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 22, 2025, a Baltimore City 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 peritoneal mesothelioma after decades of using the company’s talc-based baby powder. The case, Craft v. Ahold Delhaize US Inc. (No. 24-X-000005), produced the largest single-plaintiff award in the history of talc-cancer litigation against J&J.
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 Pecos River Talc LLC (a J&J-affiliated entity formed in 2024 to handle talc liabilities, part of the broader bankruptcy strategy lineage) 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 Moore | Los Angeles, CA |
| 2020 | $750 million (reduced to $185M) | Four people with mesothelioma | 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 | Estate of Mae Moore | Los Angeles, mesothelioma (died 2021) |
| December 2025 | $65.5 million | Anna Jean Carley | Minnesota, 37-year-old mother, mesothelioma |
| December 2025 | $40 million | Los Angeles | Two plaintiffs, ovarian cancer |
| December 2025 | $1.56 billion | Cherie Craft | Baltimore, largest single-plaintiff verdict |
These verdicts followed J&J’s third bankruptcy attempt, filed through its Red River Talc subsidiary with a proposed ~$8 billion plan to resolve ovarian cancer claims. The U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas dismissed that case on March 31, 2025. J&J announced it would not appeal and would return to the tort system to litigate claims individually.
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 analysts anticipate the Craft verdict will face similar scrutiny on the ratio of punitive to compensatory damages, typically reviewed under constitutional due-process standards (such as BMW v. Gore). Even with reductions, the award would likely remain in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
What This Means for Patients
For people with mesothelioma
The Craft verdict shows that juries continue to hold J&J accountable after the company’s most recent bankruptcy plan was dismissed. For people diagnosed with mesothelioma who have a history of talc product use, the ruling signals:
- Individual lawsuits remain a viable path following the March 2025 dismissal of Red River Talc’s Chapter 11 case
- Substantial jury awards are possible where evidence of talc exposure is well documented
- Statutes of limitations vary by state and can be shorter than for other personal injury claims
For pending claimants
More than 67,000 talc lawsuits are pending in the federal MDL, with tens of thousands more in state courts. The Craft verdict may influence:
- Settlement negotiations in pending cases
- J&J’s strategy for resolving talc claims outside bankruptcy
- 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 has a short median survival after diagnosis, and state statutes of limitations for filing claims vary. The Craft verdict shows individual talc lawsuits continue after the March 2025 dismissal of J&J’s Red River Talc bankruptcy plan.
What was the Craft verdict?▼
A Baltimore City Circuit Court jury awarded $1.56 billion to Cherie Craft, a 54-year-old woman who developed peritoneal mesothelioma after using J&J baby powder for more than 40 years. The verdict includes $59.84 million in compensatory damages and $1.5 billion in punitive damages ($1 billion against J&J and $500 million against Pecos River Talc LLC). It is the largest single-plaintiff talc award in the litigation’s history.
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?▼
More than 67,000 talc lawsuits are pending in the federal MDL against J&J, with tens of thousands more in state courts. The Craft verdict may influence settlement negotiations, J&J’s post-bankruptcy litigation strategy, and other juries’ damage assessments. It shows juries continue to hold J&J accountable after the March 2025 dismissal of the Red River Talc Chapter 11 plan.
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.