Talcum Powder Lawsuit

Studies have linked talcum powder to several types of cancer, including mesothelioma, lung cancer, and ovarian cancer. A talcum powder lawsuit allows victims to stand up to negligent manufacturers and seek compensation for medical bills, pain and suffering, and more. See if a top talcum powder lawyer can file a lawsuit on your behalf and fight for the compensation you deserve.

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By filing a product liability lawsuit, you can pursue financial compensation and justice from the companies that caused you or a loved one harm.

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Rae Theodore

Fact-Checked and Legally Reviewed by: Rae Theodore

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Talcum Powder Lawsuit Update 2024

Tens of thousands of victims have filed talcum powder lawsuits demanding compensation and justice for cancers caused by asbestos-contaminated talcum powder.

Most talcum powder lawsuits have been filed against pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson (J&J), which makes Johnson’s® Baby Powder. However, other companies that manufacture and sell talc products have also been named in these lawsuits.

Companies knew of the dangers related to their products but failed to warn the public. Evidence presented in a March 2024 J&J baby powder case showed that the company had even tried to sway researchers.

The latest developments in talcum powder lawsuits include:

  • As of October 2024, 58,052 claims are pending in a class action multidistrict talc lawsuit (MDL) against J&J.
  • J&J has proposed a $8 billion settlement to resolve these claims, which allege that its baby powder and other talc products cause ovarian cancer.
  • While the settlement has been approved by 75% of plaintiffs, it still faces several hurdles before it becomes final.
  • Some talc lawsuits have already awarded victims billions of dollars.
  • In October 2024, J&J was ordered to pay $15 million to a man who developed mesothelioma after years of using the company’s baby powder.
  • Earlier in the year, a jury awarded an Oregon woman with mesothelioma $260 million.
  • J&J has tried to sidestep its responsibilities to those it has harmed by declaring bankruptcy for the third time.

Talcum powder ovarian cancer lawsuits are filed most frequently, with a smaller percentage focusing on other cancers like mesothelioma and lung cancer.

The bottom line is that families deserve to have their voices heard, and negligent talcum powder companies must be held accountable for their wrongdoing.

Get a free case review right now to see if you may be able to pursue compensation from a talcum powder lawsuit.

What Is Talcum Powder?

Talcum powder is a consumer product made from talc, a soft mineral mined from the earth that absorbs moisture.

For more than a century, companies like Johnson & Johnson have used talc to make different types and brands of talcum powder.

Talcum powder may be sold as:

  • Baby powder
  • Body powder
  • Dusting powder
  • Shave powder
  • Other types of powder

Talc is often found near deposits of asbestos, a known carcinogen (cancer-causing substance). During the mining and milling process, talc sourced for talcum powder may become contaminated with asbestos.

Anyone who has used talc-based hygiene products is at an increased risk of asbestos exposure, as they may have unknowingly inhaled or otherwise come in contact with microscopic asbestos fibers while using the products.

Talcum Powder & Asbestos Exposure

Multiple studies have linked asbestos-contaminated talcum powder to cancer, including some that’ve shown women who used talcum powder in the genital area are about 30% more likely to develop ovarian cancer.

Did you know?

Women who use talc powder frequently have the greatest risk of ovarian cancer.

Scientists believe that talc particles may travel through the fallopian tubes and to the ovaries when talcum powder is used for feminine hygiene.

The use of talcum powder containing asbestos may also cause malignant mesothelioma, according to a case study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.

Other studies have shown that talc miners and millers (workers who process talc) are more likely to develop lung cancer and have connected talc use in men to testicular cancer.

“Talc that has asbestos is generally accepted as being able to cause cancer if it is inhaled.”

– American Cancer Society (ACS)

In addition to the American Cancer Society, numerous public health agencies have warned the public about the association between asbestos-containing talcum powder and cancer.

Notably, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), which is part of the World Health Organization (WHO), states that talc with asbestos “is carcinogenic to humans.”

By filing a talcum powder lawsuit, you can fight back against the companies that knew about the health risks related to their products but stayed quiet to keep making money.

Who Qualifies for the Talcum Powder Lawsuit?

You may be able to file a talcum powder lawsuit if you or a loved one:

  • Was a regular user of talc-based powder
  • Later developed mesothelioma, lung cancer, ovarian cancer, or another type of cancer

A successful talcum powder lawsuit can provide victims with money to help pay for their medical expenses, lost wages, and more.

