Ever since it was revealed that Johnson & Johnson’s talcum powder was contaminated with cancer-causing asbestos, there have been tens of thousands of lawsuits filed against the pharmaceutical company. Some cases have already been settled, but the outcome of talcum powder lawsuit settlements from 2024 is still uncertain.
Once you qualify to file a talcum powder lawsuit and join a class action, our New York talcum powder lawsuit lawyer will start constructing a strong legal case for your claim without delay. You could qualify for damages for physical, financial, and emotional losses.
Why Are People Suing Over Johnson & Johnson’s Talcum Powder Products?
In brief, the plaintiffs in the talcum powder legal actions allege that:
- Johnson & Johnson, a well-known talcum powder manufacturer, sold talcum powder products that they knew were tainted with asbestos.
- Asbestos, per the American Cancer Society, has been linked to an increased risk of cancer. People whose parents used baby powder on them may be at increased risk of cancer decades after prolonged use.
- The people who bought Johnson & Johnson’s talcum powder products developed cancer as a direct result of the company’s failure to disclose the dangers associated with their contaminated product.
In 2018, news agency Reuters published an investigative report showing that Johnson & Johnson may have known about the cancer link as early as 1971. Further evidence suggested that the manufacturers confirmed asbestos contamination in their products shortly afterward.
This asbestos contamination is suspected to be the most likely culprit for causing both mesothelioma and ovarian cancer in talc powder users. Even before this discovery, juries recommended that Johnson & Johnson include warning labels cautioning people not to use talc-based products on sensitive areas.
Based on this, as well as other verdicts and large punitive damages awards, it is clear that juries across the country believe there is a link between using talc-based products and the development of ovarian cancer and mesothelioma.
Has Anyone Received Money From a Talcum Powder Lawsuit?
Yes. Since 2013, there have been successful talcum powder settlements and verdicts in courts nationwide. The first federal case to go in front of a jury resulted in a verdict for the plaintiff. The jury agreed with the Sioux Falls, SD, woman that her ovarian cancer occurred, in part, because of her long-term use of Shower to Shower, a Johnson & Johnson talc-based product.
While Johnson & Johnson has won a few court battles, juries have awarded billions of dollars to plaintiffs in talcum powder cancer cases, including punitive awards. Other talcum powder settlements have included the following:
- A Missouri jury awarded $4.7 billion to 22 women in a mass tort in 2018. This included $550 million for compensatory losses and $4.1 billion in punitive damages. An appeal reduced the punitive damages to $2.12 billion in June 2020.
- 2019 jury verdicts included a June verdict that ordered Johnson & Johnson and Colgate-Palmolive Co. to pay $10 million to a plaintiff, and a May verdict from a New York jury that cost Johnson & Johnson $325 million.
- In January of 2020, a settlement agreement was reached between Johnson & Johnson and a plaintiff with mesothelioma. It was one of the first settlements related to this type of claim. Johnson & Johnson accepted no fault in the case as a part of the agreement.
Are Talcum Powder Lawsuits Still Ongoing?
Yes, as of early 2025, there were still tens of thousands of cases that had not been settled. These cases have been consolidated into MDL 2738 in U.S. District Court – District of New Jersey.
There have been several attempts made to settle MDL 2738:
- In October 2021, as part of a settlement agreement, Johnson & Johnson attempted to shift liability for its alleged negligence onto a subsidiary, which would then declare bankruptcy to end any current and future lawsuits against J&J based on talc-related cancer diagnoses. The court rejected the bankruptcy filing.
- In July 2024, J&J tried the same tactic again and was rejected again.
- In September 2024, J&J made a third attempt to resolve the lawsuits against it via bankruptcy. In exchange for being allowed to liquidate its subsidiary and end its own liability, the company agreed to pay $9 billion.
- In January 2025, this third settlement agreement was challenged by the U.S. government, which claimed the bankruptcy would prevent programs like Medicare from seeking reimbursement for cancer treatments made necessary by talc-related medical diagnoses.
As of this writing, it is still unclear when these cases will be resolved and how much the plaintiffs might receive. If you are considering filing your own lawsuit, our New York personal injury lawyers will explain your options and what to expect from the legal process.
What Is a Multidistrict Litigation, and Do You Qualify to Join One?
A multidistrict litigation is a kind of class action. It allows plaintiffs with similar complaints to have all of their cases considered at once in a single court, rather than forcing multiple courts to hear thousands of cases separately. Joining an MDL helps talc lawsuits move through the system more quickly.
Whether you should—or will be allowed to—join an MDL depends on the specifics of your case. You likely qualify to join MDL 2738 if:
- You are a survivor of ovarian cancer or mesothelioma and have used talcum powder for an extended period of time
- You are currently facing ovarian cancer or mesothelioma after using talc-based products
- You are a surviving family member of someone who lost their cancer battle, and they used talcum powder for an extended period of time
What Compensatory Damages Will You Get in a Talc Powder Lawsuit?
