Talcum Powder Lawsuit

J&J has sold Talcum Baby Powder for almost 130 years and only recently removed their talc-based Baby Powder from store shelves after lawsuits. ¹

Plaintiff lawyers claim Johnson & Johnson executives have consistently made light of the risk of trace amounts of asbestos tremolite in the talc supplies, however, the World Health Organization (WHO) has deemed that any exposure to asbestos can be dangerous. ⁵

In 2018, a jury in St. Louis forced Johnson & Johnson (J&J) to pay $2.5 billion to 20 women diagnosed with ovarian cancer after having used J&J talc-based products. ²

As of August 2022, J & J has put away $2 billion to resolve all current and future talc powder claims.

Johnson & Johnson's newly created entity, LTL Magament LLC, will handle ongoing lawsuits and maintain this $2 billion as a starting point rather than a “cap” on settlement amounts. ⁴

As of December 2021, Johnson & Johnson has been hit with tens of thousands of lawsuits from consumers claiming their talc-based products have caused cancer due to asbestos contamination. ^{2 & 3}

Scientific studies conducted as early as the 1960s have found trace amounts of an asbestos substance called tremolite, lawsuits claim. ^{5 & 6}

• 2018 A jury in St. Louis forced J&J to pay $2.5 billion to 20 women diagnosed with ovarian cancer after having used J&J talc-based products ²

As of August 2022, Johnson & Johnson has paid nearly $3.5 billion in talc case settlements. ^{2 & 9}

Over 40,300 lawsuits have been filed in the US against J&J talc-based powders. ²

In 2018, a Reuters report claims that J&J had concealed the fact that finished powders and raw talc have tested positive for small amounts of asbestos for decades. ^{1 & 3}

Trial testimony and internal company records indicate that J&J has known of asbestos contamination from 1971 to the early 2000s. ¹

However, J & J has denied wrongdoing and says its’ talc products are safe. ³

However, J & J recently created a new entity called LTL Magament LLC to handle the ongoing lawsuits. ^{8 & 9}

Yet LTL Management filed for bankruptcy meaning all current talc lawsuits against J&J are temporarily halted. ^{4 & 9}

Jon Ruchdeschel, plaintiff attorney, claims "The bankruptcy code was never intended to be abused in this way by massively profitable corporations as a means to delay or prevent cancer victims from having their day in court.” ⁴

While some exposed to asbestos-contaminated talc may never develop cancer, the World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes that there is no safe level of exposure to asbestos and that even small amounts of the cancer-causing mineral can trigger the disease in later years. ⁵

Talc products implicated in the ovarian cancer lawsuits include Johnson’s Baby Powder, Shower to Shower, Gold Bond Body Powder, Gold Bond Extra Strength Body Powder, and Gold Bond No Mess Power Spray. ⁹

In these ovarian cancer cases, women used talc products for intimate personal hygiene almost daily before developing cancer. ⁹

But there is a statute of limitation on these product liability cases ranging from two to 10 years. The majority of states have a two-year statute of limitations. ⁹

The clock may be ticking!

If you are a loved one who was diagnosed with mesothelioma or ovarian cancer due to the usage of J&J talc powder, please have your case reviewed by a legal professional.

Talc is a natural mineral from the earth that is mined in close proximity to naturally occurring asbestos, a cancer-causing mineral. ^{1 & 2}

Subsequently, talc products such as talcum powder may become contaminated with asbestos. ¹

The WHO maintains that there is no safe asbestos exposure to asbestos. ⁵

• 1957-58 Talc obtained in Italy tested positive for tremolite, cancer-causing asbestos ^{5 & 6}
• 1967 J&J found traces of tremolite in their talc mined from Vermont ⁵
• 1969 J&J executive in charge of talc supply claimed it was “normal;” to find tremolite in many U.S. talc deposits ⁵
• 1971 FDA officials met with J & J and J & J shared “evidence that their talc contains less than 1% if any, asbestos.” ⁵
• 1972 OSHA set limitations on workplace exposure to asbestos dust ⁵
• 1972-75 Three different labs found asbestos in J&J talc ⁵
• 1973 J&J research director warned no final product will ever be made which totally free from respirable particles.” ⁵
• 1974 Dartmouth Collage professor conducts a test that confirms asbestos in tac from J&J ⁵
• 1975 J&J lab finds asbestos fibers in five of 15 or 33% of talc samples taken ⁵
• 1976 J&J assured US FDA that there was no asbestos was detected in any sample of talc between Dec 1972 and 1973 ⁵
• 1976 J&J began promoting self-policing as an alternative to regulation and J&J claims to have successfully eliminated asbestos from cosmetic talc ⁵
• 1984 Former J&J employee and FD cosmetics chief tells the New York Times that prior investigations during the 70s have prompted J&J to ensure that their talc products are now asbestos-free ⁵
• 1984-86 Asbestos fibers were found in talc samples from Vermont ⁵
• 2002-03 Asbestos fiver were found in Baby powder sold in Canada ⁵
• 2003 Asbestos found in talc samples ^{5 & 7}
• 2009 FDA commissioned tests on 34 samples of talc from China and no asbestos was detected ⁵
• 2019 J&J recalled Baby powder with the acknowledgment that some bottles of the product contained asbestos ⁸

Have you been diagnosed with mesothelioma or Ovarian cancer?

Medical records will need to be provided in order to confirm your official cancer diagnosis.

Did you use talcum powder for personal hygiene?

Provide a list of all talc-based products and powders you've used for personal hygiene.

Have you used talcum powder for at least four years?

Evidence to confirm the timeframe of talcum powder usage and later cancer diagnosis is needed.

Past lawsuits have seen individuals seeking compensation after a cancer diagnosis following the use of talcum powder for at least four years. ⁹

Have you been diagnosed with other diseases?

While mesothelioma and ovarian cancer are the main diagnoses linked to talcum powder usage, other cancers and pneumonia have also been linked to talc.