So far in 2016, juries have awarded large verdicts against Johnson & Johnson in two separate talcum powder lawsuits. In January, an Alabama jury in a talcum powder lawsuit awarded $72 million against Johnson & Johnson. Earlier this week, a Missouri jury returned a verdict against J&J for $55 million. Both cases involved women who used talcum powder products and later died from ovarian cancer. The jury in both cases believed that Johnson & Johnson’s talcum powder products caused these cancers.
The plaintiffs in these talcum powder lawsuits relied on testimony from researches who found that women who regularly used talc near their genital area were up to 40 percent more likely to develop ovarian cancer. Attorneys for the plaintiffs argued that J&J knew about the link between talcum powder and ovarian cancer for more than 30 years.
The plaintiffs’ experts also testified that up to 10% of all ovarian cancer cases are related to the use of talcum powder which translates into about 1500 ovarian cancer deaths per year.
Not surprisingly, Johnson & Johnson disputes this evidence, arguing that there is no scientific link between its products and ovarian cancer. However, the evidence produced by J&J in these recent talcum powder lawsuits failed to persuade the juries that the products containing talc are safe.
The Columbus, Ohio law firm of Clark, Perdue & List continues to evaluate cases in which women have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer after prolonged use of talcum powder products.
Source: AP, Another big verdict in talc case against Johnson & Johnson, May 3, 2016.