A Los Angeles jury has sided with Johnson & Johnson in a lawsuit brought by the families of three women who alleged the company's talc-based products caused ovarian cancer. The jury found the company was not negligent in the marketing of its cosmetic talc products.
The lawsuit was filed by the families of Mary Owens, Bonnie Tienken, and Geneva Williams, all of whom died from ovarian cancer after using talc-based baby powder.
More than 67,000 plaintiffs have sued Johnson & Johnson, alleging its baby powder and other talc products caused ovarian cancer.
While Johnson & Johnson has won some cases outright—including a trial in Oklahoma last week—juries in other cases have awarded plaintiffs substantial damages.
Johnson & Johnson stopped selling its talc-based baby powder in the United States in 2020, switching to a cornstarch-based product.
Johnson & Johnson Vice President of Litigation Erik Haas stated the case was based on "junk science."
Attorney Ari Friedman, representing one of the plaintiffs, called the verdict "disappointing."
Johnson & Johnson has settled the majority of cases alleging its products caused mesothelioma, a rare cancer linked to asbestos.
Virtually all of the remaining cases allege the talc products cause ovarian cancer.
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