A California court has awarded $40 million to two women who claimed their ovarian cancer was a result of prolonged usage of Johnson & Johnson’s talcum-based baby powder. The Los Angeles Superior Court jury distributed the payout, allotting $18 million to Monica Kent and $22 million to both Deborah Schultz and her husband. This decision was made following the conclusion that Johnson & Johnson was aware of the potential harm their products could cause for several years, yet failed to notify consumers.
Erik Haas, the current vice president of litigation at Johnson & Johnson on a global scale, announced the company’s intention to appeal the ruling. He expressed confidence that they would eventually emerge victorious, as they typically do in similar cases of adverse verdicts.
Monica Kent received her ovarian cancer diagnosis in 2014, while Schultz got hers in 2018. Both women, residents of California, reported regular usage of Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder post-bath for around four decades. The pair also testified that their treatments for ovarian cancer included significant surgeries and multiple rounds of chemotherapy.
According to Andy Birchfield, the women’s attorney, Johnson & Johnson knew as early as the 1960s that their product was potentially carcinogenic. He accused the company of actively trying to suppress this information from public knowledge.
In response, Allison Brown, Johnson & Johnson’s attorney, insisted that the only people to link the women’s cancers to talc were their legal representatives. Brown argued the alleged connection lacks the support of any significant US health authority and no study exists to prove talc can move from the exterior of the body to reproductive organs.
Currently, the company faces over 67,000 lawsuits from plaintiffs alleging that they developed cancer following the usage of Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder and other talc products. Despite this, the corporation maintains that its products are safe, asbestos-free, and do not cause cancer. In 2020, Johnson & Johnson ceased the sale of talc-based baby powder in the US, instead opting for a cornstarch product.
Johnson & Johnson also attempted to address the litigation via bankruptcy. However, this approach has been dismissed thrice by federal courts, most recently in April. Prior to these bankruptcy attempts, Johnson & Johnson had a mixed track record in talc trials, with some verdicts reaching as high as $4.69 billion awarded to women claiming the baby powder caused their ovarian cancer.
Most of the lawsuits Johnson & Johnson faces are related to ovarian cancer claims. A smaller segment of the claims alleges that talc caused a rare and lethal cancer known as mesothelioma. Over the past year, the company has seen multiple substantial verdicts in mesothelioma cases, including a verdict exceeding $900 million in Los Angeles last October.
What was the amount awarded to the women claiming Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder caused their ovarian cancer?
The Los Angeles Superior Court jury awarded a total of $40 million to the two women; $18 million to Monica Kent and $22 million to Deborah Schultz.
What is Johnson & Johnson’s stance on the issue?
Johnson & Johnson maintains the position that their products are safe, free from asbestos, and do not cause cancer. They have every intention to appeal the recent verdict.
What other lawsuits is Johnson & Johnson facing related to its talc products?
Johnson & Johnson is currently facing over 67,000 similar lawsuits from plaintiffs who claim their cancers were caused by the use of the company’s baby powder and other talc-based products.