If a loved one has passed away from a talcum powder cancer, you may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit and seek compensation for their remaining medical bills, pain and suffering, and other damages.

Not sure if you qualify? Contact our case managers at (888) 726-9160 right now to find out your eligibility for a talcum powder cancer lawsuit.

Steps to File a Talcum Powder Cancer Lawsuit

Talcum powder lawyers understand the challenges that accompany a cancer diagnosis, so they strive to make the legal process as easy and stress-free as possible. An experienced attorney can handle every step of your case, so you can focus on your health and family.

The basic steps involved in a talcum powder lawsuit are listed below.

1. Contact LawFirm.com to See If You Have a Case

LawFirm.com has case managers who can let you know if you may be eligible to file a talcum powder lawsuit. Get a free case review right now to learn about your options.

Our team can answer any questions you may have, and we’ll connect you with a top talcum powder lawyer if you have a case.

2. Collect Evidence

Your lawyer, along with a team of paralegals and medical experts, will gather evidence linking your cancer to the talcum powder(s) you used.

This evidence may include:

  • Information on your talc use (how often, what brands, and where it was purchased)
  • Medical records documenting your cancer diagnosis
  • Reports from medical experts linking asbestos in talc to cancer
  • Testimony from family members who saw you use the product

Using this information, your asbestos attorney will identify the talcum powder companies responsible for your cancer.

3. File Your Talcum Powder Cancer Lawsuit

Once your legal team has built a strong case, they will file your lawsuit in the court that’s most likely to result in a favorable outcome.

Talcum powder lawsuits have strict filing deadlines called statutes of limitations, so you should contact a lawyer as soon as possible. If you wait too long, you’llll miss your window of opportunity to seek compensation and justice.

4. Collect Compensation

Your legal team will fight for a talcum powder lawsuit settlement that covers your medical bills and other expenses. Asbestos settlements are less risky than trial verdicts and allow victims to access compensation faster and without going to court.

However, if a settlement can’t be reached, your team will be ready to argue your case in court before a judge and jury and fight for maximum compensation.

Talc Lawsuit Settlement & Verdict Amounts

Talcum powder product liability lawsuits have awarded billions of dollars to consumers harmed by their products.

Recent talcum powder lawsuit settlements and verdicts are as follows:

  • In October 2024, a Connecticut jury awarded $15 million plus a yet-to-be-determined amount of punitive damages to a J&J baby powder user with mesothelioma.
  • In July 2024, a jury ordered Avon Products Inc. to pay over $24 million to a Chicago man who worked as a janitor in an Avon facility that manufactured talc products.
  • In January 2024, J&J said it would pay $700 million to settle claims that it misled consumers about the safety of its talc products.
  • Johnson & Johnson was hit with an $18.8 million asbestos-talc verdict in November 2023. The case was later settled after J&J threatened an appeal.
  • In March 2023, a South Carolina jury said talc supplier Whittaker, Clark & Daniels must pay $29.14 million to a woman who developed mesothelioma at age 35 from asbestos-containing talc products.
  • A California jury found Avon liable for $50 million in damages to a woman who developed mesothelioma after using its talcum powders.
  • A Missouri appeals court ordered J&J to pay $2.1 billion to 20 women who said the company’s talc-based products caused them to develop ovarian cancer.
  • J&J agreed to settle about 1,000 talcum powder lawsuits consolidated in a mass tort for $100 million.

While the judicial system awards victims with verdicts totaling billons of dollars, new talcum powder lawsuits continue to be filed today.

Get a free case review now to find out if you may be eligible to pursue a talcum powder lawsuit settlement.

Factors Affecting Talc Settlement Amounts

While talcum powder lawsuit payouts will vary based on several factors, legal experts predict that talc settlement amounts could exceed $1 million in some cases.

Factors likely to influence settlement amounts include:

  • Cancer diagnosis: Cases involving victims with more serious diagnoses may obtain larger settlements.
  • Extent of use: Those who used talcum powder products for many years may have a stronger case, leading to higher settlement values.
  • Medical expenses: A talcum powder lawsuit settlement will likely take into consideration the amount of your current and future medical bills.
  • Strength of case: Cases with strong evidence linking a victim’s talc use to a talcum powder cancer may result in a substantial settlement. This evidence may include medical records confirming your diagnosis, reports from medical experts, and testimony from people who saw you buy and use talcum powder products.