What you can expect to recover in a successful talcum powder lawsuit depends on the damages you suffered and other facts of your individual case. Even if you participate in multidistrict litigation, your recoverable damages will hinge on the losses you experienced.
Your settlement should account for your damages suffered to date and projected future damages. You could qualify for the following types of damages:
- Pain and suffering, including both physical distress and the accompanying emotional distress
- Medical care and any related expenses related to your cancer treatment
- Ongoing care and support
- Lost income and reduced earning capacity
- Out-of-pocket expenses directly related to your diagnosis or treatment, such as childcare
- Diminished quality of life due to lost independence or ability to perform certain tasks
What Is the Average Talc Settlement Amount?
An “average” settlement amount would provide a meaningless figure as it does not offer any useful information about what the value of your case may be. There is no specific number that you can or should expect to receive if your lawsuit succeeds. Talcum powder lawsuit settlements vary widely on a case-by-case basis. For example, even if two plaintiffs share an ovarian cancer diagnosis, they may receive different amounts based on factors like:
- How much money they earned: If one plaintiff earned $100,000 a year before their cancer diagnosis and another earned $70,000, the higher earner will likely qualify for more in lost wages. However, if the lower earner will be out of work for substantially longer than the higher earner, then the lower earner might qualify for more in reduced earning capacity over the course of their life.
- What household services they provided: Are you responsible for household chores like childcare, cleaning, and cooking? If your diagnosis prevents you from performing these tasks, our talc powder lawyers will fight to get you enough money to pay others to assist you.
- Their long-term prognosis: The type and aggressiveness of your cancer and your general health could greatly affect how much pain you experience, the cost of necessary treatments, and what losses you will experience over the remainder of your life.
This is one reason why allowing our legal team to represent you is a good idea: we will determine how much your case is worth and make sure you get what you deserve from your Johnson & Johnson talcum powder lawsuit.
Proving the Financial Value of Your Talcum Powder Cancer Lawsuit
Your talc powder lawyer will gather evidence to prove your case. This will require collecting and analyzing:
- Medical records documenting your history of medical conditions that resulted from your talcum powder use, and proving your current and future losses
- Statements from a team of experts, such as ovarian cancer experts, economists, lifecare planners, and vocational rehabilitation specialists
- Documentation from Johnson & Johnson showing how the defendant knew that its defective and dangerous product was likely to cause harm and how they chose not to act on this information
- Statements from you and your close relatives or friends who can confirm that you used baby powder or another talc-based product, as well as how the cancer diagnosis has affected your life
Information gathered from these sources will tell us how to proceed with your talcum powder litigation. A strong enough case file could compel Johnson & Johnson to offer an appropriate settlement. An experienced talcum powder lawsuit attorney will present your case to them on your behalf.
Can You Recover Punitive Damages From Talcum Powder Manufacturers?
In many of the talc cancer cases that have already gone before a jury, punitive damages were awarded. Punitive damages:
- Penalize the defendant for their actions related to the plaintiff’s injuries, unlike other types of damages. This makes them unlike compensatory damages, which directly compensate the plaintiff for their suffering and losses.
- Seek to punish for bad conduct, to “teach a lesson,” and to “send a message.” They force a liable party to do more than pay for the harm they’ve caused and endure additional financial stress as a penalty for their deliberately harmful or reckless behavior.
While punitive damages are generally rare in lawsuits, there is reason to believe that the talcum powder manufacturers were aware of the dangers of their product but refused to accept responsibility and warn consumers. This information could support punitive damages for the cases in MDL 2738.
There is no way to know with certainty if your case will qualify for these damages or how much the jury will award in punitive damages until your case reaches that point. Every case is different and will likely result in different recoverable damages. If the circumstances support such a demand, our personal injury lawyers will vigorously assert that claim on your behalf.
How Do You Win a Talcum Powder Lawsuit Settlement?
Your case will only succeed if you are able to prove the following four factors to the satisfaction of a jury and/or Johnson & Johnson’s insurance company:
- Duty of care: This means the defendant had a responsibility to behave in a way that protected others from unnecessary harm. In your case, you would have to show that Johnson & Johnson was under a legal obligation to sell only safe products and to recall and warn consumers about unsafe products.
- Breach of duty: The defendant failed to take reasonable protective actions. Prior talc powder cases have already established that J&J deliberately concealed the fact that their products contained dangerous levels of asbestos.
- Causation: The defendant’s breach of duty led to your cancer diagnosis. Again, prior cases have gone a long way to proving this point already by demonstrating that baby powder and similar products contain asbestos, and that asbestos has harmful effects on the human body. You could also submit a statement from your doctor asserting the probable link between your talc usage and your cancer.
