Johnson & Johnson ordered to pay $40 million to 2 women: What is baby powder cancer case?

Core Viewpoint - A California jury awarded $40 million to two women who claimed that long-term use of Johnson & Johnson's baby powder led to their ovarian cancer, marking a significant legal development for the company [1][2]. Group 1: Legal Outcome - The jury ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $18 million to Monica Kent and $22 million to Deborah Schultz and her husband, after determining that the company was aware of the potential harm of its talc-based products for years [3]. - Kent was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2014, while Schultz received her diagnosis in 2018 [3]. Group 2: Company Response - Johnson & Johnson plans to appeal the jury's decision regarding both liability and compensatory damages [2]. - The company maintains that its products are safe and do not cause cancer, despite facing lawsuits from over 67,000 individuals claiming cancer development due to its talc products [6]. Group 3: Historical Context - The attorney for the plaintiffs stated that Johnson & Johnson had known since the 1960s about the potential cancer risks associated with its talc products [4]. - Johnson & Johnson ceased selling talc-based baby powder in the US in 2020 and ended global sales in 2023, transitioning to a cornstarch-based formula [6]. Group 4: Defense Arguments - Johnson & Johnson's attorney argued that the link between talc and cancer is not supported by major US health authorities and that no studies have shown talc traveling from the skin to reproductive organs [5].