Jury Awards $40 Million to California Plaintiffs in Talc Litigation
A Los Angeles Superior Court jury has delivered a significant verdict against Johnson & Johnson (J&J), awarding $40 million to two California women who claimed that the company’s talc-based Baby Powder caused ovarian cancer. The verdict, handed down on Friday, December 12, 2025, marks a major development in the ongoing litigation against J&J.
Verdict Details
- Monica Kent: Awarded $18 million
- Deborah Schultz and her husband: Awarded $22 million
Both plaintiffs alleged they developed ovarian cancer after decades of using J&J’s talc-based Baby Powder. Ms. Kent was diagnosed in 2014, while Ms. Schultz received her diagnosis in 2018.
The jury concluded that J&J knew for years that its talc products could be dangerous but failed to adequately warn consumers.
Background and Litigation Context
Company Knowledge:
Plaintiffs’ attorneys presented internal J&J documents dating to the 1960s and 1970s, suggesting the company was aware that its talc products could contain asbestos contamination and concealed the risks from the public.
J&J’s Defense:
The company maintained that no major U.S. health authority has confirmed a link between talc use and ovarian cancer and argued that scientific studies do not show talc migrating from external use to reproductive organs.
Scope of Litigation:
J&J is facing lawsuits from over 67,000 plaintiffs alleging ovarian cancer or the rarer mesothelioma caused by talc products. This latest verdict is the first major jury win in an ovarian cancer case since 2021, following several unsuccessful attempts by J&J to settle claims via bankruptcy.
Corporate Actions:
In 2020, J&J discontinued its talc-based Baby Powder in the U.S. and Canada, transitioning to a cornstarch-based formula.
Johnson & Johnson’s Response
Erik Haas, J&J’s worldwide vice-president of litigation, announced the company will immediately appeal the verdict, describing it as an “aberrant adverse verdict”. Despite this, the case underscores that individual jury trials continue to result in substantial liabilities, even after J&J’s attempts to resolve claims globally through bankruptcy.
Summary
This $40 million verdict signals a renewed momentum in talc-related litigation against Johnson & Johnson. With thousands of claims pending and individual jury trials moving forward, the company continues to face significant legal and financial exposure despite previous settlement and bankruptcy efforts.
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