$40M Verdict Against J&J in California Ovarian Cancer Case
Los Angeles jury awards $40 million to two women who developed ovarian cancer after decades of using Johnson & Johnson talc-based body powders.
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. The verdict, handed down on December 18, 2025, in Los Angeles Superior Court before Judge Theresa Traber, is the first ovarian cancer talc verdict for plaintiffs in four years, breaking a silence imposed by J&J’s three failed bankruptcy attempts.
The jury granted $22 million to Deborah Schultz and her husband Albert, including $13.5 million in compensatory damages and $8.5 million for loss of consortium. Monica Kent received $18 million. Jurors found J&J liable for negligence, failure to warn, and concealment of asbestos risks.
The Plaintiffs’ Cases
Both women relied on J&J’s talc-based baby powder for feminine hygiene for more than 50 years before their ovarian cancer diagnoses. The six-week bellwether trial presented internal company documents and testimony indicating that J&J detected asbestos contamination in its talc as far back as the 1960s and 1970s but concealed this from regulators and consumers.
Former FDA Commissioner Dr. David Kessler testified about J&J’s decades-long failure to disclose safety risks, including evidence that the company manipulated research findings. Medical experts presented evidence that long-term genital talc use increases ovarian cancer risk by more than 50%, with consistent exposure potentially doubling the risk.
More than 30 peer-reviewed studies over the past 40 years have found a statistically significant association between talcum powder use and ovarian cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified talc used in the genital area as “probably carcinogenic to humans.”
First Plaintiffs’ Win Since 2021
This verdict marks the first time plaintiffs prevailed in an ovarian cancer talc trial since 2021. That year, Johnson & Johnson created a subsidiary called LTL Management, transferred its talc liabilities to it, and filed for bankruptcy protection, halting all scheduled trials on ovarian cancer claims. Federal courts rejected this “Texas Two-Step” strategy three times, in 2021, 2023, and again in April 2025, allowing trials to resume.
The California case was the first of six paired bellwether trials scheduled through mid-2026. A second set began in January 2026.
A Pattern of Accountability
The Schultz and Kent verdict joins a pattern of substantial awards against J&J:
- $1.56 billion to Cherie Craft in Baltimore (December 2025), the largest single talc verdict
- $966 million to Mae Moore’s family in California (October 2025)
- $65.5 million to a Minnesota mother with pleural mesothelioma
- $42.6 million to Paul Lovell’s family in Massachusetts (July 2025)
- $4.69 billion Missouri verdict for 22 women, later reduced to $2.12 billion
J&J stopped selling talc-based baby powder in the US in 2020 and discontinued global sales in 2023, switching to cornstarch. The company maintains the change was driven by market preferences rather than safety concerns.
What Happens Next
Johnson & Johnson announced plans to immediately appeal, maintaining its talc products were safe and asbestos-free. At least 10 additional bellwether trials are scheduled through the first half of 2026, with more than 70,000 talc claims pending in federal and state courts nationwide.
For people affected by talc-related cancers, the verdict signals that juries are willing to hold manufacturers accountable when internal documents reveal knowledge of concealed risks, even after years of litigation delays. This verdict is part of a broader pattern of California mesothelioma and asbestos verdicts and adds to the state’s substantial case volume, with 298 new diagnoses in 2022 alone.
Reader Q&A
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the California jury find in the J&J talc case?
The Los Angeles Superior Court jury found Johnson & Johnson liable for negligence, failure to warn, and concealment of asbestos risks in its talc-based body powder. The jury awarded $22 million to Deborah Schultz and her husband and $18 million to Monica Kent, both of whom developed ovarian cancer after more than 50 years of using J&J products.
Why is this verdict significant?
This was the first ovarian cancer talc verdict for plaintiffs since 2021. Johnson & Johnson’s three failed bankruptcy attempts had halted all ovarian cancer trials for four years. The verdict reopens the path to accountability for more than 70,000 pending claims.
What evidence linked talc to ovarian cancer?
More than 30 peer-reviewed studies over the past 40 years have found a statistically significant correlation between genital talc use and ovarian cancer risk. Internal J&J documents showed the company detected asbestos in its talc as early as the 1960s but did not disclose this to consumers or regulators.
How many lawsuits are pending against J&J over talc?
As of late 2025, more than 70,000 talc-related lawsuits remain pending against Johnson & Johnson in federal and state courts. The company reports settling approximately 95% of mesothelioma-specific claims, but the majority of pending cases involve ovarian cancer.
What is the talcum powder lawsuit?
Talcum powder lawsuits target manufacturers like Johnson & Johnson, alleging that prolonged genital use of talc-based products such as Baby Powder caused ovarian cancer in women and mesothelioma due to asbestos contamination, with claims of failure to warn consumers despite internal awareness since the 1970s. As of April 2026, over 67,000 cases are pending in federal multidistrict litigation, plus state court filings exceeding 90,000 total. Juries have issued multi-billion-dollar verdicts, including $4.69 billion in 2018 for 22 women with ovarian cancer and $8 million in 2026 for a woman with mesothelioma, though many are under appeal. In 2025, a federal court rejected Johnson & Johnson’s third bankruptcy resolution attempt. An NIH study in the Journal of Clinical Oncology linked talcum powder use to ovarian cancer risk.
Is it too late to sue Johnson and Johnson?
No, it is not too late to sue Johnson & Johnson for talcum powder claims as of May 2026. The multidistrict litigation (MDL) includes 67,623 pending claims, with new lawsuits still being added monthly. Statutes of limitations vary by state, typically 1-6 years from cancer diagnosis or a loved one’s death, so people with mesothelioma or ovarian cancer from alleged asbestos in talc products may still qualify depending on their timeline. Three J&J subsidiary bankruptcy attempts to resolve claims have been rejected, keeping cases active. Trial lawyers continue filing suits amid ongoing mediation.
How much will I get for my talcum powder lawsuit?
Talcum powder lawsuit settlements for people with mesothelioma linked to asbestos-contaminated talc range from $1 million to $1.4 million on average, according to reports from legal analysts tracking asbestos litigation. Individual amounts vary based on factors like diagnosis severity, medical costs, exposure duration, and lost income, with some verdicts exceeding $1 billion before appeals or settlements. Overall talcum claims, including ovarian cancer cases, have averaged around $500,000 per plaintiff in proposed global settlements like Johnson & Johnson’s $8.9 billion offer for 60,000 claims. Final payouts are often confidential, and companies settle without admitting liability.
Is Johnson's baby powder now talc free?
Johnson & Johnson discontinued talc-based baby powder worldwide in 2023, replacing it with a cornstarch-based formula containing ingredients like tricalcium phosphate, vitamin E, and aloe barbadensis leaf juice. The current Johnson’s Baby Powder with Aloe & Vitamin E is marketed as talc-free and dermatologist-tested for gentle use on baby skin. Historical concerns involved asbestos contamination in talc, with FDA findings in one 2019 sample, though J&J maintained its talc met USP standards and was asbestos-free. Consumers should check product labels for “talc”, “talcum powder”, or “magnesium silicate” to confirm talc-free status. Ongoing lawsuits, including a 2025 UK case by 3,000 people alleging asbestos awareness since the 1960s, continue despite the formulation change.