Talcum Powder Lawsuit Verdicts and Settlements

Several hundred lawsuits have been filed and thousands more are being investigated for claims that talcum powder in several popular Johnson and Johnson products causes ovarian cancer. One firm alone has over 1,000 lawsuits pending trial in St. Louis, and 200 more lawsuits pending trial in New Jersey.

Studies have shown that regularly applying talcum powder to the pelvic area can lead to ovarian cancer, and Johnson and Johnson has known about this risk for decades. Now, several highly publicized verdicts have gone against Johnson and Johnson, raising awareness of the link between talc and ovarian cancer.

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Johnson and Johnson has been ordered to pay over $700 Million in damages for talcum powder ovarian cancer lawsuits.


$417 Million Talcum Powder Lawsuit Verdict Against Johnson and Johnson – First California Case

Eva Echeverria, of California, used Johnson & Johnson’s talc containing baby powder daily for over 60 years. In 2007, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and after learning about the potential link between talcum powder and ovarian cancer, she filed a lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson.

In August, 2017 she was awarded a record $347 million in punitive damages and 70 million in compensatory damages.

$110 Million Talcum Powder Lawsuit Verdict Against Johnson and Johnson

Lois Slemp, of Virginia, had filed a lawsuit against J&J alleging she developed ovarian cancer in 2012 after using the company’s Baby Powder and Shower to Shower products daily for 40 years.

On May 4, 2017, a Missouri jury awarded $66 million from J&J, $39 million from J&J Consumer and $50,000 from Imerys, J&J talc supplier, in punitive damages. The jury also awarded Slemp $5.4 million in compensatory damages and ascribed 99 percent of the fault to the two J&J entities and 1 percent of the fault to co-defendant Imerys.

$70 Million Talcum Powder Lawsuit Verdict Against Johnson and Johnson

Deborah Giannecchini of Modesto, California had used Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder for over 40 years before she was diagnosed with stage 4 ovarian cancer.

After doctors discovered talc in her ovaries, she filed a lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson.

In October 2016, a St. Louis jury awarded $67.5 million in punitive damages and over $2.5 million in compensatory damages to Giannecchini.

$55 Million Talcum Powder Lawsuit Verdict Against Johnson and Johnson

Gloria Ristesund, from South Dakota, has filed a lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson, after she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer after decades of use of the company’s talc-containing products.

In may 2016, Missouri state court awarded Ristesund with $5 million in compensatory damages and $50 million in punitive damages. Her cancer is now in remission.

$72 Million Talcum Powder Lawsuit Verdict Against Johnson and Johnson

In February, a jury in St. Louis awarded $72 million to the relatives of an Alabama woman who died of ovarian cancer. Damages awarded in the case were $10 million for medical expenses and $62 million in punitive damages.

This was the first case to result in monetary damages against Johnson and Johnson, but thousands of cases are waiting to be filed and many women are just now learning of potential risk of ovarian cancer from talcum powder.

Berg v. Johnson and Johnson – The First Talcum Powder Cancer Lawsuit

The first case filed against Johnson and Johnson was Berg v. Johnson and Johnson.

In this case, cancerous tissues were removed from her body and analyzed by three separate doctors. In each analysis, particles of talc were found embedded in the tissue in her ovaries, leading to the conclusion that the talcum powder caused the cancer.

The judge concluded that Johnson and Johnson was negligent for not warning consumers about the potential risks.


No Warnings Provided About the Risk of Ovarian Cancer from Talcum Powder

“One blockbuster jury award can be written off as a fluke…when you have two, it starts to look like a trend, and a very worrying one for Johnson & Johnson.”Nora Freeman Engstrom, a Stanford University law professor.

Talcum powder lawyers are arguing that Johnson & Johnson knew of the possible risk of ovarian cancer associated with talcum powder. Several internal studies conducted at Johnson & Johnson raised the possibility that talc use could cause ovarian cancer, but the company did not provide any warnings to users of the products.

Because products containing talc such as Baby Powder and Shower to Shower are classified as cosmetics and body products, the FDA does not require the products to undergo FDA review. These products do not require the same strict labeling that pharmaceutical products have.

The lawsuits argue that Johnson and Johnson have provided no warnings at all about the potential risk of ovarian cancer from their products.

In fact, the marketing campaigns for Baby Powder and Shower to Shower products promoted that the products were safe to use on the entire body. They even directly encourage use in the pelvic region in some statements. A sample of these statements from the Shower to Shower website include:

  • “SHOWER to SHOWER® can be used all over your body. Also great to use to freshen up shoes, bed sheets and pajamas!”
  • “Your body perspires in more places than just under the arms. Use SHOWER to SHOWER® to feel dry, fresh and comfortable throughout the day.”
  • “When the heat of summer turns up, a sprinkle of SHOWER to SHOWER® helps to cool you down all over!”
  • “Sprinkle on problem areas to soothe skin that has been irritated from friction. Apply after a bikini wax to help reduce irritation and discomfort.”

Data on Talcum Powder and Ovarian Cancer

Many studies have been conducted on the link between talc and ovarian cancer, and many of the results have been mixed. However, many leading authorities in cancer and public health acknowledge that talc can cause ovarian cancer if it is lodged in the ovaries.

The American Cancer Society acknowledges that talc, in baby powder and body powder, could cause ovarian cancer if the powder comes in contact with the genital area and ovaries.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies talc as “possibly carcinogenic to humans” for perineal use.

Talcum Powder Ovarian Cancer Lawyers

Our lawyers have helped our clients recover billions of dollars in damages for injuries from dangerous drugs. If we file a talcum powder lawsuit on your behalf, we will attempt to recover compensation for your medical bills, pain, and other expenses as a result of your talcum powder injuries.

If you were diagnosed with ovarian cancer and used talcum powder products for feminine hygiene in the past, you may be eligible to participate in the class action talcum powder lawsuits.

We are proud to provide free legal consultations to anyone who wishes to get more information about these lawsuits. Don’t wait – talk to an attorney today to get more information about talcum powder lawsuits.

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If you or a loved one used talcum powder and developed ovarian cancer, contact us today for a free, no obligation case evaluation.

The use of this contact form does not create an attorney-client relationship and is for informational purposes to determine if you have a valid case. For more information or to speak directly with an attorney, please contact us at 1-215-923-9300.