We have won more than $40 billion in jury verdicts and settlements and have been in business for almost 70 years.
More than 50,000 lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson claim the company’s talcum powder products cause ovarian cancer and mesothelioma. Multiple jury verdicts against Johnson & Johnson suggest the average settlement for talcum powder lawsuits could be substantial.
Our talcum powder lawsuit lawyers have access to volumes of scientific studies aimed at answering, “Does talc cause cancer?” We are fighting to get fair compensation for women who developed ovarian cancer or mesothelioma after using Johnson’s Baby Powder, Shower to Shower, and other talc-based products.
Our firm has been involved in the talcum powder lawsuits since day one. Levin Papantonio Attorney Chris Tisi was appointed to serve as a member of the Plaintiffs’ Steering Committee (PSC) in the national talc multidistrict litigation. Steering committees help guide preparations and strategy during the legal process in an MDL.
For over 70 years, Levin Papantonio has successfully helped thousands of clients across the country with all types of products liability and personal injury claims. We are considered an authority in mass tort lawsuits. Our law firm has secured over 150 jury verdicts of $1 million or more and achieved verdicts and settlements totaling more than $40 billion. Our lawyers will put this experience and knowledge to work for you.
Our product liability lawyers want to keep you informed about talcum powder lawsuits. Check back on a monthly basis for Johnson & Johnson lawsuit update 2023.
July 2024 Talcum Powder Lawsuits Updates
This month, the International Agency for Resarch on Cancer (IARC)–an agency affiliated with the World Health Organization–announced it had reclassified talc as a probable cause of ovarian cancer. The decision validated what talc cancer plaintiffs’ attorneys have been arguing for years.
On July 19, 2024, Reuters reported that a New Jersey judge on Friday rejected Johnson & Johnson’s attempt to disqualify the law firm Beasley Allen from representing plaintiffs who claim they got cancer from the company’s talc products. Judge John Porto of the New Jersey Superior Court ruled that J&J had not provided “any credible basis” for its claims that Beasley Allen partner Andy Birchfield had an unethical alliance with one of the company’s former lawyers.
June 2024 Talcum Powder Lawsuits Updates
On June 11, 2024, plaintiffs’ lawyers in the talc cancer MDL issued a statement cautioning other plaintiffs’ attorneys to thoroughly review documents and digest the science before recommending their clients accept J&J’s prepackaged Chapter 11 plan.
On June 20, 2024, plaintiffs’ attorneys published a list of more than 60 law firms that oppose the J&J prepack plan.
May 2024 Talcum Powder Lawsuits Updates
On May 22, 2024, plaintiffs initiated a class action lawsuit (Murphy et al. v. LTL Management Inc. et al., Case No. 3:24-CV-06320 (D. N.J.)) on behalf of women and families whose talc-cancer cases were delayed due to Johnson & Johnson’s (J&J) alleged manipulation of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code.
The complaint asserts that the defendants fraudulently engaged in a scheme to transfer assets through two bad faith bankruptcy filings, aiming to limit their liability for talc claims. This maneuvering, according to the suit, caused a two-year delay in scheduled trials and other forms of resolution.
Earlier in May, a groundbreaking study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology revealed a significant connection between the use of genital talc and an increased risk of ovarian cancer. The research indicates that this risk is higher for individuals who used talc powder frequently or over extended periods.
On May 1, 2024, mass tort firms Levin Papantonio and Beasley Allen Law Firm issued a letter to the legal community warning about Johnson & Johnson’s “prepackaged” Chapter 11 proposal. Following two failed bankruptcy attempts, J&J is now directly seeking settlements from law firms for talc powder ovarian cancer lawsuits at reduced values.
For the settlement to be approved, 75% of plaintiffs, who developed mesothelioma or ovarian cancer from J&J’s talc powder, must agree to the terms. LP Attorney Mike Papantonio and Beasley Allen Law Firm Attorney Andy Birchfield cautioned in a letter that J&J is attempting a “ballot-stuffing” tactic to secure this supermajority vote. They claim J&J is trying to include weaker claims to sway the vote, avoiding a fair decision by those genuinely affected.
