Potential Talcum Powder Lawsuit Settlement Amounts: What Can Plaintiffs Expect?
“What kind of talcum powder lawsuit settlement amounts can we expect?”
It’s a question we hear often from clients considering a talcum powder lawsuit. Those who have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer or mesothelioma after using Johnson & Johnson talc-based baby powder may qualify for a potential talcum powder lawsuit settlement.
***Disclaimer: No settlement agreement has been reached in any litigation regarding Johnson & Johnson talcum powder, and no outcome is guaranteed.
Background: Talcum Powder Lawsuit Settlements
After announcing that it will no longer sell talc-based baby powder in the North American market, Johnson & Johnson faces more than 16,000 talcum powder lawsuits alleging its products are contaminated with asbestos and can cause ovarian cancer and mesothelioma.
In this blog post, we’ll review why talcum powder may be dangerous, the status of talcum powder lawsuits in the United States, and what you can do if you believe you may have a claim.
We’ll also review what kind of talcum powder lawsuit settlement amounts juries have awarded recently.
IMPORTANT: When considering possible talcum powder lawsuit settlement amounts, keep in mind that there are no guarantees that these cases will settle, and we cannot know for sure what kinds of settlement amounts to expect. This blog post will nevertheless attempt to outline some of the background on these cases that may influence potential settlements.
Why are talcum powder lawsuits being filed?
Talcum powder lawsuits have been filed against Johnson & Johnson based on scientific evidence that asbestos contamination in the company’s talc-based baby powder causes cancer.
In the past decade, Johnson & Johnson has faced verdicts awarding billions of dollars in talcum powder lawsuits, and potential multi-million dollar talcum powder lawsuit settlements may be on the horizon.
The talcum powder cancer connection
Since 1971, there have been more than 20 studies linking talcum powder to ovarian cancer. Thousands of talcum powder lawsuits have been filed against Johnson & Johnson for failing to warn women of the risks of developing ovarian cancer from using its popular talcum-based powders (Baby Powder and Shower to Shower).
In addition, consumers have filed lawsuits after developing mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a terminal cancer also caused by asbestos exposure. Riddle & Brantley is reviewing baby powder cancer claims on behalf of women who developed ovarian cancer or mesothelioma after using talcum powder or other talc products.
Early court losses for Johnson & Johnson
According to a lawsuit dating back to 2013, a jury found that Johnson & Johnson should have warned women of the risks of developing ovarian cancer when using its talcum powder and products near the genitals. Many women have used Johnson & Johnson talcum powder for feminine hygiene. It is believed that using talc powder near a woman’s genitals can cause cancer because the talc can travel to the ovaries and become embedded in the ovarian tissue.
In this case, the plaintiff alleged that she developed ovarian cancer after using Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower to Shower (both talc-based products) for more than 30 years.
The woman was awarded $5 million in compensatory damages and $50 million in punitive damages.
Other talcum powder lawsuit judgments have totaled more than $4 billion, and our baby powder cancer lawyers anticipate multi-million talcum powder lawsuit settlement amounts may be on the horizon.
For more information on potential baby powder cancer lawsuit settlement amounts, please consider the following:
Why is Talc Harmful?
Talcum powder is made from talc, the world’s softest mineral, which is mined from open-pit mines.
In its natural form, some talc contains asbestos — a substance known to cause cancer. Talc mined for commercial uses can be contaminated with asbestos, which is known to cause lung cancer and mesothelioma. Talc is found in a wide range of products, including talcum powder (baby powder), feminine hygiene products, makeup, deodorant, and lotions.
Talcum powder is known for its odor and moisture-absorbing properties. Some women use it in their genital area where it can travel to the ovaries and cause cancer.
Researchers believe that asbestos-contaminated talc causes cancer by provoking chronic inflammation of the fallopian tubes, uterus, and ovaries as well as potentially suppressing cancer-fighting antibodies.
Diagnoses of cancer are often made after decades of using talc-containing products.
