A Boston jury has awarded $42.6 million to the family of Paul Lovell, a Melrose, Massachusetts, man who developed mesothelioma after approximately 40 years of using Johnson & Johnson’s talc-based baby powder and Shower to Shower products. The verdict, delivered in Suffolk Superior Court in July 2025, is believed to be the largest mesothelioma verdict in Massachusetts history.
The Verdict Breakdown
The jury found Johnson & Johnson liable for negligence and breach of warranty, concluding that the company’s talc products were contaminated with asbestos that directly caused Lovell’s mesothelioma.
The $42.6 million total includes $24 million for past and future pain and suffering to Paul Lovell, $2.6 million in medical expenses, and $16 million to his wife Kathryn Lovell for loss of consortium.
The Case
Paul and Kathryn Lovell filed suit in 2021, alleging that he inhaled asbestos fibers from J&J’s contaminated talc over decades of daily use. Lovell testified that he used J&J’s baby powder for approximately 40 years, applying it to himself and his children.
Internal company documents presented at trial revealed that J&J knew for decades about asbestos contamination in its talc but concealed the risks, manipulated testing methods to minimize the likelihood of detecting asbestos, and continued to market the product as safe. Jurors determined that asbestos fragments in the talc, not the talc itself, triggered Lovell’s mesothelioma.
Talc itself is not classified as a carcinogen. The risk comes from asbestos contamination. Talc and asbestos are minerals that form in similar geological conditions, and talc mined from deposits near asbestos veins can contain asbestos fibers. Multiple trials have presented evidence that J&J’s talc suppliers mined from deposits where asbestos was present.
Massachusetts Verdict Pattern
The Lovell case is part of a pattern of significant verdicts in Massachusetts courts. In June 2025, a Suffolk County jury awarded $8 million to 84-year-old Janice Paluzzi on similar claims involving J&J baby powder. Since mid-2025, Massachusetts courts alone have produced more than $50 million in verdicts against J&J for talc-related mesothelioma.
Nationally, the toll continues to mount:
- $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
- $25 million to Evan Plotkin in Connecticut (October 2024 verdict, enhanced 2025)
As of early 2026, more than 67,000 talc lawsuits remain pending against the company in the nation’s largest product liability multidistrict litigation.
J&J’s Response
J&J has vowed an immediate appeal, maintaining its talc was asbestos-free and safe. The company has stated that the product was discontinued due to market trends rather than safety concerns. Appeals in product liability cases can take one to three years and may result in reduced awards.
However, consistent losses across multiple jurisdictions may push settlement discussions. A mediator was appointed for the ovarian cancer subset of claims in July 2025, though no resolution has been announced for mesothelioma cases.
What was the Lovell v. Johnson & Johnson verdict?▼
A Boston jury awarded $42.6 million to Paul and Kathryn Lovell in July 2025. The jury found J&J liable for negligence and breach of warranty, concluding that asbestos contamination in J&J’s talc-based baby powder directly caused Paul Lovell’s mesothelioma. The verdict is believed to be the largest mesothelioma verdict in Massachusetts history.
How was Paul Lovell exposed to asbestos through talc?▼
Lovell used Johnson & Johnson’s talc-based baby powder and Shower to Shower products for approximately 40 years, applying them to himself and his children. Talc mined from deposits near asbestos veins can contain asbestos fibers. Internal J&J documents showed the company was aware of contamination but concealed the risks and manipulated testing methods.
How many talc lawsuits are pending against J&J?▼
As of early 2026, more than 67,000 talc-related lawsuits remain pending against Johnson & Johnson in federal and state courts, making it the largest active product liability multidistrict litigation. The company has settled approximately 95% of mesothelioma-specific claims but faces a growing number of ovarian cancer cases heading to trial.
Is J&J still selling talc-based baby powder?▼
No. Johnson & Johnson stopped selling talc-based baby powder in the US in 2020 and discontinued global sales in 2023, switching to cornstarch. The company states the change was driven by market preferences. However, decades of exposure before the product was reformulated have led to ongoing health consequences and litigation.