On October 6, 2025, a Los Angeles County jury ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $966 million to the family of Mae K. Moore, a pastor’s wife who died from mesothelioma in 2021 after a lifetime of using the company’s talc-based products. The jury found J&J 100% responsible for her cancer and death.
The Verdict Breakdown
| Damages Category | Amount | Recipient |
|---|---|---|
| Physical pain and emotional distress (Mae Moore) | $6 million | Estate |
| Loss of companionship (daughters) | $10 million | Joy Moore, Kathryn Pratt, Carol Farquharson |
| Total compensatory | $16 million | : |
| Punitive damages | $950 million | : |
| Grand total | $966 million | : |
The $950 million in punitive damages, nearly 60 times the compensatory award, reflected the jury’s finding that J&J acted with “malice, oppression, or fraud.”
Mae Moore’s Story
Mae K. Moore, a California resident and pastor’s wife, used Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower to Shower products throughout her life. In 2021, at age 88, she was diagnosed with mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure.
Timeline
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| February 9, 2021 | Mae Moore files personal injury lawsuit |
| December 29, 2021 | Mae Moore dies from mesothelioma |
| February 18, 2022 | Lawsuit amended to wrongful death claim |
| October 6, 2025 | Jury returns $966 million verdict |
After her death, her three daughters, Joy Moore, Kathryn Pratt, and Carol Farquharson, continued the lawsuit on behalf of her estate and for their own loss of their mother.
What the Jury Found
After weeks of testimony, the jury unanimously concluded:
- Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower to Shower contained asbestos
- J&J was negligent in manufacturing and selling the products
- That negligence directly caused Mae Moore’s mesothelioma
- J&J intentionally failed to disclose known health risks
- J&J acted with malice, oppression, or fraud
The jury assigned 100% of the liability to Johnson & Johnson, finding no fault with Mae Moore for her product use.
Mae Moore died before her case went to trial, but her three daughters continued the lawsuit. The large wrongful death verdict demonstrates that families can pursue claims even after a patient’s death—and that courts take these cases seriously.
J&J’s Response
Erik Haas, J&J’s worldwide vice president of litigation, called the verdict “egregious and unconstitutional” and announced immediate plans to appeal.
The company maintains its position that:
- Its talc products are safe
- They do not contain asbestos
- They do not cause cancer
J&J stopped selling talc-based baby powder in the United States in 2020, switching to a cornstarch-based formula.
Context: The Largest Single-Plaintiff Verdict
At the time, the Moore verdict was the largest individual talc verdict in the 15-year history of talc litigation. That record was broken just two months later by the $1.56 billion Cherie Craft verdict in Baltimore.
Largest J&J Talc Verdicts
| Date | Verdict | Case | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2025 | $1.56 billion | Cherie Craft | Baltimore |
| Oct 2025 | $966 million | Mae Moore | Los Angeles |
| Jun 2020 | $750 million | 4 plaintiffs | New Jersey |
| Jul 2018 | $4.69 billion | 22 plaintiffs | St. Louis |
The Punitive Damages Question
The $950 million in punitive damages will likely be challenged on appeal. Courts have generally held that punitive damages exceeding a 4:1 or 9:1 ratio to compensatory damages may be unconstitutional.
Potential Post-Trial Reductions
| Scenario | Ratio | Potential Award |
|---|---|---|
| Original verdict | 59:1 | $966 million |
| 9:1 ratio | 9:1 | $160 million |
| 4:1 ratio | 4:1 | $80 million |
Even with substantial reductions, the verdict would remain in the tens of millions of dollars, and the finding of liability would typically remain intact.
Litigation Statistics
The Moore verdict came amid massive ongoing talc litigation:
| Metric | Number |
|---|---|
| Total pending J&J talc lawsuits | 67,000+ |
| Mesothelioma claims (subset) | ~1,000 |
| Ovarian cancer claims | 60,000+ |
| States with pending cases | 50 |
Why Mesothelioma Cases Are Different
Mesothelioma cases against J&J have distinct characteristics:
Causation Is Clearer
- Mesothelioma is caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure
- Unlike ovarian cancer (where causation is debated), the asbestos-mesothelioma link is established science
- If talc products contained asbestos, mesothelioma would be an expected consequence
Higher Verdicts
Mesothelioma verdicts have generally been larger than ovarian cancer verdicts:
| Cancer Type | Average Verdict | Median Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| Mesothelioma | $100M+ | $50M+ |
| Ovarian cancer | $30-50M | $20-30M |
Shorter Timelines
Mesothelioma’s poor prognosis creates urgency:
- Median survival: 12-21 months
- Courts often expedite mesothelioma trials
- Patients may not survive lengthy litigation
What This Means for Patients and Families
For Those Diagnosed with Mesothelioma
If you used talc products and were diagnosed with mesothelioma:
- Document your product use history as thoroughly as possible
- Consult with an experienced attorney who handles asbestos cases
- Understand that time is limited, both for health reasons and statute of limitations
For Families of Deceased Patients
The Moore case demonstrates that families can continue litigation after a patient’s death:
- Wrongful death claims remain viable
- Damages can include both the deceased’s suffering and family members’ losses
- Large verdicts are still possible in posthumous cases
The Asbestos-Talc Science
The core allegation in all J&J talc-mesothelioma cases:
- Geological reality: Talc and asbestos minerals can form in the same deposits
- Contamination risk: Mining talc near asbestos can result in contaminated product
- Corporate knowledge allegations: Plaintiffs claim internal J&J documents show awareness of contamination risk dating to the 1970s
- Testing disputes: Parties disagree about what J&J’s historical testing showed
J&J disputes all these characterizations and maintains its products have always been safe.
What did the jury find?▼
The jury found that Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower to Shower contained asbestos, that J&J was negligent in manufacturing and selling them, that this negligence directly caused Mae Moore’s mesothelioma, and that J&J acted with malice, oppression, or fraud. J&J was assigned 100% liability.
Will the verdict amount be reduced?▼
Likely yes. Courts have generally held that punitive damages exceeding a 9:1 ratio to compensatory damages may be unconstitutional. The original 59:1 ratio ($950M punitive on $16M compensatory) will likely be reduced, but the liability finding would typically remain intact.
Why are mesothelioma verdicts larger than ovarian cancer verdicts?▼
Mesothelioma is caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure—causation is clearer than with ovarian cancer. Courts also often expedite mesothelioma trials given the poor prognosis (12-21 months median survival). These factors lead to larger verdicts averaging $100M+.
Can families sue after a patient dies?▼
Yes. The Moore case demonstrates families can continue litigation and pursue wrongful death claims. Damages can include both the deceased’s suffering and family members’ losses. Large verdicts remain possible in posthumous cases.