J&J beats lawsuit alleging that talc caused three women’s cancer

A Los Angeles jury has ruled in favor of Johnson & Johnson, finding the company not negligent in a lawsuit that claimed its talc products caused ovarian cancer. The verdict on Saturday sided with J&J in the case brought by the families of three women who died from the disease after using the company's talc-based baby powder.

More than 67,000 plaintiffs have filed lawsuits against J&J, alleging that its baby powder and other talc products are linked to ovarian cancer. While the company has seen success in some trials, including an Oklahoma case last week, juries have also awarded significant damages to plaintiffs in other instances.

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The case was based on “junk science.”

Johnson & Johnson ceased selling talc-based baby powder in the United States in 2020, transitioning to a cornstarch-based product. Erik Haas, J&J's vice president of litigation, described the lawsuit's basis as "junk science." However, lawyer Ari Friedman, representing one of the plaintiffs, called the verdict "disappointing."

J&J has reached settlements in the majority of cases alleging its products caused mesothelioma, a rare cancer associated with asbestos exposure. The remaining lawsuits primarily focus on the alleged link between talc products and ovarian cancer.

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The verdict is “disappointing.”