$18.8M Talc Cancer Verdict: On July 18, 2023, a California jury returned its verdict in the amount of $18.8 million in favor of a 24-year-old California man who alleged that he developed mesothelioma as a result of heavy use of Johnson & Johnson baby powder containing talc that was allegedly contaminated with asbestos. The man alleged that he had used talcum powder since he was six years old. The jury did not award punitive damages after the six-week trial.
If or when the plaintiff will see any of the money that he was awarded is a big question. The vice president of litigation for Johnson & Johnson stated after the verdict that the defendant will appeal the verdict, further stating that the verdict was “irreconcilable with the decades of independent scientific evaluations confirming Johnson’s Baby Powder is safe, does not contain asbestos and does not cause cancer.” Also, Johnson & Johnson’s subsidiary LTL Management re-filed for bankruptcy protection in April 2023. As part of the re-filed bankruptcy application, LTL Management proposed to pay $8.9 billion over 25 years to resolve over 38,000 talc lawsuits. An earlier bankruptcy proposal to settle talc claims was rejected. Johnson & Johnson has indicated that talc-related settlements, verdicts, and related legal fees have already reached about $4.5 billion.
What Is Talc?
According to Johnson & Johnson, talc, commonly known as talcum powder, is a naturally occurring mineral. Chemically referred to as hydrated magnesium silicate, it has the formula H2Mg3(SiO3)4 or Mg3Si4O10(OH)2. Talc is a highly stable, chemically inert, odorless white powder. It is the world’s softest mineral.
The grade of talc used in cosmetics is of high purity, comparable to that used for pharmaceutical applications, and is free from asbestos and asbestiform fibers, according to Johnson & Johnson. Johnson & Johnson says that its cosmetic grade talc is only mined from select deposits from certified locations, and milled to relatively large, non-respirable particles size.
The most common cosmetic application for talc is in face, body, and baby powders. Talc has a characteristic soft, silky, and dry feel. The softness is derived from the unusual sheet like crystals, which easily glide past each other. The surfaces of individual crystal sheets are hydrophobic, while the edges are hydrophilic. On the skin, talc absorbs both oils and water, gives a cooling sensation, and helps to prevent chafing. Other applications include color cosmetics, soaps, toothpastes, antiperspirants, chewing gum, and drug tablets.
In one study reported in 2014 that was designed to investigate one historic brand of cosmetic talcum powder associated with mesothelioma in women, the researchers stated: “we found that a specific brand of talcum powder contained identifiable asbestos fibers with the potential to be released into the air and inhaled during normal personal talcum powder application. We also found that asbestos fibers consistent with those found in the same cosmetic talc product were present in the lungs and lymph node tissues of a woman who used this brand of talc powder and developed and died from mesothelioma.” The research was paid for by attorneys for litigation purposes.
If you or a loved one were harmed as a result of a talc product, such as baby powder, in the United States, you should promptly consult with a talc lawyer in your state who may investigate your talcum powder cancer claim for you and represent you in a claim against the manufacturer of an unreasonably dangerous consumer product, if appropriate.
Visit our website to be connected with talc claim lawyers in your state who may assist you, or telephone us toll-free in the United States at 800-295-3959.
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