Core Viewpoint - A Minnesota jury awarded $65.5 million to a plaintiff who claimed Johnson & Johnson's talcum products contributed to her cancer, highlighting ongoing legal challenges for the company regarding the safety of its talc-based products [1][2]. Group 1: Legal Developments - The jury's decision came after a 13-day trial where the plaintiff's legal team argued that Johnson & Johnson knowingly sold talc products that could be contaminated with asbestos [2]. - Johnson & Johnson plans to appeal the verdict, maintaining that its baby powder is safe and does not contain asbestos [3][5]. - This case is part of a broader legal battle, with previous verdicts including a $40 million award to two women for ovarian cancer claims and a $966 million judgment related to mesothelioma [6]. Group 2: Product Safety Claims - Johnson & Johnson's representatives assert that decades of studies support the safety of their baby powder, claiming it does not cause cancer [5]. - The company ceased selling talc-based powder globally in 2023, indicating a shift in its product strategy amid ongoing litigation [4].

Core Viewpoint - A Minnesota jury awarded $65.5 million to a plaintiff who claimed that Johnson & Johnson's talcum products, which may have been contaminated with asbestos, contributed to her developing mesothelioma, a type of cancer affecting the lungs [1][2]. Legal Proceedings - Johnson & Johnson plans to appeal the jury's verdict, asserting that their baby powder is safe and does not contain asbestos [2][3]. - The trial lasted 13 days, during which the plaintiff's legal team argued that the company marketed talc-based products despite knowing the potential for asbestos contamination [2][4]. Company Response - Johnson & Johnson's vice president of litigation stated that the company's baby powder is safe and does not cause cancer, expressing confidence that the appellate court will reverse the decision [3][5]. - The company has faced ongoing legal challenges regarding the safety of its talc products, with previous cases resulting in significant awards against the company [4][6]. Industry Context - Johnson & Johnson ceased the sale of talc-based powder products globally in 2023, following mounting legal pressures and health concerns [4]. - Recent jury awards in similar cases highlight a trend of significant financial liabilities for the company related to claims of cancer caused by its talcum products [6].

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].

Core Viewpoint - A Los Angeles jury awarded $40 million to two women who allege that Johnson & Johnson's talcum powder caused their ovarian cancer, marking a significant development in ongoing litigation against the company [1][2]. Group 1: Legal Developments - The recent verdict is part of a long-standing legal battle regarding claims that talc in Johnson & Johnson's Baby Powder and Shower to Shower body powder is linked to ovarian cancer and mesothelioma [2]. - In October, another California jury ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $966 million to the family of a woman who died from mesothelioma, asserting that her cancer was due to asbestos contamination in the baby powder [3]. - The latest jury awarded $18 million to Monica Kent and $22 million to Deborah Schultz and her husband, highlighting the plaintiffs' long-term loyalty to the brand [4]. Group 2: Company Response and Strategy - Johnson & Johnson plans to appeal the jury's liability verdict and compensatory damages, asserting that it has won 16 out of 17 ovarian cancer cases previously tried [4]. - The company maintains that the jury's findings contradict decades of independent scientific evaluations that confirm talc is safe, does not contain asbestos, and does not cause cancer [5]. - In response to declining sales, Johnson & Johnson replaced talc in its baby powder with cornstarch in 2020 and faced a setback in April when a U.S. bankruptcy court judge denied its plan to pay $9 billion to settle related litigation claims [5].