J&J ordered to pay record $1.5B in talc cancer lawsuit — while vowing to appeal ‘unconstitutional' ruling

Core Viewpoint - A Baltimore jury has ordered Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiaries to pay over $1.5 billion to a woman who claimed that decades of exposure to asbestos in the company's talc-based products caused her peritoneal mesothelioma, a form of cancer [1][6]. Legal Outcome - The jury found Johnson & Johnson, two of its subsidiaries, and spinoff Kenvue liable for failing to warn the plaintiff, Cherie Craft, that its baby powder contained asbestos [1]. - The award includes $59.84 million in compensatory damages and $1.5 billion in punitive damages, with $1 billion against Johnson & Johnson and $500 million against Pecos River Talc [3]. Company Response - Johnson & Johnson plans to appeal the jury's decision, which is noted as the largest-ever sum awarded against the company for a single plaintiff [2]. - The company described the ruling as "egregious" and "patently unconstitutional," asserting that the decision was based on "gross errors" by the trial court [5][10]. Product Safety Claims - Johnson & Johnson maintains that its talc products are safe and do not contain asbestos, citing decades of studies to support this claim [7]. - The company faces lawsuits from over 67,000 plaintiffs who allege that they developed cancer after using its talc products, a claim that Johnson & Johnson has consistently denied [7]. Litigation Context - The Maryland verdict adds to a series of significant awards against Johnson & Johnson in talc-related cases, although many of these awards have been reduced or overturned on appeal [8]. - Johnson & Johnson has previously attempted to resolve litigation through a proposed bankruptcy settlement, which was rejected by courts [8]. - The company has set aside billions for litigation costs and settlements as it continues to contest claims in courts across the country [9].