Johnson & Johnson Hit with Largest Verdict Yet in Talcum Powder Trial

St. Louis, Missouri—On Thursday, a Missouri state court jury ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay a Virginia woman more than $110 million based on her claim that she developed ovarian cancer after decades of using the company’s talcum powder products for feminine hygiene.  The verdict is the largest yet in five trials raising similar claims.

The recent verdict came in a case filed by Lois Slemp, a Virginia resident whose ovarian cancer was diagnosed in 2012.  It later affected her liver.  She presently is undergoing chemotherapy.

As many as 2,500 lawsuits are pending against Johnson & Johnson alleging that women’s reproductive cancers were caused by J&J’s failure to adequately warn consumers of the risks of talcum-based products.

Many of these cases are pending in state courts in Missouri, California and elsewhere.  Others were filed in various federal courts and have been consolidated in the United States District Court for New Jersey where they have been assigned to Judge Freda Wolfson.

The five completed trials have resulted in four victories for the women or their families who brought the lawsuits and one win for Johnson & Johnson.  The collective damages awarded in the four successful trials totals $307 million.