- Injuries and damages: Your cancer diagnosis has hurt you and your family. To prove this final point, our legal team will find evidence of the economic and non-economic damages you have suffered.
If the liable party believes your case is strong, they might offer a pretrial settlement. If not, then it may be up to a jury to decide the merits of your case in court.
It is important to note that just as you will have a chance to present your case to a judge, so will Johnson & Johnson. They will do everything possible to undermine your case or get it thrown out, including:
- Trying to prove that you did not use their products or that you did not use them for long enough to suffer negative health effects
- Claiming that your case is not similar enough to other cases within the MDL, which means you do not qualify for any settlement they offer as part of the MDL
- Attributing your cancer diagnosis to something other than your talc powder usage
- Downplaying the effects of your cancer and saying that you have exaggerated its impact on your life
- Claiming that you have not followed the correct legal procedure and that the judge should dismiss your case on a technicality
Winning a talcum powder legal action is not easy—but it is not impossible, as previous case results show. Our talcum powder attorneys are not intimidated by large corporations and will fight hard for every penny you deserve.
How Can You Protect Your Right to File a Talcum Powder Claim?
Receiving a cancer diagnosis is devastating, and it is understandable to be confused and overwhelmed in the immediate aftermath. You might not connect your diagnosis with your talcum powder use until days, weeks, or months after the fact. Even if you do suspect a talcum powder product caused your cancer, you might be too preoccupied with receiving treatment and making other arrangements to act on it right away.
These are all natural reactions, and they do not necessarily prevent you from joining a talc powder lawsuit. That said, you could go a long way toward strengthening your case if you:
- Preserve all relevant materials: This might include medical records, receipts, paystubs (to establish your baseline level of income), and any communications from your doctor or your insurance company.
- Refrain from speaking about your situation publicly: Johnson & Johnson’s representatives will look for any excuse to deny you a settlement. Even a social media post that you intended to be humorous or uplifting could end up as ammunition for the defendant.
- Speak with our law firm: Class action lawsuits frequently take years to resolve, but they do not go on forever. You have a limited time to weigh your legal options. The sooner we have the chance to educate you about those options, the easier it might be for you to take advantage of them.
What if Your Loved One Passed Away After Using Talcum Powder?
If you have lost a loved one because of asbestos-contaminated talc powder, please accept our condolences for your loss. Our talcum powder attorneys will be honored to fight for justice and compensation on your behalf. Your family might qualify for the following types of damages:
- The pain and suffering your loved one experienced (e.g., due to the cancer or cancer-related treatments) prior to their passing
- Your loved one’s final medical bills
- End-of-life expenses, including funeral and burial costs
- Loss of the deceased’s financial support, especially if you or other relatives depended on their income to make ends meet
Your attorney will work with you to prove and document the value of your recoverable wrongful death damages and educate you about how this type of case will proceed through the MDL and in your local jurisdiction.
Should You Hire a Lawyer for Your Talcum Powder Claim?
Many people find it helpful to hire an attorney before attempting to file a legal action. This is because:
- Talc litigation is often very complex and takes a very long time. It might be years before you see a settlement, during which time our talcum powder attorneys will manage all legal tasks on your behalf.
- Johnson & Johnson is used to being sued and has a large number of attorneys to protect their interests. Attempting to sue a huge corporation and dealing with their lawyers by yourself would be both stressful and extremely difficult.
- You are still dealing with a cancer diagnosis or the loss of a loved one to cancer. You deserve time to grieve, and trying to manage such a personal case while struggling emotionally could lead you to make preventable errors.
If you choose to work with our talcum powder lawyers, we will see to it that the following is done for you:
- You will be kept updated on your case
- Liable parties will be identified
- All parties will be communicated with on your behalf
- Relevant evidence will be gathered
- A value will be determined for your case and that value will be aggressively pursued
We have a limited time to file a talc cancer lawsuit and join the ongoing MDL on your behalf. To start a case for the compensation you deserve before time runs out, we strongly recommend you reach out to our personal injury attorneys as soon as possible.
Speak to a Member of Our Talcum Powder Cancer Lawsuit Team
Ample evidence suggests Johnson & Johnson knew there was asbestos in their talcum powder for decades—and yet they did nothing. This is inexcusable, and if you want to seek a talcum powder lawsuit settlement for your losses, you have the right to do so. We advocate for those who suffered injuries because of the negligence and brazen disregard for human life allegedly demonstrated by Johnson & Johnson and other companies.
Get a complimentary case review with a member of the Friedman & Simon Injury Lawyers L.L.P., talcum powder cancer lawsuit team today. We charge nothing unless and until you win.