NEW YORK, June 5 — A Los Angeles jury on Friday ruled in favor of Johnson & Johnson (J&J) in a lawsuit brought by the families of three women who alleged that the company's talc-based products caused ovarian cancer, according to Reuters.
The jury concluded that J&J was not negligent in the sale and marketing of its cosmetic talc products.
According to Reuters, the case was filed by the families of Mary Owens, Bonnie Tienken, and Geneva Williams, all of whom died from ovarian cancer after reportedly using talc-based baby powder products over an extended period.
The verdict marks another significant development in the long-running legal battle surrounding J&J’s talc products. Reuters reported that more than 67,000 plaintiffs have filed lawsuits against the healthcare giant, alleging that its baby powder and other talc-based products caused ovarian cancer.
Over the years, J&J has experienced mixed outcomes in court. Reuters noted that while the company has secured outright victories in several cases — including a trial in Oklahoma last week — juries in other lawsuits have awarded substantial damages to plaintiffs who claimed they developed cancer after using talc products.
The controversy surrounding talc-based baby powder prompted J&J to discontinue sales of the product in the United States in 2020. Reuters reported that the company replaced the talc-based formulation with a cornstarch-based alternative as scrutiny and litigation intensified.
Following the latest verdict, J&J reiterated its position that scientific evidence does not support the claims linking its talc products to ovarian cancer. The case was based on "junk science," said Erik Haas, J&J's vice president of litigation.
Representatives of the plaintiffs expressed dissatisfaction with the jury’s decision. The verdict is "disappointing," said lawyer Ari Friedman, who represented one of the plaintiffs.
Reuters further reported that J&J has already settled a majority of cases alleging that its talc products caused mesothelioma, a rare cancer commonly associated with asbestos exposure. However, the company continues to face thousands of unresolved lawsuits.
According to Reuters, nearly all of the remaining claims focus on allegations that J&J’s talc products contributed to the development of ovarian cancer. The company has consistently denied those allegations and continues to defend its products in court.
The latest ruling adds to a growing list of legal decisions that have delivered varied outcomes in the broader talc litigation, a legal battle that remains one of the most closely watched product liability disputes in the United States.
ISSUE
Leave a Comment