Johnson & Johnson faced two legal lawsuits in the US and UK in recent times. Its talc-based baby powder has become one of the most protracted mass tort cases in corporate history. With the Johnson & Johnson baby powder lawsuit of 1.3B in the UK and 966M in the US.

The possible link between its talc powder to ovarian cancer and mesothelioma has raised too many questions. After decades of use, consumers have found that the talc powder is contaminated with asbestos fibers.  With such lawsuits and claims, J&J’s global financial exposure gets tens of billions of dollars of setback. Following the result, they even spun off the consumer health division, Kenvue.

The Johnson and Johnson Baby Powder Lawsuit History:

The allegation claimed that Johnson & Johnson was aware of potential asbestos contamination in its talc supply. Litigation records and internal company memos suggest that J&J scientists were aware of “fibrous” material.

They have known since the 1960s that the talc powder contained tremolite and actinolite. Plaintiffs allege the company actively suppressed the information. They also failed to perform their duty ofc care towards their consumers by not disclosing the findings.

What’s worse, the company even lobbied regulators to maintain less sensitive testing standards. They didn’t purposefully switch to the cornstarch alternative. Instead, it began offering in 1980.

The first major legal defeats occurred in St. Louis, Missouri, in 2016. The landmark verdict included a $72 million award to the Jacqueline Fox family. Another $110 million was awarded to Lois Slemp.

More importantly, the verdict established the link between genital talc use and ovarian cancer. The largest verdict to date was a staggering $4.69 billion award to 22 women in 2018. Although it was later reduced on appeal to $2.1 billion, Johnson & Johnson has been under question since then. Also, the Johnson and Johnson baby powder scandal reduced their market reputation to rubble.

The “Texas Two-Step”: J&J’s Controversial Legal Strategy

J&J employed the controversial “Texas Two-Step” strategy following the billions in lawsuits. It aimed to consolidate and limit its exposure. In October 2021, J&J used a divisive merger under Texas law to split the company.

They created LTL Management LLC (Legacy Talc Liability). It was a new subsidiary burdened with all talc-related legal liabilities. They strategically transferred all the valuable operating assets elsewhere. Just two days later, LTL Management filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in New Jersey.

Shrewdly, they misused the bankruptcy process to halt all pending lawsuits against the parent company. It also established a multi-billion-dollar trust fund to resolve the claims, capping J&J’s financial liability.

All the plaintiff’s attorneys fiercely opposed the move. They argued it was an abusive attempt by a financially healthy company like Johnson & Johnson to evade accountability. J&J had committed to funding LTL’s obligations. The U.S. federal courts rejected the gambit multiple times.

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that LTL Management was not in “genuine financial distress.” It was a prerequisite for a good-faith Chapter 11 filing. The court emphasized:

“A solvent parent company cannot voluntarily manufacture financial distress in a subsidiary for the sole purpose of achieving a mass tort settlement in bankruptcy court.”

J&J then attempted to refile and propose settlement trusts. It included a proposal of almost $8 billion. However, their attempts to use the bankruptcy system have been rejected. It increased pressure on J&J to negotiate a comprehensive, global settlement outside of the bankruptcy framework.

The $966 Million Los Angeles Mesothelioma Verdict

The Los Angeles court pronounced a $966 million lawsuit in October 2025. It is the largest individual award against Johnson & Johnson in the talc litigation to date. The case involved the family of Mae Moore.

She was 99 when she died in 2021. She was a California resident. Moore’s family argued that she died from the fatal mesothelioma. It was a cancer linked to asbestos exposure. The cancer was caused by her lifelong use of Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower to Shower talc products. The evidence suggested the company knew about asbestos fibers in its talc supply for decades. Yet it failed to warn consumers.

The Los Angeles Superior Court jury found Johnson & Johnson liable. So, the Johnson and Johnson baby powder lawsuit payout included:

The punitive amount was to punish J&J for its malicious practice in concealing the known risks. , Erik Haas, J&J’s Worldwide Vice President of Litigation, announced the company would appeal the “egregious and unconstitutional” verdict.

Its defense has been continuously arguing that the claims are based on “junk science.” The defendant also claimed that its talc products are safe. However, the 950M punitive damage suggests that the jury found the company willfully negligent.

