A Los Angeles jury awarded $40 million to two women who developed ovarian cancer after decades of using Johnson & Johnson’s talc-based body powders, marking one of the largest verdicts of its kind in ongoing talc litigation.
The verdict, handed down on December 12, 2025, in Los Angeles Superior Court, granted $22 million to Debra Schulz and her husband, and $18 million to Monica Kent.
The Plaintiffs’ Cases
Both plaintiffs relied on J&J’s Shower-to-Shower powders for feminine hygiene over many years before their ovarian cancer diagnoses. Jurors found that J&J’s talc products caused their cancers, pointing to evidence of asbestos contamination in raw talc and finished powders from the 1970s through early 2000s, per internal company documents.
The plaintiffs’ arguments centered on J&J’s alleged failure to warn consumers despite knowing about these risks for over 50 years, including internal tests showing asbestos in their supplies.
A Pattern of Accountability
This ruling fits into a broader pattern of multimillion-dollar judgments against J&J in talc cases:
- $110 million (2017) to a Missouri woman who used J&J talc for 40 years
- $70 million (2016) to a California woman with similar exposure history
- $2.12 billion reduced from $4.69 billion for 22 women in Missouri
J&J also settled for $700 million in 2024 with 42 states over misleading safety claims, and $100 million in 2020 for over 1,000 ovarian cancer and mesothelioma claims.
The Ongoing Litigation
The talc multidistrict litigation (MDL) now encompasses more than 67,000 active cases, fueled by recent filings including 294 new ovarian cancer suits between September and October 2025.
Studies have shown a 33% increased risk of ovarian cancer for women applying talc to the genital area—a risk that internal J&J documents suggest the company may have understood for decades.
What Happens Next
Johnson & Johnson will likely appeal, as it has in past cases, potentially extending timelines for resolution. Meanwhile, thousands of women await trial dates or settlement talks in federal and state courts.
For those affected by talc-related cancers, these verdicts signal that juries are increasingly willing to hold manufacturers accountable when internal documents reveal knowledge of hidden risks.