November 2023 Talcum Powder Lawsuits Updates
With at least 18 talc-ovarian cancer trials scheduled in state courts for the upcoming year, the initiative seeks to empower lawyers to effectively navigate these legal proceedings. This talc litigation bootcamp is strategically timed ahead of an anticipated third bankruptcy filing by J&J’s LTL Management subsidiary.
This move by the pharmaceutical giant is intended to further postpone ongoing and future talc trials related to talcum powder products liability litigation. Presently, over 50,000 plaintiffs involved in the multidistrict litigation (MDL) claim that J&J’s talc products are responsible for the development of ovarian cancer among the claimants.
July 2023 Talcum Powder Lawsuits Updates
U.S. Chief Bankruptcy Judge Michael Kaplan in the United States has rejected the second bankruptcy petition (Case No.: 23-12825) filed by Johnson & Johnson’s (J&J) subsidiary, LTL Management LLC. This decision has foiled J&J’s strategy of utilizing Chapter 11 as a method to address approximately 50,000 lawsuits that assert the company’s talc products were responsible for causing ovarian cancer among the claimants.
This legal action from J&J occurred shortly before a jury ruled in favor of a man who alleged developing mesothelioma due to prolonged use of Johnson’s talc-based baby powder. Emory Hernandez Valadez, the plaintiff, testified during the trial that he would have refrained from using J&J’s baby powder had the company informed him of asbestos contamination. Valadez was awarded $18.8 million in California, but the collection of the judgment is postponed due to J&J’s bankruptcy defense strategy.
The talc multidistrict litigation (MDL) against Johnson & Johnson (J&J) involves thousands of lawsuits related to their talcum powder products. As of June 2024, over 57,365 talcum powder lawsuits have been filed against J&J and consolidated in an MDL in New Jersey. These lawsuits allege that J&J’s talc-based baby powder was contaminated with asbestos and caused consumers to develop cancer.
According to the talcum powder lawsuits, J&J knew about the health risks of talc for over 40 years. The company chose not to tell women that the powder could cause cancer if it got into the lungs or vagina.
Since 2014, at least 12 juries have awarded over $6.5 billion in damages to consumers who filed lawsuits against J&J, claiming its talc-based powders caused their cancers, according to data from Bloomberg News.
Johnson & Johnson has experienced significant losses in jury trials like the Missouri verdict for ovarian cancer victims that ended up costing the company $2.1 billion. In June 2024, a person with mesothelioma—a deadly cancer that affects a thin layer of tissue covering many internal organs—won $260 million from an Oregon jury.
In May 2024, J&J proposed using a bankruptcy settlement plan to resolve talc-related ovarian cancer claims. This settlement plan would deprive victims to their right to a jury trial. The settlement plan would also seriously undercut claims for women who suffered significant damages from ovarian cancer.
Additionally, in January 2024, J&J tentatively agreed to a $700 million settlement with over 40 U.S. states regarding its talcum powder marketing.
In October 2019, Johnson & Johnson (J&J) recalled 33,000 bottles of Johnson’s Baby Powder after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found small amounts of asbestos in a tested sample. Asbestos is a known cancer-causing substance, which led to the recall.
IARC, an international authority on cancer-causing substances, upgraded its classification of talc from a “possible” ovarian carcinogen in 2006 to a “probable” ovarian carcinogen in its 2024 review.
The debate over talc started many years ago. In the 1970s, scientists found talc particles in ovarian tumors. By 1982, Harvard researcher Daniel Cramer linked talcum powder to ovarian cancer, and he suggested that Johnson & Johnson should warn about these risks. Cramer has often served as an expert witness in cases against the company.
Cramer’s research, along with other studies, showed that regular use of talcum powder might increase the risk of ovarian cancer. These studies typically compared women with ovarian cancer to those without it, asking them to recall their past use of talcum powder and other activities.
Researchers concluded that regular perineal use of talc-containing products can increase a woman’s risk of ovarian cancer by approximately 30%. The more often a woman uses talc powder, the more likely she will experience cancer.
The American Cancer Society suggests talcum powder might cause chronic inflammation in the genital area. This could happen if talc particles move up from the vagina through the uterus and into the fallopian tubes and ovaries. Besides coming into direct contact with the tissues, the powder might also reduce the effectiveness of some antibodies that help protect against cancer, which could increase the risk.
