On Thursday, May 4, a St. Louis jury ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $110.5 million to a Virginia woman who says her ovarian cancer diagnosis was caused by the company’s talc-based products. In the fifth talcum powder lawsuit to go to trial, the jury ruled against Johnson & Johnson and its product supplier Imerys Talc America and awarded the largest talcum powder verdict to-date.

The lawsuit claimed that Johnson & Johnson failed to warn consumers about the cancer risks associated with its talc-based products Baby Powder and Shower to Shower. The 62-year-old woman stated that she used the company’s talcum powder products for feminine hygiene for more than 40 years before she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2012. She is currently undergoing chemotherapy after her cancer returned and spread to her liver. She was too ill to attend the trial.

The jury placed 99 percent of fault on Johnson & Johnson and just one percent on Imerys. It awarded $5.4 million in compensatory damages and a total of $105,000 in punitive damages, $50,000 of which was assigned to Imerys.

Previous Talcum Powder Lawsuit Verdicts

Thursday’s verdict is the third to be awarded against Johnson & Johnson over its talcum powder products. Three other St. Louis juries also reached similar conclusions within the last 15 months for a combined $307.6 million. The three verdicts included:

  • $70 million in October 2016
  • $55 million in May 2016
  • $72 million in February 2016

So far, Johnson & Johnson has only won one case in which a Tennessee woman claimed she developed cancer after using Baby Powder. That ruling was issued in March of this year. The company is facing approximately 2,400 talcum powder lawsuits. The next cases to go to trial will be heard in June in St. Louis and in July in California.

What is Talcum Powder?

Talcum powder is made from talc, a soft mineral that is crushed into a white powder. It has been widely used in cosmetics and personal hygiene products for decades, as it can easily absorb moisture. Many women regularly use talcum powder products, such as Baby Powder and Shower to Shower, around the genital area for personal hygiene. This practice, however, has been the subject of much debate as it may be linked to ovarian cancer.

Unfortunately, there is no way to identify the exact cause of cancer, and many studies have produced contradicting results about the cancer-causing effects of talc. However, several studies have linked the products to ovarian cancer, and the Agency for Research on Cancer, which is a part of the World Health Organization, lists talc as a potential cause of cancer. Ovarian cancer is a rare and deadly cancer that affects approximately 21,000 U.S. women every year. Unfortunately, it is often diagnosed too late and most women die as a result.

Have You Been Diagnosed with Cancer After Using Talcum Powder?

If you have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer after long-term use of talcum powder products, you should contact the product liability lawyers at Goldberg Finnegan as soon as possible. If your cancer is linked to talcum powder, you may have legal options and may be entitled to compensation for your pain and suffering, medical expenses, cancer treatment, surgeries, lost wages, and more.

Our team has the skills and experience to build a strong case on your behalf to help you obtain the justice and compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a free, no obligation consultation with our team. We work on a contingency fee basis, and will charge no upfront costs or other fees unless we recover compensation for you.

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