Talcum Powder Lawsuit
Talcum powder manufacturers, retailers and suppliers continue to face lawsuits regarding claims their talc products were contaminated with asbestos that caused life-threatening cancers. In April 2023, Johnson & Johnson offered an $8.9 billion settlement to claimants, but it’s facing legal hurdles.

2023 Talcum Powder Lawsuit Update
As of August 2023, J&J faced 37,770 talcum powder lawsuits in multidistrict litigation in New Jersey.
LTL Management LLC, Johnson & Johnson’s subsidiary, filed for bankruptcy again in April 2023 after its original plan was nullified by the Third Circuit Court of Appeals. J&J offered an $8.9 billion talcum powder settlement in an effort to again create a bankruptcy trust, but a federal district court once again determined in August 2023 that there was no basis for the company to claim bankruptcy protection given the immense funds at its disposal.
-
August 2023:
Bankruptcy Court Judge Michael Kaplan rejects LTL’s second attempt at bankruptcy.
-
August 2023:
J&J faces 37,770 active talcum powder lawsuits in the MDL.
-
July 2023:
There are 37,543 talcum powder lawsuits pending in the MDL.
-
April 2023:
LTL refiled for bankruptcy protection.
-
April 2023:
Bankruptcy Court Judge Michael Kaplan reversed his decision to affirm the LTL bankruptcy.
-
March 2023:
The U.S. Court of Appeals did not allow LTL’s request to stay a bankruptcy ruling.
-
January 2023:
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit issued a ruling that temporarily prevented J&J from exploiting bankruptcy law to resolve talcum powder cases.
-
September 2022:
Plaintiff’s attorneys argued against LTL’s bankruptcy in court.
-
October 2021:
J&J created the subsidiary LTL Management LLC and transferred its talcum powder liability to this company. LTL then filed for bankruptcy — a move infamously known as the “Texas two-step.”
-
June 2021:
The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear J&J’s request to overturn a $2.1 billion verdict. The verdict originally came from a Missouri jury who ruled in favor of 22 women who claimed J&J’s talcum powder led them to develop ovarian cancer.
A handful of lawyers who represent some of the 70,000 talc lawsuit plaintiffs support J&J’s proposed $8.9 billion deal. But lawyers who have been representing clients in this litigation for years, such as Trent Miracle of Simmons Hanly Conroy, have claimed the amount is too low.
According to Miracle, there needs to be enough money set aside for injuries that could pop up many years in the future.
“You have no idea how many cancer cases are going to pop up between now and 10 years from now, 20 years from now,” Miracle told Consumer Notice.

Why Are People Filing A Talcum Powder Lawsuit?
People are filing lawsuits to receive compensation for asbestos-related illnesses from exposure to talcum powder that contains asbestos. Asbestos and talc are both minerals that commonly occur together underground, which increases the risk of cross-contamination.
Talcum powder lawsuits can be for both consumer and industrial product use.
Injuries Named in Talc Lawsuits
Mesothelioma is the most common cancer named. It can affect the lining of the lungs and abdomen after inhaling asbestos fibers, but can also occur around the linings of other organs as well.
Asbestos also causes ovarian cancer. The three most common injuries named in talc lawsuits are:
- Ovarian cancer
- Peritoneal mesothelioma
- Pleural mesothelioma
Cosmetic and industrial talc contaminated with asbestos can lead to cancer with long-term use. Use may be personal, such as when diapering a baby or using powder products after a shower, or in an occupational setting, such as during home remodeling work.

Asbestos-related illnesses are serious and often deadly. Those who have developed cancer from talcum powder use are seeking compensation for pain and suffering, medical bills and wrongful death.
Who Qualifies For A Talcum Powder Lawsuit?
People who developed an asbestos-related illness after exposure to talcum powder may be eligible to sue. A diagnosis of an asbestos-related disease is the first criterion. A biopsy is the most effective way to confirm mesothelioma. A bronchoscopy may also identify asbestos fibers.
