Talc has been revealed as a potentially cancer-causing mineral, and one of the top talc powder producers in the country may have known about it for many years. This has led to the filing of numerous lawsuits across the nation, but the latest verdict may be one of the biggest blows to Johnson & Johnson.
Will More Talcum Powder Cancer Lawsuits Be Filed Thanks to this Verdict?
A California woman used Johnson & Johnson talcum powder products for her feminine hygiene needs since the 1950s. But that all changed in 2016 when the woman discovered that talc could potentially cause ovarian cancer. Several years earlier, in2007, the woman had been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and now she suspected that Johnson & Johnson products may have been to blame.
After investigating, she learned that Johnson & Johnson may have known about the potential cancer-causing effects of their products, and that’s why the woman filed a lawsuit. Now, the verdict is in and the penalty is steep. The company may now have to pay $417 million to this woman—$68 million in compensation, and $340 million in punitive damages.
This verdict is a record for this type of case, which usually settles for less than $100 million, but the money isn’t why this California woman filed this case. She told the press that she hopes her case helps other women by spreading awareness. She also hopes that Johnson & Johnson will put larger warnings on their talc-based products.
Will this large verdict change the way Johnson & Johnson operates? Will more women see this case and bring their own to court? Only time will tell, but the product liability attorneys at Keefe Law Firm are watching this case, and others like it, so the folks of New Jersey can be just a little bit safer.
