Johnson & Johnson Takes Third Major Loss In Talcum Powder Lawsuit

Recently a jury in St. Louis determined that Johnson & Johnson is to pay $70 million to a plaintiff who claimed that their talcum powder products contributed to the development of her ovarian cancer. The 62-year-old plaintiff had used baby powder for feminine hygiene for more than four decades until three years ago when she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer.

Previous Settlements In Talc Trials

The new verdict is the third of its kind when it comes to talc trials involving Johnson & Johnson, according to Bloomberg. The previous verdicts included personal injury and product liability totaling  $72 million and $55 million against the company. The trials took place in St. Louis and are currently undergoing appeal. These cases and thousands of others follow the first talcum powder case that was filed in 2009. In that case, a woman from  a woman from Sioux Falls, South Dakota was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2006 when she was 49 years old after having used Johnson & Johnson powder for feminine hygiene purposes for many years. The plaintiff filed the complaint claiming Johnson & Johnson should be held accountable for gross negligence and fraud. Though a jury confirmed the association between cancer and talcum powder, the plaintiff was offered no compensatory damages.  

Ovarian Cancer And Its Deadly Effects

According to The American Cancer Society, cancer starts when cells in the body begin to grow out of control. Cells in nearly any part of the body can become cancer, and can spread to other areas of the body. Each type of cell is capable of developing into a different kind of tumor which can be either malignant or benign. Most tumors are benign and never spread beyond the ovary.They can be treated by removing either the ovary or the part of the ovary that contains the tumor, the group says. Malignant tumors, however, can spread and in some instances can be fatal. Ovarian cancer is the 8th most common cancer among women in the United States and the 5th most common cause of cancer deaths in women.