Exposure to talcum powder, either at home or in an occupational setting, is another criterion. If someone suspects an asbestos-related disease is because of talc exposure, it’s important to consult with a lawyer. A lawyer experienced in talc and asbestos cases will help collect necessary documents, file the lawsuit and argue on the plaintiff’s behalf.
Companies Named in Talcum Powder Lawsuits
For lawsuits involving industrial talcum powder, the defendants are generally suppliers. For consumer-related lawsuits, the defendants are suppliers and manufacturers, and some are well-known brands, such as Johnson & Johnson. National retailers have also been named in some suits.
- Avon
- Chanel
- Colgate-Palmolive
- CVS
- Estee Lauder
- Gold Bond
- Imerys Talc North America
- Johnson & Johnson
- Old Spice
- Mennen
- Revlon
- Target
- Vanderbilt Minerals
- Walgreens
- Walmart
Lawsuits for asbestos-containing talc products allege that the products caused a serious illness. They also allege and offer evidence that the companies knew about the issue and did nothing to resolve it or even deliberately hid information.
Talcum Powder Verdicts and Settlements
Johnson & Johnson has offered a settlement of $8.9 billion. Although there is a temporary halt of active lawsuits against J&J, there have been notable verdicts and settlements in previous years:
-
June 2021:
The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear J&J’s appeal of a $2 billion verdict awarded to 22 plaintiffs with cancer.
-
2020:
Engelhard settled a case involving rubber workers who became sick after working around asbestos-contaminated talc for $72.5 million.
-
April 2018:
A jury in New Jersey awarded $117 million to Stephen Lanzo III, who had mesothelioma.
-
August 2017:
A jury granted $417 million to Eva Echeverria, who had ovarian cancer and died shortly after the trial. There was a turnover of the verdict, but it is currently in the appeals process.
-
May 2017:
A St. Louis jury awarded $110 million to Lois Slemp for ovarian cancer attributed to decades of using Johnson’s Baby Powder.
-
October 2016:
A jury granted a verdict of $70 million to Deborah Giannecchini, who claimed she developed ovarian cancer from using J&J baby powder.
-
February 2016:
A court awarded Jacqueline Fox $72 million in the first lawsuit against J&J for a case involving ovarian cancer.
The court verdicts and settlements involved different types of cases. Some were personal injury cases, which involve a living person who has a serious illness or disease as a result of the negligence of others. Wrongful death cases involve the death of an individual that occurred due to someone else’s wrongful actions.
Johnson & Johnson Response to Talcum Powder Claims
J&J continues to insist that their talcum powder did not and does not contain cancer-causing asbestos. However, a lawsuit in Missouri against the company used unsealed emails as evidence that the company was aware of the dangers.
The emails revealed that scientists wrote a report in 2009 that highlighted potential health risks, but J&J told them to change the information in the report. This ultimately led to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration not adding cancer warnings to the talcum powder.
"[Johnson & Johnson] knew of the presence of asbestos in products that they knowingly targeted for sale to mothers and babies, knew of the damage their products caused and misrepresented the safety of these products for decades."
Burlison made that comment when overseeing the lawsuit involving 22 women with ovarian cancer. Because the company knew about the health risks, the initial verdict of the case was $4.7 billion.
Inquiries Into Talc Contamination
Judges are not the only ones placing pressure on J&J. Federal agencies, members of Congress, the media and health-related organizations are also asking for the company to take responsibility.
Johnson & Johnson has received inquiries and subpoenas from the U.S. Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission. U.S. Senators, including Patty Murray and Ed Markey, have reached out to J&J and have requested that the FDA take action.
Certain groups, such as Black Women for Wellness, accused the company of testing its talc on African Americans and other ethnic groups and called for advocacy groups to take action. HBO Max also streamed a documentary, “Not So Pretty,” that highlighted the dangers of talcum powder.
34 Cited Research Articles
Consumernotice.org adheres to the highest ethical standards for content production and references only credible sources of information, including government reports, interviews with experts, highly regarded nonprofit organizations, peer-reviewed journals, court records and academic organizations. You can learn more about our dedication to relevance, accuracy and transparency by reading our editorial policy.
