Trenton, N.J. — In an intense legal atmosphere, a major decision in the ongoing saga of lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson regarding their talcum powder products is set to make a significant impact. As legal proceedings advance, the focus is rightfully shifting toward adequately compensating the women who allege harm from these products.
For years, Johnson & Johnson has faced thousands of lawsuits across the United States, with claimants asserting that long-term use of the company’s talcum powder products, such as Baby Powder and Shower to Shower, has led to ovarian cancer. In what could be seen as an acknowledgment of potential liability, the company has proposed a sizeable $6.5 billion settlement, which still hinges on the acceptance by a supermajority of the claimants.
This decision comes shortly after Johnson & Johnson took a notably aggressive legal stance—initiating legal actions against plaintiffs’ experts and lawyers, which many observers criticize as maneuvers to intimidate and prolong the legal struggle. A New Jersey federal judge, siding with the expert Dr. Jacqueline Moline, ruled that her statements in a 2019 article linking the company’s products to mesothelioma are protected by the First Amendment, further delineating the complexities and scope of the legal disputes.
Johnson & Johnson’s legal troubles have been compounded by various factors, including a recent lawsuit decision where an Oregon jury awarded $260 million to a plaintiff, fortifying the claimants’ stance against the pharmaceutical giant. Despite this, the company has also had some success, with numerous courts ruling in its favor or dismissing cases based on lack of conclusive evidence linking talcum powder to cancer directly.
As jury trials and settlement talks continue, a significant shift has been seen with Johnson & Johnson halting the sales of talc-based baby powders and planning a transition towards cornstarch-based products by next year—a move seen by many as a direct result of the ongoing litigation and public scrutiny.
Amid these high-stakes negotiations and court rulings, an important deadline approaches. Claimants have until the end of the month to decide on the $6.5 billion global settlement offer, which could provide closure to thousands of ongoing cases. Meanwhile, legal experts closely watch Johnson & Johnson’s strategic maneuvers, including its controversial attempt to settle claims through bankruptcy—a strategy that has been met with both skepticism and judicial roadblocks.
As this significant chapter in consumer protection and corporate accountability unfolds, the outcomes of these cases could set substantial precedents for how large corporations address and rectify claims of harm caused by their products. For the plaintiffs and their advocates, the coming weeks could mark a pivotal resolution or yet another phase in their long, arduous journey for justice and compensation.