Ovarian Cancer News: Johnson & Johnson in Court Again

Other cases already litigated include:

• In 2013, a South Dakota federal court found Johnson & Johnson negligent but did not award any settlement to the woman whose ovarian cancer was in remission.
• In May 2016, a lawsuit resulted in a $72 million award to the family of a woman who died from ovarian cancer after many years of using Johnson & Johnson talcum powder for feminine hygiene.
• Also in May 2016, an award of $55 million was awarded to a woman in Missouri for the same allegations
• In May of 2017, $110 million was awarded to a Virginia woman. The additional import of this case is that charges were brought against both Johnson & Johnson and their talc supplier.

A common thread in the lawsuits is the women’s requests that Johnson & Johnson be required to put a safety warning on their talcum powder regarding the possible risk of contracting ovarian cancer from use of the products in the perineal area.
According to The New York Times, “Only a few lawsuits have gone to trial, but so far most of the decisions have gone against the company.” It is noted that a Johnson & Johnson spokesperson said the verdicts “contradicted 30 years of research supporting the safety of the cosmetic talc” and that the company plans to appeal all the settlement awards.