- Pierson, B. (2023, May 31). J&J Faces New Trial Over Talc Cancer Claims, Amid Settlement Push. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/jj-faces-new-trial-over-talc-cancer-claims-amid-settlement-push-2023-05-31/
- Shelby, S. (2023, May 22). Talcum Powder Lawsuit Update June 2023. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/advisor/legal/product-liability/talcum-powder-update/
- Knauth, D. (2023, May 16). J&J’s Proposed Talc Settlement Would Pay $400 Million to US State AGs. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/legal/jjs-proposed-talc-settlement-would-pay-400-million-us-state-ags-2023-05-16/
- Church, S. & Randles, J. (2023, April 20). J&J Wins Pause of Baby Powder Trials, Must Face New Suits. Retrieved from https://news.bloomberglaw.com/bankruptcy-law/j-j-wins-narrow-limited-pause-of-baby-powder-cancer-lawsuits
- Constantino, A.K. (2023, April 20). U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Halts 20,000 Johnson & Johnson Talc and Cancer Lawsuits. Retrieved from https://www.cnbc.com/2023/04/20/us-judge-halts-talc-cancer-lawsuits-against-johnson-johnson.html
- Knauth, D. & Spector, M. (2023, April 5). J&J unit files for second bankruptcy to pursue $8.9 billion talc settlement. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/legal/jj-unit-goes-bankrupt-second-time-pursue-89-bln-talc-settlement-2023-04-04/
- Knauth, D. (2023, March 31). Johnson & Johnson Unit Loses Bid to Stay in Bankruptcy During Supreme Court Appeal. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/johnson-johnson-unit-loses-bid-stay-bankruptcy-during-supreme-court-appeal-2023-03-31/
- Randles, J. (2023, March 22). J&J Fails to Win Rehearing of Talc Unit’s Bankruptcy Case. Retrieved from https://www.wsj.com/articles/j-j-fails-to-win-appellate-hearing-of-talc-units-bankruptcy-dismissal-a23374be
- Fox, M. (2023, January 30). Johnson and Johnson Loses $17 Billion in Market Value After Appeals Court Denies Company Bankruptcy Escape in Baby Powder Lawsuits. Retrieved from https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/johnson-and-johnson-jnj-stock-court-bankruptcy-baby-powder-lawsuits-2023-1
- Horsley, S. & Mann, B. (2023, January 30). Appeals Court Clears the Way for More Lawsuits Over Johnson’s Baby Powder. Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/2023/01/30/1152600293/appeals-court-clears-the-way-for-more-lawsuits-over-johnsons-baby-powder
- Moline, J., Patel, K. & Frank, A. (2023, January 18). Exposure to Cosmetic Talc and Mesothelioma. Retrieved from https://occup-med.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12995-023-00367-5
- Johnson & Johnson. (2022, August 11). Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health to Transition Global Baby Powder Portfolio to Cornstarch. Retrieved from https://www.jnj.com/johnson-johnson-consumer-health-to-transition-global-baby-powder-portfolio-to-cornstarch
- Feeley, J & Edney, A. (2021, November 8). Unsealed Emails Show How J&J Shaped Report on Talc’s Links to Cancer. Retrieved from https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-11-08/j-j-s-role-shaping-cancer-report-revealed-by-unsealed-emails#xj4y7vzkg
- Dunleavy, K. (2021, August 27). In talc case, reorg ruling goes Johnson & Johnson’s way, keeping bankruptcy in play. Retrieved from https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/talc-defense-johnson-johnson-gets-a-rare-win-as-court-refuses-to-block-a-potential
- Scurria, A. & Yerak, B. (2021, August 26). J&J Injury Claimants Fail to Prevent Potential Talc Bankruptcy. Retrieved from https://www.wsj.com/articles/j-j-injury-claimants-fail-to-prevent-potential-talc-bankruptcy-11630010528
- Hsu, T. (2019, February 21). Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder at Issue as U.S. Subpoenas Company. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/21/business/johnson-johnson-baby-powder-talc.html
