A jury in St. Louis, Missouri has found pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson (J&J) liable for approximately $72 million in damages resulting from the cancer-causing qualities of its line of Baby Powder and Shower-to-Shower talcum powders. The company has been ordered to pay $72 million in damages to the family of a Jackie Fox, a woman who died of ovarian cancer after using the company’s baby powder for decades for feminine hygiene purposes.
The verdict came after a three-week long trial and includes $10 million in compensation, along with a whopping $62 million in punitive damages. This could mean big trouble for J&J, as this case is only a small part of a much larger lawsuit involving nearly 60 plaintiffs.
Talc, the main ingredient in the company’s talcum powders, has been linked to certain serious forms of ovarian cancer through more than 20 different scientific studies dating back to the 1960s. Research has indicated that using these powders on the genital area can increase a woman’s risk of developing ovarian cancer by as much as 41 percent.
Did Johnson & Johnson Know About the Risks?
In 1997, a medical consultant with J&J stated in an internal memo that “anybody who denies” the evidence between talc and ovarian cancer is “denying the obvious in the face of all evidence to the contrary.” Despite this warning and the myriad of indicators of talc’s dangerous qualities, both J&J and talc mining companies have fought to keep the product on store shelves as an effective feminine hygiene product without any labels warning of the possible dangers. Similarly, the FDA has failed to address the issue or require any labels to be included on the products’ packaging.
Have a Baby Powder Cancer Lawsuit? Call (800) 980-6905
If you or a loved one have developed ovarian cancer after using a Johnson & Johnson talcum powder product, the Orange County attorneys at Alvandi Law Group can protect your rights and demand maximum compensation for you suffering. Having secured more than $300 million in verdicts and settlements for our injured clients, we have what it takes to fight and win on your behalf.
Contact our office online or schedule a free consultation today to discuss your legal options.