April 5, 2023 — Johnson & Johnson has offered to pay thousands of people an $8.9 billion settlement to resolve lawsuits involving cancer from talcum powder products.
Johnson & Johnson recently failed to end the talc litigation with a controversial legal tactic called the Texas Two-Step, which involves creating a subsidiary company for the specific purpose of offloading lawsuits. The subsidiary then files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
After a judge rejected the plan, Johnson & Johnson said it will have the subsidiary re-file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and seek court approval for the $8.9 billion settlement, payable over 25 years.
The settlement would apply to at least 60,000 people who blame talc-based baby powder and other talcum powder products for causing them to develop ovarian cancer or mesothelioma.
Lawyers for Johnson & Johnson denied any wrongdoing as part of the settlement. Even so, last year the company announced that it would stop all sales of talcum powder products worldwide.
The company said it was a business decision to stop selling talc, rather than concern about health problems.
According to Erik Haas, Johnson & Johnson’s worldwide vice president of litigation:
“Resolving these cases in the tort system would take decades and impose significant costs on LTL and the system, with most claimants never receiving any compensation.”
Over the past few years, Johnson & Johnson has lost several high-profile trials after juries found the company liable for failing to warn people about the risk of cancer from talcum powder.
The company has been ordered to pay hundreds of millions of dollars in jury verdicts. For example, in May 2017, a jury in St. Louis awarded $110 million to a woman from Virginia who developed ovarian cancer.
Do I have a Talc Cancer Lawsuit?
The Schmidt Firm, PLLC is currently accepting talcum powder and baby powder induced injury cases in all 50 states. If you or somebody you know was diagnosed with ovarian cancer or mesothelioma from talcum powder, you should contact our lawyers immediately for a free case consultation. Please use the form below to contact our Product Liability Litigation Group or call toll free 24 hours a day at (866) 920-0753.
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