A federal bankruptcy court’s rejection of Johnson & Johnson’s third bankruptcy filing has given mesothelioma and ovarian cancer victims a green light to pursue justice against the company, resulting in a dramatic surge in personal injury claims against the company.
Denial of Bankruptcy Settlement Leads to 17% Surge in Mesothelioma & Ovarian Cancer Claims
Following reports of asbestos contamination in Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder and other talc-based products, mesothelioma and ovarian cancer victims have named the company as a defendant in personal injury claims seeking compensation for the damages they’ve suffered, but those claims have been put on hold due to the company’s controversial pursuit of bankruptcy protection.
In 2024, there were an estimated 40,000 mesothelioma and ovarian cancer claims pending against the company, and as the courts have repeatedly rejected the premise for its bankruptcy filing, that number has increased. In December 2024, there were 62,830 claims pending, but a Houston judge’s ruling that Johnson & Johnson couldn’t use its subsidiary’s Chapter 11 filing to force consumers to settle claims against it cleared the way for new lawsuits to proceed in regular state and federal courts. As a result, those numbers have surged by 17%, reaching approximately 73,570 pending lawsuits by last month.
Mesothelioma Litigation Expected to Grow Beyond 93,000 Cases
Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Holly Froum studies the impact of liability on companies’ financial health, and has predicted that there could eventually be more than 93,000 mesothelioma and cancer cases filed against Johnson & Johnson and that the company may end up paying as much as $11 billion to resolve all current and future suits.
News of a recent $966 million jury award to the family of a mesothelioma victim whose death followed a lifetime of baby powder use, as well as the more than $3 billion Johnson & Johnson has already spent settling talc lawsuits, is encouraging other victims to move forward. The first ovarian cancer claim trial since the bankruptcy ruling will take place in California next month, and other trials are scheduled to be held in state courts in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Illinois, and Florida. A federal judge in New Jersey is also preparing the first federal court trial of thousands of consolidated cases that had been delayed by the repeated bankruptcy filings.
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or ovarian cancer following the use of a talc product or any other asbestos exposure, the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net can help. Contact us today at 1-800-692-8608 for immediate assistance.