The $1.3 Billion UK High Court Group Claim

The Johnson and Johnson baby powder cancer lawsuit has expanded beyond North America. In the past week, a group of claimants filed a lawsuit in the UK High Court. It has become a new major threat to J&J and its consumer health spin-off, Kenvue.

The KP Law firm filed the group action lawsuit. They represent over 3,000 individuals, mostly women diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The total compensation is estimated to exceed £1 billion (approximately $1.3 billion). The ovarian cancer claim lawsuit is the first major group litigation order against the company in the UK for its talc products.

The lawsuit covers all the usage from 1965 to 2023. So, it covers until J&J discontinued talc sales in Britain.

The UK claimants’ central allegation is similar to the U.S. litigation:

They prioritized profit over consumer safety.

Following a corporate restructuring, J&J spun off its consumer health division into Kenvue. It is a separate, publicly traded entity. Kenvue retained the responsibility and liability for talc-related litigation outside of the United States and Canada.

So, Kenvue UK Limited is a defendant in this UK High Court case. Kenvue maintains the same rigorous defense as J&J. Like its parent company, it claimed that it had been maintaining the highest standard of safety protocols. Also, their talc powder is 100% safe, according to their research findings.

 The Johnson & Johnson Controversy: Talc, Asbestos, and Corporate Knowledge:

The core of the Johnson & Johnson controversy depends on the link between talc and asbestos. The Johnson and Johnson baby powder ingredients include talc. Talc, or hydrated magnesium silicate, is a naturally occurring mineral. You often find it near deposits of asbestos.

However, asbestos is a known human carcinogen. Plaintiffs’ experts argue that during the mining and processing of J&J’s cosmetic talc, the product became contaminated with asbestos fibers.

It was contaminated with tremolite and actinolite from the nearby asbestos deposits. It happened as J&J didn’t ensure a safe supply chain for their talk. As a result, the contaminated talc in the final baby powder also contained the cancer carcinogen.

People applied talc powder on their skin. And with it, these microscopic fibers are alleged to migrate into the body. It caused chronic inflammation and cellular damage. The long use of J&J talc powder and its exposure ultimately led to cancer.

Internal company documents suggest J&J experts were aware of “fibrous” minerals in their talc supplies. Also, they addressed the issue and tried to develop methods to solve the problem internally. However, they never make their consumer aware of it.

So, the allegations fueled further. Plaintiffs argued that the company hide a known health hazard consciously. J&J continues to refute this. They always argued that their quality control measures were worldclass. So, the talc used in their powder was pure and asbestos-free.

Potential Health Risks: The Alleged Side Effects of Johnson & Johnson Talc Powder:

The Johnson & Johnson lawsuits focused on several serious health.  No doubt, the main argument centered around the link between contaminated talc and ovarian cancer. However, there are other side-effects, including, mesothelioma, peritoneal cancer, etc. As a consumer, you should be aware of these Johnson and Johnson health risks.

Other Respiratory Conditions and Skin Issues

Litigation for the Johnson & Johnson talc powder also included non-malignant conditions. From Asbestosis, to skin irritation, there’re many minor side-effects of J&J talc powder use. It includes breathing shortness, skin irritation and allergic effects.

Johnson and Johnson Baby Powder Attorney – The Ledger Law Firm

The Johnson and Johnson baby powder cancer lawsuit is a multi-district litigation. Also, it is complex as the attorney must prove a causal link between the use of J&J talc baby powder with the cancer.

For this, you need experienced legal counsel. First, it’s crucial to understand who is eligible to file a J&J lawsuit claim. It includes individuals diagnosed with ovarian cancer or mesothelioma after using talc-based Johnson’s Baby Powder.

Ledger Law Firm is ready to fight for your Johnson & Johnson talc powder lawsuit. Our expert pharmaceutical(Johnson & Johnson) attorneys will analyze the case and fight for you.

Conclusion:

Johnson & Johnson baby powder lawsuit highlights the risks of different consumer products. You should be conscious about using regular consumer products. Also, if you have been using J&J talc powder, be aware of its consequences. If you have been diagnosed with cancer or other side-effects of using their baby powder, contact Ledger Law Firm for a free case evaluation.