Key Facts
- $1.56 billion total verdict, the largest individual talc award ever
- Cherie Craft, 54, diagnosed with mesothelioma in January 2024
- Used J&J baby powder for over 40 years
- Includes $1 billion in punitive damages against J&J
- J&J announced immediate appeal
On December 23, 2025, a Baltimore County Circuit Court jury returned a historic $1.56 billion verdict against Johnson & Johnson in favor of Cherie Craft, a 54-year-old Maryland woman who developed mesothelioma after decades of using the company’s talc-based baby powder. The verdict is the largest individual award in the 15-year history of talc-cancer litigation.
The Verdict Breakdown
| Damages Type | Amount |
|---|---|
| Compensatory damages | $59.84 million |
| Punitive damages (J&J) | $1 billion |
| Punitive damages (Pecos River Talc) | $500 million |
| Total | $1.56 billion |
The jury found that Johnson & Johnson and its subsidiary Pecos River Talc LLC (created as part of J&J’s bankruptcy strategy) engaged in “fraudulent misrepresentation or concealment” regarding cancer risks and employed “unlawful means” in selling their talc products.
Cherie Craft’s Story
Craft used Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder for over 40 years before being diagnosed with mesothelioma in January 2024. Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure, with a median survival of 12-21 months after diagnosis.
Her attorneys presented evidence that J&J concealed decades of internal documentation showing the company was aware of potential asbestos contamination in its talc supply. They argued that J&J kept this information from regulators, doctors, and customers while continuing to market the product, often to women and babies.
J&J’s Response
Johnson & Johnson immediately announced plans to appeal the verdict, calling it “egregious and patently unconstitutional.” A company spokesperson stated:
“The trial court committed gross errors that led to this outcome. Decades of independent scientific testing has confirmed that Johnson’s Baby Powder is safe, does not contain asbestos, and does not cause cancer.”
The company has consistently maintained that its talc products are and have always been asbestos-free, despite numerous jury verdicts finding otherwise.
Context: Largest Talc Verdicts
The Craft verdict surpassed all previous individual talc awards:
| Year | Verdict | Plaintiff | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1.56 billion | Cherie Craft | Baltimore, MD |
| 2025 | $966 million | Estate of Mae K. Moore | Los Angeles, CA |
| 2020 | $750 million (reduced to $185M) | 4 mesothelioma patients | New Jersey |
| 2018 | $4.69 billion (reduced to $2.1B) | 22 ovarian cancer plaintiffs | St. Louis, MO |
The St. Louis verdict remains the largest total talc award, but involved 22 plaintiffs. The Craft verdict is the largest individual award in talc litigation history.
The 2025 Verdict Trend
The Craft verdict capped a devastating year for Johnson & Johnson in talc litigation:
Major 2025 Talc Verdicts
| Month | Verdict | Case | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| October 2025 | $966 million | Mae K. Moore | 88-year-old California woman, mesothelioma |
| December 2025 | $65.5 million | Anna Jean Carley | 37-year-old mother, mesothelioma |
| December 2025 | $40 million | Los Angeles | Bellwether trial, compensatory damages |
| December 2025 | $1.56 billion | Cherie Craft | Largest individual verdict ever |
These verdicts came after J&J’s third bankruptcy attempt through its Red River Talc subsidiary, which sought to resolve all talc claims through a proposed $8 billion settlement. That effort remains pending while individual cases continue to go to trial.
Will the Verdict Stand?
Large talc verdicts have historically been reduced on appeal, though liability findings typically remain intact:
- The 2018 St. Louis verdict was reduced from $4.69 billion to $2.12 billion
- The 2020 New Jersey verdict was reduced from $750 million to approximately $185 million
- Many other verdicts have been similarly reduced based on constitutional limits on punitive damages
Legal experts expect the Craft verdict to face similar reductions, potentially to a 4:1 or lower ratio of punitive to compensatory damages. Even with reductions, the verdict would likely remain in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
What This Means for Patients
For Mesothelioma Patients
The Craft verdict demonstrates that juries continue to hold J&J accountable despite the company’s ongoing bankruptcy maneuvers. For patients diagnosed with mesothelioma who have a history of talc product use:
- Individual lawsuits remain viable despite J&J’s bankruptcy attempts
- Significant compensation is possible for those with strong evidence of talc exposure
- Time is critical, mesothelioma patients have limited life expectancy, making prompt legal action essential
For Pending Claimants
Approximately 62,000 talc lawsuits remain pending against J&J. The Craft verdict may influence:
- Settlement negotiations in pending cases
- J&J’s willingness to increase its bankruptcy settlement offer
- Other juries’ assessments of damages in upcoming trials
The Asbestos-Talc Connection
The core allegation in talc-mesothelioma cases is that talc deposits naturally occur near asbestos deposits, and that J&J’s mining and testing practices failed to prevent asbestos contamination. Key points:
- Talc and asbestos can form in the same geological environments
- Mesothelioma is caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure
- Internal J&J documents allegedly showed company awareness of contamination risks dating to the 1970s
J&J disputes all these allegations, maintaining its products have always been safe and asbestos-free.
Mesothelioma patients have limited life expectancy, making prompt legal action essential. The Craft verdict demonstrates that individual lawsuits remain viable despite J&J’s bankruptcy attempts, and significant compensation is possible.
What was the Craft verdict?▼
A Baltimore County jury awarded $1.56 billion to Cherie Craft, a 54-year-old woman who developed mesothelioma after using J&J baby powder for over 40 years. The verdict includes $59.84 million in compensatory damages and $1.5 billion in punitive damages against J&J and its subsidiary. It’s the largest individual talc award ever.
Will the full verdict be paid?▼
Probably not. Large talc verdicts have historically been reduced on appeal—the 2018 St. Louis verdict was reduced from $4.69 billion to $2.12 billion, and the 2020 New Jersey verdict from $750 million to $185 million. However, even reduced verdicts typically remain in the hundreds of millions.
What does this mean for pending lawsuits?▼
Approximately 62,000 talc lawsuits remain pending against J&J. The Craft verdict may influence settlement negotiations, J&J’s bankruptcy settlement offers, and other juries’ damage assessments. It demonstrates juries continue to hold J&J accountable despite the company’s bankruptcy maneuvers.
How does talc cause mesothelioma?▼
Talc and asbestos form in the same geological deposits. During mining, asbestos fibers can contaminate talc ore. Mesothelioma is caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure. Internal J&J documents allegedly showed company awareness of contamination risks since the 1970s.