The family of a New Orleans woman who died of mesothelioma in 2020 won a major victory in court last week, as a jury awarded her family a $10 million verdict against the pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson and four other defendants.
Lynne Roy’s two daughters began wrongful death proceedings against Johnson & Johnson and its codefendants soon after their mother’s death, and the case had been held up in court for years. After finally beginning a three-week jury trial in the Civil District Court for Orleans Parish, their long wait was vindicated with a large judgment in their favor.
“Lynne Roy was a lifelong resident of New Orleans and a prominent businesswoman who ran a multigenerational real estate company. She was a selfless, kind woman who dedicated much of her time in the service of others, helping many underprivileged families obtain homes,” said Jessica Dean, one of the Roy family’s attorneys. “Her two daughters had to wait over six years for their day in court in large part due to two bad faith bankruptcies initiated by Johnson & Johnson. They are incredibly grateful to the jury and court for being able to have their mother’s story heard.”
More on the Mesothelioma Lawsuit
Lynne Roy was a longtime prominent New Orleans-area real estate agent, who died at the age of 76 in May 2020 after being diagnosed with the rare and deadly asbestos-caused cancer mesothelioma.
Roy had spent much of her life using talc-based products manufactured by Johnson & Johnson and other companies – fellow defendants in the case included Chanel, the Colgate Palmolive Company, and Pfizer – and after her death, her two daughters Melissa Kaiser and Melanie Roy brought legal action for their mother’s asbestos exposure.
The jury in the case ultimately found the defendants liable for asbestos in their products leading to Roy’s death, issuing a judgment for $8 million for pain and suffering to Roy and $1 million each to her two daughters. For its part, Johnson & Johnson’s share of the judgment was set at $1.2 million.
Talc’s Link to Asbestos Cases
Talc has for decades been used in powders and cosmetics to absorb moisture and improve skin health. However, talc is often found near asbestos in the Earth’s soil, leading to potential contamination without careful mining practices.
Microscopic asbestos fibers may be present in contaminated talc and can become airborne when talc-based powder is used. Asbestos exposure is the only known cause of the deadly cancer mesothelioma, and has been linked to several forms of lung and ovarian cancers.
Another Court Defeat for Johnson & Johnson
This ruling is another in a string of legal defeats involving allegations that Johnson & Johnson’s talc-based products caused mesothelioma or ovarian cancer.
Plaintiffs have introduced internal company records and expert testimony that they contend show Johnson & Johnson knew about possible asbestos contamination and failed to adequately warn consumers. Johnson & Johnson disputes those allegations and continues to defend the safety of its former talc products.
The company discontinued sales of talc-based Johnson’s Baby Powder in the United States and Canada in 2020 amid declining demand and mounting litigation. It stopped selling talc-based baby powder globally in 2023 and transitioned to a cornstarch-based formula.
As of July 2026, Johnson & Johnson faced approximately 76,000 claims in the federal talc multidistrict litigation, primarily involving allegations that talc use caused ovarian cancer. Additional talc cases, including mesothelioma cases, have been filed in state courts. Johnson & Johnson has repeatedly been hit with large judgments against it in many of these cases.
Mesothelioma compensation can cover the high costs of treatment and the challenges that come with lost wages from not being able to work due to declining health. Victims such as yourself or your loved one with cancer deserve this financial help, paid directly from the company responsible for bringing asbestos into your home.
Contact our patient advocates to learn about your compensation options. Email Carl Jewett at cjewett@mesotheliomaguide.com to learn if your cancer diagnosis and use of Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder could lead to a settlement or verdict.
Sources & Author
- Louisiana Jury Issues $10 Million Verdict in Talc-Related Mesothelioma Case Against Johnson & Johnson. BusinessWire. Retrieved from https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260824893836/en/Louisiana-Jury-Issues-%2410-Million-Verdict-in-Talc-Related-Mesothelioma-Case-Against-Johnson-Johnson. Accessed on 08/26/2026.