In 1999, the American Cancer Society recommended women use cornstarch-based products, and not talc-based products, for the genital area.
The average cost of ovarian cancer treatment during the first year alone is nearly $100,000, according to WebMD. In the first month of treatment, about a third of these expenses occur, with most of the remaining costs happening in the next five months. This includes outpatient services like:
Patients also need to consider indirect costs that go beyond medical care. For example, patients may miss work due to treatment. Research shows that people undergoing cancer treatments like chemotherapy miss around 22 more workdays per year than those without cancer. If you can’t work, you may lose income and work-based health insurance, meaning you have to pay your own premium.
Plaintiffs in talcum powder lawsuits seek recovery of these costs, as well as other damages.
Lawyers are often asked, “Has anyone received money from talcum powder lawsuits?”
The answer is, yes. Over the years, many juries have awarded substantial amounts in talc powder lawsuits. Consider the following:
Talc is a naturally occurring mineral used in many industries, like cosmetics, medicine, and food processing. Because it is found in so many products, people are worried about its potential health risks, especially its link to ovarian cancer.
Talcum powder is a soft, white powder made from refined magnesium silicate. It’s often used to absorb moisture and as a lubricant, and it’s the main ingredient in Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder and similar personal hygiene products for adults.
People like using talcum powder because it can absorb bad smells and keep the skin dry. Many have used it on underwear, shoes, and after changing baby diapers. It’s also used in condoms and diaphragms to reduce friction. Additionally, talc is found in many medical powders.
Women who use talcum powder on a frequent basis for personal hygiene have a 30% higher chance of getting cancer. The main talc products used for personal hygiene are:
In August 2022, Johnson & Johnson said they would stop making talc-based baby powder in 2023 and use cornstarch instead. J&J stopped selling talc powder in the U.S. and Canada in 2020.
Multiple scientific studies have aimed to answer the question, “Does talc cause cancer?” Here are some of the published findings:
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC)
IARC, a prominent international authority on carcinogenic substances, changed its 2006 classification of talc from a “possible” ovarian carcinogen (Group 2B) to a more worrisome “probable” ovarian carcinogen (Group 2A). The IARC’s 2024 review of talc, which was last looked at in 2006, highlights serious concerns.
Journal of Clinical Oncology
In early May 2024, this groundbreaking study revealed a strong link between the use of genital talc and an increased risk of ovarian cancer. The research shows that this risk is higher for individuals who used talc powder frequently or over long periods.
International Journal of Gynecological Cancer – Talc Ovarian Cancer Exposure
Using talc increased the risk of ovarian cancer by 30–60% in almost all well-designed studies. The Attributable Risk was 29%. This means that stopping the use of talc could protect more than a quarter of women who might develop ovarian cancer. Studies that looked at how often and how long women used talc found that those who used it more had a higher risk.
Live Science – Potential Talcum Powder Cancer Link
Dr. Daniel Cramer, a professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive biology at Harvard Medical School and director of the OB/GYN Epidemiology Center at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, conducted one of the earliest studies to suggest a link between genital talc use in women and cancer of the ovaries. In his opinion, there is evidence from about two-dozen epidemiological studies for a significant association between genital talc use and ovarian cancer.
European Journal for Cancer Prevention – Critical Review of Talc & Cancer
Talc, like asbestos, is a silicate that has been studied for its cancer risk. Over the past 25 years, many studies have found a link between talc powders used in the perineal area and ovarian cancer. The overall risk is about 1.3 times higher (with confidence intervals of 1.2-1.5), and these findings suggest that talc could cause cancer.
American Cancer Society – Risk Factors for Ovarian Cancer
Some studies suggest a very slight increase in risk of ovarian cancer in women who used talc on the genital area.
Obstetrics and Gynecology – Talc Use & Ovarian Cancer
A life-time pattern of perineal talc use may increase the risk for epithelial ovarian cancer.
International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology – Talc and Carcinoma
Researchers examined tissue from patients with ovarian and cervical tumours. In both conditions, talc particles were found deeply embedded within the tumour tissue.
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