Johnson & Johnson Settles Talc Safety Lawsuit for $700 Million
Johnson & Johnson settles allegations over the safety of its talcum powder products for $700 million
Johnson & Johnson will pay $700 million to settle claims that it misled customers about the safety of its talcum-based powder products. The settlement, announced Tuesday by New York Attorney General Letitia James, involves 42 states and the District of Columbia. Although the company agreed to the settlement, it did not admit any wrongdoing.
The New Jersey-based company stopped selling its talcum powder in North America in 2020. This decision followed thousands of lawsuits claiming the product contained asbestos and caused ovarian cancer.
“No amount of money can undo the pain caused by Johnson & Johnson’s talc-laced products, but today families can rest assured that the company is being held accountable for the harm it caused,” said Attorney General James.
New York will receive $44 million of the settlement, to be paid over three years in four installments.
Erik Haas, Johnson & Johnson’s Worldwide Vice President of Litigation, stated that the company is working on a comprehensive resolution to the talc litigation. This includes finalizing an agreement with 43 state attorneys general to resolve their claims.
In April 2023, Johnson & Johnson proposed an $8.9 billion settlement to resolve all claims related to its talcum powder. The payout, to be managed through a subsidiary, LTL Management LLC, was to be spread over 25 years. However, a bankruptcy judge rejected this arrangement.
Haas emphasized that the company will continue to address the claims of those who opt out of
the settlement through litigation or other means.
A study published in January 2020, which involved 250,000 women, did not find a statistical link between talc use on the genitals and ovarian cancer.
