Women with ovarian and cervical cancer are suing Johnson & Johnson and winning talcum powder settlement awards. While Johnson’s^® baby powder and Shower to Shower^® body powder products seem harmless, plaintiffs say otherwise. Lawsuit allegations say the drug giant failed to warn consumers about potential talcum powder dangers, including cancer.

Despite the many lawsuits filed against Johnson & Johnson for its talc-based products, the company only recently halted talcum powder sales in May 2020. This move came after a voluntary October 2019 recall, when FDA testing found asbestos in a lot of 33,000 bottles. Recent jury rulings in favor of plaintiffs show Johnson & Johnson hasn’t just been negligent. In fact, courts see the company’s behavior as actively conspiratorial. That’s due to withholding information about prolonged genital talcum powder use increasing women’s cancer risks and failing to add warnings on product labels. As a result, thousands of women who may have potentially avoided it developed ovarian cancer. These women now seek justice in court.

Initial Talcum Powder Settlement Offer Rejected; Many Later Cases Ruled In Plaintiff’s Favor

Deane Berg filed the first lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson alleging her ovarian cancer was caused by the company’s talc-based products. Though Berg’s trial wasn’t until 2013, she was diagnosed with cancer in 2006 after using J&J’s talc products for decades. Doctors examined Berg’s cancerous tissue and concluded talcum powder was responsible for her ultimately fatal disease.

For this reason, the jury found Johnson & Johnson guilty of negligence and failing to warn consumers about ovarian cancer risks from long-term talc use. Although Berg didn’t win damages, she and her lawyers expressed gratitude to the jury for legitimizing her claims. As a result, Berg’s ruling paved the path for more than 16,800 additional lawsuits now pending against the company.

Talcum Powder Settlement History

Since Berg’s trial, other women eager to resolve their claims have stepped forward with similar stories. Individual plaintiffs winning talcum powder settlement awards are rising. Stephen Lanzo, Joanne Anderson, Terry Leavitt, Patricia Schmitz and Donna Olson all developed mesothelioma. Those plaintiffs blamed their mesothelioma, a rare but deadly form of lung cancer, on decades of talcum powder use. Juries in all cases found J&J guilty of negligence, conspiracy, and failure to warn consumers about talcum powder’s dangers.

How Much Is A Typical Talcum Powder Settlement Worth?

Despite evidence linking genital talc use with increased ovarian cancer risk, J&J still markets their products for feminine hygiene. And the link between asbestos and mesothelioma is well-established, supporting recent talc verdicts for various plaintiffs. Despite incriminating evidence, Johnson & Johnson execs still refuse to issue talc product warnings — but other companies have. Due to growing concern in the 1990s over the link between the mineral’s use and ovarian cancer, the condom industry stopped using talc altogether. After that, talc suppliers added warning labels on any products sold directly to Johnson & Johnson. And yet, the company still refuses to warn consumers about talcum powder’s potential risks.

Allegations In Talcum Powder Settlement Cases

Some of the most common talcum powder lawsuit allegations include:

• Talc-based product manufacturers knew for decades that baby powder can cause women to develop ovarian cancer, yet failed to warn the public.
• Also, women using talcum powder for personal hygiene maintenance are at higher risk for developing certain cancers.
• Despite studies linking talc-based products and cancer, J&J hasn’t replaced talc with a safe, proven substitute like cornstarch.
• Further, J&J is charged with concealing evidence about talcum powder use dangers from both consumers and the government.
• J&J knowingly deleted, omitted or altered data going back to 1974 showing its products tested positive for asbestos.
• In conclusion, refusing to add a warning label to talc-based products that might otherwise prevent women from contracting cancer amounts to gross negligence on the company’s behalf.

July 2018 Settlement Totaled Nearly $5 Billion in Damages

One 2018 talcum powder settlement is the second-largest mass tort verdict in U.S. history. In July 2018, a St. Louis jury awarded 22 ovarian cancer plaintiffs $2.12 billion in damages. Internal documents produced at trial show that J&J knew its products tested positive for asbestos, but didn’t warn consumers. This is the first trial specifically alleging asbestos in J&J’s talc-based products caused ovarian cancer.

Other Recent Talcum Powder Verdicts & Cash Settlement Amounts

Other notable verdicts with significant cash settlements include:

• April 2018: Stephen Lanzo and his wife won a $117 million talc verdict against J&J. The couple alleged that regular talc use over a 30-year period led Lanzo to develop the fatal lung cancer.
• May 2018: 68-year-old Joanne Anderson won a $26 million talcum powder settlement after a jury held J&J 67% liable for her mesothelioma.
• March 2019: An Oakland jury awarded Terry Leavitt $29.4 million in damages for her terminal mesothelioma. Leavitt testified she used J&J’s talc-based baby and body powders during the 1960s and 1970s.
• May 2019: A Manhattan jury awarded mesothelioma plaintiff Donna Olson $325 million in damages. Olson’s lawsuit blamed her rare cancer diagnosis on asbestos found in Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower-to-Shower products.
• June 2019: Meso plaintiff Patricia Schmitz, 61, wins a $10 million talcum powder settlement. An Oakland jury found J&J 40% responsible for the woman’s cancer, along with co-defendants Colgate-Palmolive (40%) and Avon Products, Inc. (20%).
• September 2019: A New Jersey jury awarded four mesothelioma plaintiffs a $37.3 million talcum powder settlement. However, this award only covers real damages. A second trial to determine whether to award any punitive damages in this case is still currently pending.
• September 2019: 71-year-old Idaho resident Nancy Cabibi won a $40 million talcum powder settlement from Johnson & Johnson. A Los Angeles jury determined that asbestos in Johnson’s Baby Powder led the plaintiff to develop pleural mesothelioma in 2017.

If either you or a loved one developed cancer after prolonged talcum powder use, you may have a case. To check your eligibility for a cash settlement, click the button below now. Once you’ve completed your review and submitted your information, a lawyer will call to discuss your claim.