If you’ve been diagnosed with ovarian cancer or mesothelioma after using Johnson & Johnson talc-based Baby Powder or Shower to Shower products, you may qualify for a talcum powder asbestos lawsuit.
“What kind of talcum powder lawsuit settlement amounts may result from these lawsuits?”
As with any lawsuit, it is impossible to guarantee that there will be a settlement, or that juries will continue to find Johnson & Johnson responsible for potential talcum powder-linked cancer.
However, we can look at recent baby powder lawsuit verdicts to consider possibilities for future talcum powder lawsuit settlement amounts.
Recent Talcum Powder Lawsuit Verdicts
$37.2 Million Verdict – September 2019
A New Jersey jury awarded Douglas Barden, David Etheridge, D’Angela McNeill-George and Will Ronning $37.2 million in compensatory damages. These plaintiffs claimed they developed mesothelioma after inhaling asbestos in Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower-to-Shower.
$117 Million Verdict – April 2018
A New Jersey jury awarded $117 million to Stephen Lanzo III and his wife. Mr. Lanzo sued Johnson & Johnson and its talc supplier Imerys Talc. He stated Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower to Shower led to his mesothelioma.
$4.69 Billion Verdict – July 2018
A St. Louis jury awarded $4.69 billion in punitive and compensatory damages to 22 plaintiffs. This included the families of six women who died before the trial. The women’s attorney argued that the asbestos in talcum powder caused the women’s ovarian cancer. Johnson & Johnson tried to overturn the verdict, but it was upheld.
$29 Million Verdict – March 2019
A jury in Alameda County, California awarded Teresa Leavitt who claimed the asbestos in Johnson & Johnson’s talc-based products caused her mesothelioma. Ms. Leavitt had used Johnson & Johnson products for more than 30 years.
$72 Million Verdict – February 2016
The family of Jacqueline Fox was awarded $72 million after a jury agreed that her daily use of talc powder over the course of 35 years caused her ovarian cancer and ultimately killed her. The jury awarded $10 million for damages. The other $62 million were punitive damages awarded for each year of Ms. Fox’s life (62 years).
Baby Powder Cancer Settlement Amounts: What Can We Expect?
We cannot know for certain that the thousands of lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson alleging a link between talcum powder and cancer will settle out of court.
However, given the significant judgments against Johnson & Johnson in recent lawsuits, the likelihood of significant talcum powder lawsuit settlement amounts seems relatively high.
If you believe you have a baby powder cancer claim, do not wait — now is the time to have your claim investigated.
You may qualify for a potential talcum powder settlement.
Is There a Statute of Limitations for Talcum Powder Lawsuits?
Talcum powder lawsuits are product liability cases. The statute of limitations differs in every state. Usually, these statutes run from 2 to 10 years, with most states having two-year statutes. Each situation is different. Depending on the circumstances, the clock may start ticking from the date of diagnosis or from the date you found out talcum powder may have contributed to your cancer.
“If you’ve been diagnosed with ovarian cancer or mesothelioma after using Johnson & Johnson talcum powder, now is the time to have your claim investigated.”
–Gene Riddle, managing partner and attorney, Riddle & Brantley
In some cases, family members can file a wrongful death claim for the loss of a loved one from ovarian cancer or mesothelioma potentially resulting from use of talcum powder. Usually, these statutes are on the shorter side. Most average two years.
The talcum powder attorneys at Riddle & Brantley will be happy to answer questions about your particular time frame and the statute of limitations.
Please contact Riddle & Brantley today to avoid losing your right to file a talcum powder lawsuit.
Call 1-800-525-7111 or fill out the short form below for a FREE, no-obligation consultation.
There is never an obligation, and you won’t pay any attorney fees unless we win your case and recover compensation for you through a talcum powder lawsuit settlement or verdict.
Please call 1-800-525-7111 today and let’s review your claim.
Justice Counts.
***Disclaimer: No settlement agreement has been reached in any litigation regarding Johnson & Johnson talcum powder, and no outcome is guaranteed.