Regardless of the unique factors of your potential case, you can rest assured that your talcum powder lawyer will fight to get you the most compensation possible.

Companies and Products Involved in Talcum Powder Lawsuits

While Johnson & Johnson has been named as a defendant in tens of thousands of talcum powder lawsuits, many other talc manufacturers, distributors, and retailers have been successfully sued.

For example, Avon and Colgate-Palmolive Co., which sell a variety of personal care products, have been ordered to pay tens of millions of dollars to those harmed by their products.

Similarly, over a dozen different talc products have been the subject of talcum powder lawsuits for their role in causing cancer.

These talcum powder products include:

  • Avon® beauty products
  • Cashmere Bouquet® talcum powder
  • Desert Flower® Dusting Powder
  • Gold Bond® Body Powder
  • Johnson’s Baby Powder
  • Old Spice® powder
  • Shower to Shower®
  • Other brands of talcum powder

Individuals who worked in jobs that required them to use talc-based powder, like barbers and hairdressers, are likely to have been exposed to asbestos-contaminated talc particles.

Other high-risk groups include talc miners and millers, as well as those who relied on talcum powder as part of their daily hygiene routine for decades.

LawFirm.com is providing regular talcum powder lawsuit updates, so consumers can keep themselves and their families safe and take legal action if necessary.

Get Help From a Talcum Powder Lawyer

Talcum powder lawyers can even the playing field for talc-cancer victims and help them fight back against powerful corporations like Johnson & Johnson that made and sold the products that made them sick.

By filing a talcum powder lawsuit, you can seek compensation to help pay for your medical expenses, lost wages, and pain and suffering and send a message to talcum powder companies that their actions won’t be tolerated.

The ovarian cancer lawyers that LawFirm.com works with have recovered over $10.1 billion for asbestos victims across the country.

Our legal partners:

  • Can help talc-cancer victims in all 50 states
  • Have resources to fight deep-pocketed corporations
  • Never charge any upfront fees

Call our case managers at (888) 726-9160 right now or fill out our online form to take the first step toward the justice and compensation you deserve.

Talcum Powder Lawsuits FAQs

Has anyone received a settlement from Johnson & Johnson?

Yes, thousands of asbestos-talc victims have gotten compensation from talcum powder lawsuits, either from settlements or trial verdicts.

In October 2024, Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiaries were ordered to pay $15 million to a baby powder user who developed mesothelioma.

J&J and other talcum powder companies have paid billions of dollars to people who developed mesothelioma or ovarian cancer after using asbestos-contaminated talcum powder and baby powder.

Get a free, no-obligation case review now to see if you may be entitled to compensation from a talcum powder lawsuit.

What is the average payout for the talcum powder lawsuit?

Johnson & Johnson lawsuit settlements will vary depending on the specifics of each case. These factors may include the type of cancer the victim has, their medical bills, and how long they used the asbestos-contaminated powder.

That said, J&J has already paid out billions of dollars to people who developed cancer after using the company’s talc products.

Call (888) 726-9160 right now to see if you may be eligible for a talcum powder lawsuit settlement.

What's going on with the talcum powder lawsuit?

Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has agreed to pay an additional $1 billion to resolve lawsuits alleging that its baby powder and other products made from talc cause ovarian cancer, according to a September 2024 report by Reuters.

In May 2024, the company proposed a $6.48 billion settlement, which was later approved by 75% of plaintiffs.

The talcum powder settlement proposal is the latest attempt by the company to put an end to the significant legal challenges it has faced over the years.

Why was talcum powder banned?

Talcum powder is still sold today, but it’s made from cornstarch instead of talc. Samples of talc-based powder have been found to contain asbestos, a cancer-causing substance.

Johnson and John stopped selling baby powder made from talc in the United States and Canada in 2020 after being named in about 38,000 talcum powder lawsuits.

Even though the company switched to a cornstarch-based product, it still maintains that its original powder was safe.

What is the average payout for a talcum powder lawsuit?

Talcum powder lawsuit payouts vary in amounts, depending on the type of cancer the victim developed and several other factors.

