestos is a known carcinogen linked to numerous cancers. While talcum is not always contaminated with asbestos, it is far from uncommon.
The presence of asbestos-contaminated talcum in Johnson & Johnson products has been on the company's radar since the 1970s when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) began discussing setting limits on asbestos in cosmetic talcum products. At the time, Johnson & Johnson failed to notify regulators that its testing revealed the asbestos levels in its products were "rather high."
When asbestos-contaminated talcum comes into contact with the reproductive tract, microscopic asbestos fibers can travel to the ovaries and cause inflammation, leading to the development of ovarian cancer. According to the National Center for Health Research, women who have used talcum powder are about 30% more likely to develop ovarian cancer than those who have not used talcum-based products.
Johnson & Johnson Halts Sales of Talcum-Based Products
Following this string of lawsuits throughout the U.S. and Canada, Johnson & Johnson stopped selling talc-containing baby powder, switching to a corn starch formulation instead. U.S. and Canada sales of the talc-based baby powder ended in 2020, while the company halted sales globally in 2023.
You Need an Experienced Attorney
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer that you believe may be linked to the use of a talcum-based product, Madeksho Law can help. Since 1972, our seasoned asbestos attorneys have fought to get our clients the justice they deserve. Contact us online or call 888-910-MESO (6376) now.
