In the face of mounting legal troubles accusing its popular baby powder of causing malignant mesothelioma and ovarian cancer, Johnson & Johnson closed the book on one aspect of those troubles, reaching a $700 million settlement with a multistate coalition of attorneys general representing 43 U.S. states. The lawsuit accused the company of deceptively promoting and misleading consumers in ads regarding the safety and purity of its talcum powder products.
$700 Million Settlement Linked to Mesothelioma and Ovarian Cancer
The lawsuit filed by the attorneys general is separate from the over 61,000 pending personal injury lawsuits filed by individual victims of malignant mesothelioma and ovarian cancer. The states’ original lawsuit was filed on behalf of consumers, and the settlement agreement’s consent judgment includes terms specific to the protection of the residents of the states whose attorneys general filed it. The settlement agreement led to Johnson & Johnson agreeing that:
- They have stopped and will not resume manufacturing, marketing, promotion, sale, and distribution of all baby and body powder products and cosmetic powder products that contain talcum powder.
- That they will stop the manufacture of any of those products in the United States either directly, or indirectly through any third party.
- That they will stop all marketing and promotion of any of those products in the United States either directly, or indirectly through any party.
- That they will stop all sales and distribution of any of those products in the United States either directly, or indirectly, through any party.
States’ Original Claims Point to Mesothelioma and Ovarian Cancer Injuries of Residents
A statement issued by New Jersey’s Attorney General Matthew Platkin, one of the plaintiffs in the original claim, read in part, “The states allege that for decades, the company deceptively marketed the products to women and teenage girls as safe, pure, and gentle for daily use, including around the genital area, despite knowing that studies and other information showed that Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower to Shower Powder were sometimes tainted with carcinogenic asbestos and that women who used talc-based powders in the genital area had an increased risk of ovarian cancer compared to those women who did not.”
The statement continues, “The company blatantly promoted the products as safe and pure while possessing internal information about a carcinogen and while ignoring mounting external evidence about possible health effects. I am gratified that we achieved this settlement for the sake of many consumers who were injured by Johnson & Johnson’s actions. This is an egregious betrayal of consumer trust that never should have happened.”
If you or someone you love has been harmed through the use of Johnson & Johnson’s talcum powder product or any other exposure to asbestos, the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net can help. Contact us today at 1-800-692-8608 to learn more.