Talcum powder manufacturer Johnson & Johnson offered $8 billion to resolve tens of thousands of ovarian cancer and talcum powder lawsuits.

If the settlement becomes final, current and future talc ovarian cancer victims may receive between $75,000 to $150,000.

LawFirm.com will provide regular talcum powder lawsuit updates as settlement amounts are revealed.

How much do talcum powder lawyers charge?

The talcum powder attorneys in our network handle cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning they don’t charge upfront or out-of-pocket fees.

Instead, these attorneys get paid by taking a percentage of any compensation they secure for clients. If they don’t recover any money, you pay nothing.

This type of fee arrangement allows all victims equal access to justice regardless of their financial situation

Get a free consultation now to see if a top talcum powder lawyer can fight to get you the compensation you deserve.

Rae Theodore

Fact-Checked and Legally Reviewed by: Rae Theodore

Rae Theodore is a writer and editor with more than 30 years of experience in legal publishing. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English from Pennsylvania State University.

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  2. Bloomberg. (2024, April 20). “J&J, Kenvue Told to Pay $45 Million to Baby Powder User’s Family.” Retrieved October 16, 2024, from https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-04-20/j-j-kenvue-told-to-pay-45-million-to-baby-powder-user-s-family
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  6. Mealey’s Asbestos. (2024, January 9). “Illinois Jury Awards $30M In Household Asbestos Exposure Case.” Retrieved October 16, 2024, from https://www.lexislegalnews.com/mealeys/articles/1783800/illinois-jury-awards-30m-in-household-asbestos-exposure-case
  7. Moline, Jacqueline MD, MSc; Bevilacqua, Kristin MPH; Alexandri, Maya JD; Gordon, Ronald E. PhD. (2020, January). Mesothelioma Associated With the Use of Cosmetic Talc. Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Retrieved October 16, 2024, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31609780/
  8. National Center for Health Research. “Talcum Powder and Ovarian Cancer.” Retrieved October 16, 2024, from https://www.center4research.org/talc-and-ovarian-cancer/
  9. PR Newswire. (2024, July 29). “Jury Awards $24.4 Million to Chicago Area Family in Asbestos-Contaminated Talc Exposure Case Against Avon.” Retrieved October 16, 2024, from https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/jury-awards-24-4-million-to-chicago-area-family-in-asbestos-contaminated-talc-exposure-case-against-avon-302208233.html
  10. Reuters. (2024, October 15). “J&J must pay $15 million to man who says its talc caused his cancer, jury finds.” Retrieved October 16, 2024 from https://www.reuters.com/legal/jj-must-pay-15-mln-connecticut-man-who-says-its-talc-gave-him-cancer-jury-finds-2024-10-15/
  11. Reuters. (2024, September 5). “Johnson & Johnson adds $1.1 billion to proposed talc settlement.” Retrieved October 16, 2024, from https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/johnson-johnson-wins-over-longtime-holdout-talc-settlement-wsj-reports-2024-09-04/#
  12. Reuters. (2024, June 4). “J&J must pay $260 million in latest talc trial, Oregon jury says.” Retrieved October 16, 2024, from https://www.reuters.com/legal/jj-must-pay-260-million-latest-talc-trial-oregon-jury-says-2024-06-04/#
  13. Reuters. (2024, January 23). “J&J agrees to resolve 42 U.S. states’ talc investigations.” Retrieved October 16, 2024, from https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/jj-agrees-resolve-42-us-states-talc-investigations-2024-01-23/
  14. Reuters. (2023, March 6). “Talc supplier hit with $29 mln verdict in South Carolina trial.” Retrieved October 16, 2024, from https://www.reuters.com/legal/talc-supplier-hit-with-29-mln-verdict-south-carolina-trial-2023-03-06/
  15. Reuters. (2023, July 18). “J&J must pay $18.8 million to California cancer patient in baby powder suit.” Retrieved October 16, 2024, from https://www.reuters.com/legal/jj-must-pay-188-mln-california-cancer-patient-baby-powder-suit-2023-07-18/
  16. Reuters. (2022, August 12). “J&J to end global sales of talc-based baby powder.” Retrieved October 16, 2024, from https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/jj-stop-selling-talc-based-baby-powder-globally-2023-2022-08-11/
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