The first talc-cancer lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson, where plaintiffs argued that its talc-based baby powder caused cancer, dates back to 2009 when physician’s assistant Diane Berg took the company to court. Since then, tens of thousands of victims have come forward to hold the company accountable for causing their deadly disease. As of February 2024, over 50,000 lawsuits were pending in a multi-district litigation case. Some progress has been in recent weeks, including a hefty settlement deal. If you have received an ovarian cancer or mesothelioma diagnosis after using a talc-based product, there is still time to file a case against the company. I’ll tell you more about recent updates and how a Northern New Jersey product liability attorney may be able to help you get justice if you have been harmed by J&J’s negligence.
Bloomberg Reports that J&J Agreed to Huge Settlement Deal
In early January, Bloomberg News reported that Johnson & Johnson had tentatively agreed to pay $700 million to resolve claims of cancer victims who said their disease was caused by talcum powder. The agreement materialized after 43 State Attorneys Generals alleged that the company had failed to warn consumers of the health risks involved in using baby powder.
Interestingly, the settlement arrived after J&J failed to manipulate bankruptcy courts into limiting talc litigation against the company.
November Mesothelioma Settlements
In November of 2023, J&J confidentially settled lawsuits brought by two men, Rosalino Reyes and Marlin Eagles, who argued that their mesothelioma was caused by exposure to talc.
These were the first two cases to go to court after a federal judge refused to allow J&J to utilize bankruptcy court to settle its talc liabilities. (The company offered a proposed $8.9 billion settlement for all cancer claims against them as part of a bankruptcy court order that would have prevented additional lawsuits to be filed against them.)
Historically, results of talc-cancer cases that have gone to trial have been inconsistent to say the least. Plaintiffs have achieved some big wins, such as a $2.1 billion judgment in favor of 22 ovarian cancer victims. (The judgment was upheld by the United States Supreme Court after the company attempted to appeal it.) At the other end of the spectrum, however, a New Jersey appeals court recently determined that a previous $223 million verdict in favor of the plaintiff was based on unsound expert witness testimony.
In recent years, Johnson & Johnson discontinued sales of talc-based baby powder, though they have never admitted that their product and the dangerous asbestos it contained caused pain, suffering, and death for tens of thousands of people.
Do You Have a Talc-Cancer Lawsuit?
If you have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer or mesothelioma after using talc-based products, it is possible that you have a lawsuit. Buttafuoco & Associates has successfully fought Johnson & Johnson in mass tort lawsuits, where the claims of many victims are heard in a single court. These cases are more efficient than trial cases, and are often more successful because there is power in numbers. Though many cases are heard at once, victims still receive personalized support throughout the process from an individual product liability attorney serving Northern New Jersey.
Buttafuoco & Associates believes in holding companies accountable for their negligence, and in fighting hard for each and every client we work with. To find out if you have a case, get in touch for a free consultation.
Call 1-800-NOW-HURT.