- Loftus, P. (2019, February 20). Johnson & Johnson Is Subpoenaed for Talc Safety Information. Retrieved from https://www.wsj.com/articles/doj-sec-subpoena-j-j-for-talc-safety-information-11550709442
- Reuters. (2019, January 29). U.S. senator asks J&J for documents on talc, baby powder safety. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/article/us-johnson-johnson-talc/u-s-senator-asks-jj-for-documents-on-talc-baby-powder-safety-idUSKCN1PN2F6
- U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions. (2019, January 29). Murray Demands Information From Johnson & Johnson Following Reports of Cover Up of Potential Asbestos in Baby Powder. Retrieved from https://www.help.senate.gov/ranking/newsroom/press/murray-demands-information-from-johnson-and-johnson-following-reports-of-cover-up-of-potential-asbestos-in-baby-powder
- Bellon, T. (2019, January 7). Latest trial in J&J talc litigations gets under way in California. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/article/us-johnson-johnson-cancer/latest-trial-in-jj-talc-litigations-gets-under-way-in-california-idUSKCN1P2046
- Ed Markey United States Senator for Massachusetts. (2018, December 14). Senator Markey Queries FDA on Asbestos and Baby Powder Products. Retrieved from https://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markey-queries-fda-on-asbestos-and-baby-powder-products
- Girion, L. (2018, December 14). Johnson & Johnson knew for decades that asbestos lurked in its Baby Powder. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/johnsonandjohnson-cancer/
- Nisen, M. (2018, December 14). Those J&J Baby-Powder Lawsuits Aren’t Going Away. Retrieved from https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2018-12-14/j-j-s-talcum-powder-lawsuits-aren-t-going-away
- Rabin, R.C. (2018, December 14). What Is Talc, Where Is It Used and Why Is Asbestos a Concern? Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/14/business/talc-asbestos-powder-facts.html
- American Cancer Society. (2018, Nov. 16). Risk Factors for Malignant Mesothelioma. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.org/cancer/malignant-mesothelioma/causes-risks-prevention/risk-factors.html
- Weiss, D.C. (2018, April 12). Jury awards $117M in case alleging talcum powder caused mesothelioma. Retrieved from https://www.abajournal.com/news/article/jury_awards_117m_in_case_alleging_talcum_powder_caused_mesothelioma
- Kent, S. (2018, April 11). N.J. couple awarded $80M more in Johnson & Johnson baby powder cancer case. Retrieved from https://www.nj.com/news/2018/04/johnson_johnson_must_pay_extra_80m_in_baby_powder.html
- Christensen, J. (2018, April 11). New Jersey couple awarded $117 million in talcum powder case. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/06/health/talc-mesothelioma-asbestos-damages/index.html
- Feeley, J. (2018, April 4). J&J Jury Set to Weigh Banker’s Claims Baby Powder Caused Cancer. Retrieved from https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-04-04/j-j-jury-set-to-weigh-banker-s-claims-baby-powder-caused-cancer
- Jablon, R. (2017, October 21). Judge tosses $417M award in claim baby powder caused cancer. Retrieved from https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2017/10/20/judge-tosses-417-m-award-claim-baby-powder-caused-cancer/786625001/
- Gutierrez, L. (2017, October 17). Missouri appeals court throws out $72 million award in Johnson & Johnson talcum powder case. Retrieved from https://www.kansascity.com/news/nation-world/article179316896.html
- Gosk, S. (2016, October 28). ‘Happy Tears’ After $70 Million Baby Powder Lawsuit Win. Retrieved from https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/tears-joy-after-70-million-baby-powder-lawsuit-win-n674851
- Breast Cancer Prevention Partners. (n.d.). Johnson and Johnson’s Toxic Talc: A Timeline Toward Victory. Retrieved from https://www.bcpp.org/resource/johnson-and-johnsons-toxic-talc-a-timeline-toward-victory/
- Cancer.gov. (n.d.). Asbestos Exposure and Cancer Risk. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/substances/asbestos/asbestos-fact-sheet