The massive verdict orders J&J to pay nearly $4.7 billion in damages to 22 ovarian cancer patients and their families.
On July 12, 2018, a Missouri jury ordered Johnson & Johnson (J&J) to pay nearly $4.7 billion in damages to 22 ovarian cancer patients and their families who allege that the company’s talc-based products contain asbestos.
Currently, J&J are battling some 9,000 cases involving it’s talc products. However, the company denies that it’s talc products cause cancer or that they ever contained asbestos. In response to the recent settlement case, J&J issued a statement saying that they are “deeply disappointed’ by the verdict and that J&J “remains confident that its products do not contain asbestos and do not cause ovarian cancer.”
The massive verdict, which was handed down by the Circuit Court of the City of St. Louis, included $550 million in compensatory damages and $4.14 billion in punitive damages. This decision followed more than five weeks of testimony by a dozen of experts on both sides.
The women involved in this case claimed that using J&J baby powder for decades caused their diseases. They alleged that the company knew their talc was contaminated with asbestos since the 70’s but continued to manufacture it and never warned their consumers of the risk.
St. Louis Ovarian Cancer Lawyer
Since the 1970’s, a number of studies have suggested that there is a link between talcum powder and ovarian cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, there is a small risk of developing ovarian cancer for women who use talcum powder in their genital area. Since 2013, many women who have developed ovarian cancer have come forward and as a result, many lawsuits have been filed against Johnson & Johnson.
If you or a loved one have developed ovarian cancer and believe that frequent and long-term use of talcum powder may be the cause, call our ovarian cancer attorneys today at (314) 361-4300 for a free and private consultation.
