In what appears to be the largest mesothelioma verdict ever, a jury in Los Angeles ruled Johnson & Johnson must pay a staggering $966 million to the family of a woman who died of mesothelioma.
Johnson & Johnson has been hit time and time again with lawsuit verdicts in cases involving people who developed mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer. The verdicts are deserved, as they center around the dangers of people using Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder.
However, most of the verdicts are for a few million – maybe a few tens of millions – of dollars. Rarely do verdicts eclipse $100 million. Even more rare are those topping $200 million.
But $966 million? This is the largest mesothelioma verdict ever against Johnson & Johnson, according to Mesothelioma Guide’s records and reporting. In fact, it appears to be the largest mesothelioma verdict ever regardless of the defendant or product.
Mesothelioma Cancer Link to Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder
Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder was one of the top baby powder products on the consumer market for decades. Made with the natural mineral tac, the powder was primarily used on babies and small children to absorb moisture and keep skin healthy and clean.
Talc is found in the earth’s soil. So is asbestos, which is a natural mineral prized in the 20th century for industrial uses. Asbestos is linked to several cancers, though. Tiny asbestos fibers can be inhaled or ingested and irritate cell linings near the lungs, abdominal cavity, heart or testes.
Science has not confirmed any direct link between mesothelioma and exposure to talc. However, talc can combine with asbestos during mining and extraction from soil. Talc is ground into a powder for baby powder, and sharp asbestos fibers can hide within the powder.
Through this process, Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder can contain asbestos inadvertently. Tests conducted several years ago detected asbestos in samples. Other research links the powder to asbestos exposure. Lawsuits for mesothelioma and other types of cancer began piling on in the 21st century.
Johnson & Johnson, Facing Lawsuits, Ends Talc Powder
In 2020, Johnson & Johnson stopped manufacturing and selling the talc form of the company’s baby powder. The company currently makes a cornstarch-based baby powder, which is considered safe. The decision, the company said at the time, is due to the flood of lawsuits the company faces from cancer victims.
Even so, the company refuses to admit the talc baby powder was unsafe and continues fighting lawsuits – even after scientific connection between Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder and cancer.
Johnson & Johnson faces approximately 60,000 pending cancer lawsuits from the baby powder, mostly from women who developed ovarian cancer. The premise of the lawsuits is that Johnson & Johnson not only exposed people to asbestos through the talc baby powder but also ignored evidence of asbestos contamination and did not warn consumers despite company leaders’ internal awareness of the dangers.
Some of the lawsuits are from people affected by mesothelioma, such as the woman and family in this particular high-profile case.
$950 in Punitive Damages Against Johnson & Johnson
The $966 million verdict is for a case filed by the family of Mae Moore, who died of mesothelioma in 2021. The family accuses Johnson & Johnson of selling baby powder contaminated with asbestos fibers.
Asbestos is the only cause of mesothelioma, which is a cancer that spreads swiftly. Tumors can reach vital organs within months, and the average survival rate for this disease is just 1-2 years.
The verdict in this case is so extreme due to the $950 million in punitive damages. Verdicts feature compensatory damages and punitive damages. Compensatory damages are what the court feels the victim should receive for the pain and suffering they endured. In this case, the $16 million in compensatory damages are given to the family for the family’s loss of life and medical expenses.
Punitive damages are what the court feels the at-fault company should pay as punishment. In this case, the $950 million in punitive damages is probably to set an example and ensure other companies do not repeat the same mistakes as Johnson & Johnson.
The verdict could be – and likely will be – reduced on an appeal. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that punitive damages should not be more than nine times the compensatory damages. Nine times $16 million would equal $144 million.
Johnson & Johnson Bankruptcy Filings
Johnson & Johnson tried three times to avoid verdicts such as this one. The company tried a bankruptcy strategy called the Texas Two-Step to shift all legal liabilities to another, bankrupt, company.
The process requires companies to create a subsidiary company to carry legal liabilities. This shell company then goes bankrupt, which prevents them from being sued. The only legal option for victims to receive compensation is filing claims with an asbestos trust fund, which is a bank account created through the subsidiary company with predetermined payment amounts to victims.
All three attempts from Johnson & Johnson to do this failed. Courts blocked each attempt, leaving the company guardless against facing more lawsuits.
Other Major Mesothelioma Lawsuit Verdicts Against Johnson & Johnson
The largest known verdict in a cancer lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson came in 2018. Twenty two women with ovarian cancer were awarded $4.7 billion. The amount was later reduced to $2 billion, which is still a staggering amount of nearly $100 million for each of the 22 women filing suit.
Other large mesothelioma verdicts against Johnson & Johnson include:
- A Brooklyn woman was awarded $325 million by a Manhattan jury in 2019.
- Four people with mesothelioma received $750 million from a New Jersey jury in 2020. The amount was lowered to $185 million.
- A woman received $260 million from an Oregon jury in 2024.
- A man was awarded $63 million from a South Carolina jury in 2024.
Finding Help for Johnson & Johnson Mesothelioma Claims
Anyone who has mesothelioma was exposed to asbestos at some point in their life. If they know they were exposed to Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder, then this product could be the reason for their cancer.
Many people’s parents used Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder on them during infancy and newborn stages of childhood. Some people continued using the powder as adults on their skin or their children. Any of these uses could release asbestos fibers capable of causing cancer if breathed in or swallowed.
Have mesothelioma, know you’ve been exposed to Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder, and want to discuss options? Contact our team of patient advocates, led by Carl Jewett.
You could receive a significant amount of compensation to help cover medical bills, lost wages, and many more hardships caused by your mesothelioma diagnosis. Email Carl at cjewett@mesotheliomaguide.com for immediate help and to get started discussing your options.
Sources & Author
- Johnson & Johnson ordered to pay $966 million after jury finds company liable in talc cancer case. CNBC. Retrieved from: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/07/johnson-johnson-ordered-to-pay-966-million-after-jury-finds-company-liable-in-talc-cancer-case.html. Accessed: 10/11/2025.
- Johnson & Johnson ordered to pay $966 million in talc cancer case after jury finds company liable. Reuters. Retrieved from: https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/johnson-johnson-ordered-pay-966-million-after-jury-finds-company-liable-talc-2025-10-07/. Accessed: 10/11/2025.
