Johnson & Johnson Hit with $966 Million Talc-Cancer Verdict; Jury Rules Against New Jersey–Based Company
What happened
A Los Angeles jury has ordered Johnson & Johnson (JNJ.N) to pay $966 million to the family of Mae Moore, an 88-year-old California woman who died in 2021 from mesothelioma, finding the company liable for selling talc products allegedly contaminated with asbestos.
The verdict includes $16 million in compensatory and $950 million in punitive damages, though the total could be reduced on appeal under U.S. Supreme Court guidelines limiting punitive awards.
J&J said it will appeal immediately, calling the verdict “egregious and unconstitutional.” The company maintains its products are safe, asbestos-free, and do not cause cancer, noting it stopped U.S. sales of talc baby powder in 2020 in favor of a cornstarch version.
J&J faces over 67,000 lawsuits alleging its talc products cause cancer. While most involve ovarian cancer, a smaller group—including Moore’s case—centers on mesothelioma. Federal courts have rejected three company attempts to resolve the litigation through bankruptcy, and trials continue nationwide.
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