Pennsylvania Jury Holds Johnson & Johnson Liable in Talc Cancer Case

• The jury awarded $50,000 in compensatory damages and $200,000 in punitive damages, finding J&J failed to warn consumers despite knowing the dangers of its talc-based products
• J&J faces more than 67,000 lawsuits over talc products and has attempted bankruptcy three times to resolve litigation, all rejected by federal courts, with the most recent rejection in April 2024
• A January ruling allowed federal plaintiffs to present expert testimony linking baby powder to ovarian cancer, potentially opening the door for federal trials after multiple state court cases are scheduled in coming months

Summary: Pennsylvania Jury Holds Johnson & Johnson Liable in Talc Cancer Case

A Pennsylvania jury awarded $250,000 to the family of Gayle Emerson, who died of ovarian cancer allegedly linked to Johnson & Johnson's talc-based baby powder. The verdict included $50,000 in compensatory damages and $200,000 in punitive damages.

Key Details:

• Emerson used J&J baby powder from 1969 to 2017, was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2015, and died in 2019 at age 68
• This was the second ovarian cancer trial since J&J's latest bankruptcy attempt ended
• J&J faces over 67,000 lawsuits alleging its talc products contained asbestos and caused ovarian and other cancers

Company Response:

J&J maintains its products are safe, asbestos-free, and don't cause cancer. The company discontinued talc-based baby powder in the U.S. in 2020, replacing it with a cornstarch formula.

Legal Strategy:

J&J has attempted to resolve litigation through bankruptcy three times, all rejected by federal courts, most recently in April 2024. The bankruptcy proceedings had paused most ovarian cancer cases.

Recent Developments:

• December 2024: California jury awarded $40 million to two women in the first post-bankruptcy ovarian cancer trial
• January 2025: Federal magistrate judge ruled plaintiffs can present expert testimony linking baby powder to ovarian cancer; J&J plans to appeal
• Several state court trials scheduled for coming months
• Historically, J&J has had mixed trial results

Most lawsuits involve ovarian cancer claims, with a smaller portion alleging talc caused mesothelioma. No nationwide settlement has been reached.