Johnson & Johnson Ordered to Pay $966 Million in Baby Powder Cancer Lawsuit

In a landmark ruling, Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has been ordered by a California jury to pay $966 million to the family of Mae Moore, who claimed her cancer was caused by long-term use of the company’s baby powder. This verdict marks the largest payout for a single user in the 15-year-long litigation over J&J’s talc-based products.

Jury Finds J&J Liable for Mesothelioma

The Los Angeles state court jury delivered the verdict late Monday, holding J&J responsible for Moore’s mesothelioma, a type of cancer linked to asbestos exposure. The award includes $16 million in compensatory damages and a staggering $950 million in punitive damages. Mae Moore passed away in 2021 at the age of 88. Her family argued that J&J knowingly hid the health risks associated with its baby powder for decades.

Jessica Dean, the lawyer representing Moore’s family, said, “It took this family five years to get their day in court, and we’re pleased the jury concluded J&J should be held accountable.”

Johnson & Johnson Plans to Appeal

Johnson & Johnson has announced that it will appeal the ruling. Erik Haas, Worldwide Vice President of Litigation at J&J, stated, “We will immediately appeal this egregious and unconstitutional verdict that is directly at odds – in result and amount – with the vast majority of other talc cases wherein the company has prevailed.”

The company maintains that talc does not cause cancer and asserts that there has never been asbestos in its baby powder. J&J also emphasizes that it has responsibly marketed the product for more than 100 years.

Talc-Based Baby Powder Litigation Continues

This verdict comes as Johnson & Johnson prepares for a wave of jury trials over talc-based baby powder cases, which the company withdrew from the global market in 2023. Despite attempts to settle thousands of cases through bankruptcy court, J&J faced resistance from plaintiffs and courts, leading to prolonged litigation.

To date, J&J has spent over $3 billion settling lawsuits claiming its baby powder caused cancer, yet it still faces more than 70,000 claims related to mesothelioma and ovarian cancer. Many of these cases are consolidated before a federal judge in New Jersey for pre-trial proceedings.

Evidence of Asbestos in Talc

Plaintiffs in these cases, including Moore’s family, have pointed to internal J&J documents allegedly showing that the company knew about asbestos contamination in its talc products as early as the 1970s. Jurors in Moore’s case concluded that J&J intentionally misled consumers, failing to disclose the potential cancer risks of its products.

Moore reportedly used J&J baby powder and Shower-to-Shower powder for about 80 years. Shower-to-Shower was sold to Valeant Pharmaceuticals in 2012 for roughly $150 million.

Previous Major Verdicts Against J&J

This recent award, while significant, is not the largest against J&J. In 2018, a Missouri jury awarded $4.7 billion to 20 women over talc-related cancer claims. On appeal, that award was reduced to $2.1 billion, and J&J eventually paid $2.5 billion with interest.

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According to Bloomberg Intelligence’s Holly Froum, Moore’s $966 million award may also be reduced because U.S. Supreme Court guidelines suggest that punitive damages should not exceed 10 times the compensatory award to avoid being considered excessive.

Impact on Johnson & Johnson

The verdict highlights ongoing scrutiny of Johnson & Johnson and its talc-based products. The company continues to face legal, financial, and reputational risks as more lawsuits move through the court system. With over 70,000 claims pending, J&J’s legal battles are far from over.

The $966 million verdict in favor of Mae Moore’s family underscores the high stakes of talc-based baby powder litigation and the persistent allegations that Johnson & Johnson concealed health risks from consumers. While J&J plans to appeal, this case marks one of the most significant single-user awards in the history of talc litigation, setting a precedent for future trials.