Johnson & Johnson, the maker of a controversial cancer-causing baby powder product, settled more than 1,000 asbestos lawsuits to the tune of a nine-figure bill.
According to Bloomberg, the company agreed to pay more than $100 million in total to victims. All the claims are linked to the Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder, which for decades was made with the mineral talc. This mineral can be contaminated with loose, sharp asbestos fibers, which when inhaled or swallowed can cause a rare cancer called mesothelioma.
Bloomberg reports there are approximately 20,000 remaining Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder cancer lawsuits linked to asbestos. The source estimates the bill to settle all 20,000 would be $10 billion.
While the pharmaceutical company has reiterated that its product is safe, it stopped all production and sale of the talc version in May. Johnson & Johnson now sells a corn starch version of the baby powder.
This bulk settlement is the first time Johnson & Johnson has attempted to resolve a large chunk of pending claims. Usually, the company settles one at a time or takes its chances in court. That strategy has led to nine-figure verdicts for individual claims, a hefty price to pay.
History of Asbestos in Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder, Other Talc Products
Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder has been a staple of American consumerism for decades. Just in the last few years, though, scientific experts have revealed its hazardous elements. This product isn’t the only talc item that can cause mesothelioma. Cosmetics, children’s makeup and more talc products are linked to asbestos lawsuits.
In two unrelated studies, there were a reported 108 cases of mesothelioma involving asbestos exposure from talc products. Another study by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found that 23% of talc-based cosmetic items included detectable asbestos.
One lawsuit led to a $26.5 million mesothelioma verdict for a talcum powder user. Another led to a $750 million mesothelioma payout (although later lowered to $223 million and then tossed out altogether by an appeals court). Another lawsuit, this one involving talc and ovarian cancer, led to a $2 billion lawsuit that the Supreme Court upheld. The remaining lawsuits may not be the last related to talc. Mesothelioma develops 20-50 years after exposure, so cases may continue materializing for decades.
Recently diagnosed victims can likely trace the cause back to the previous century. Any instances of using Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder — for yourself or for a child — could be the reason for your mesothelioma.
If you’d like to learn more about your legal options — including what it’d take to file a lawsuit — reach out to our staff. We can help you start a claim that could get settled, resulting in quick compensation. Email our patient advocate, Carl Jewett, at cjewett@mesotheliomaguide.com.
Sources & Author
- J&J to Pay More Than $100 Million to End Over 1,000 Talc Suits. Bloomberg. Retrieved from: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-10-05/j-j-to-pay-more-than-100-million-to-end-over-1-000-talc-suits. Accessed: 10/06/2020.
- A New Study Suggests Tainted Talcum Powder Can Cause a Rare Cancer. Here’s How That Could Play Out in the Courtroom. TIME. Retrieved from: https://time.com/5692129/talcum-powder-mesothelioma/. Accessed: 11/18/19.
- Malignant mesothelioma following repeated exposures to cosmetic talc: A case series of 75 patients. American Journal of Industrial Medicine. Retrieved from: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ajim.23106. Accessed: 03/18/2020.
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