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 the largest verdict of its kind in ongoing talc litigation.
For patients and families facing ovarian cancer linked to talc use, this decision underscores the growing legal accountability for companies whose products may have contributed to their diagnoses. It offers validation after years of illness, mounting medical bills, and emotional strain, while signaling potential pathways for compensation in the midst of more than 67,000 pending lawsuits nationwide. These cases highlight how everyday hygiene products, used by generations of women, allegedly carried hidden asbestos risks that elevated cancer odds—studies show a 33% increased risk for those applying talc to the genital area.
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. 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. Plaintiffs’ arguments centered on J&J’s alleged failure to warn consumers despite knowing about these risks for over 50 years, including tests showing asbestos in their supplies.
This ruling fits into a broader pattern of multimillion-dollar judgments against J&J. Prior awards include $110 million in 2017 to a Missouri woman who used J&J talc for 40 years; $70 million in 2016 to a California woman with a similar history; and a $2.12 billion reduction from an initial $4.69 billion for 22 women in Missouri. J&J also settled for $700 million in 2024 with 42 states over misleading safety claims, admitting no wrongdoing, and $100 million in 2020 for over 1,000 ovarian cancer and mesothelioma claims. Courts have criticized J&J for prioritizing profits over safety, with one appeals ruling noting the company “disregarded the safety of consumers.”
The talc multidistrict litigation (MDL) now encompasses 67,204 active cases, fueled by recent filings like 294 new ovarian cancer suits between September and October 2025. Additional consolidations, such as a Pennsylvania state court MDL launched in June 2025 with 25 initial plaintiffs, provide more avenues for claimants. J&J continues to defend its products’ safety but faces pressure from verdicts like this one and others, including mesothelioma awards of $966 million and $42.6 million in late 2025.
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, tracking the federal talc MDL or state proceedings remains crucial, as expert testimony on asbestos links continues to sway juries.