A Los Angeles jury awarded $40 million to two women who said they developed ovarian cancer after using talcum powder products made by Johnson and Johnson. The verdict adds to ongoing litigation involving claims that talc-based powders caused serious health conditions. Johnson and Johnson stated that it plans to appeal the decision.
Overview of the Verdict
On Friday, the jury awarded a total of $40 million in compensatory damages. Monica Kent received $18 million, while Deborah Schultz and her husband received $22 million. The plaintiffs argued that long-term use of Johnson and Johnson talcum powder products caused their ovarian cancer.
According to court statements, the women used Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower to Shower body powder for decades. Their attorney, Daniel Robinson of the Robinson Calcagnie law firm in Newport Beach, California, said the plaintiffs remained loyal customers for approximately 50 years.
Company Response
Johnson and Johnson said it will appeal both the jury’s liability finding and the compensatory damages award. Erik Haas, the company’s worldwide vice president of litigation, addressed the verdict in a statement. He said Johnson and Johnson had won 16 of the 17 ovarian cancer cases it previously tried. He added that the company expects the same outcome when it appeals this verdict.
Context of Ongoing Litigation
This case represents the latest development in a long-running legal battle involving claims that talc used in Johnson and Johnson powder products caused cancer. Plaintiffs have linked talc exposure to ovarian cancer and mesothelioma, which is a cancer affecting the lungs and other organs.
Johnson and Johnson stopped selling talc-based powder products worldwide in 2023. The company has faced thousands of lawsuits related to these claims over several years.
Related California Verdict
Earlier this year, another California jury ordered Johnson and Johnson to pay $966 million to the family of a woman who died of mesothelioma. In that case, the jury found that asbestos contamination in baby powder caused the illness. That verdict occurred in October and involved a separate set of claims and plaintiffs.
Key Facts at a Glance
• A Los Angeles jury awarded $40 million to two ovarian cancer patients
• Monica Kent received $18 million, and Deborah Schultz and her husband received $22 million
• Johnson and Johnson plans to appeal the verdict
• The company stopped selling talc-based powders globally in 2023
• A separate California jury awarded $966 million in a mesothelioma case in October
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