Philadelphia Jury Finds J&J Liable in Talc Cancer Case, Awards $250K

A Philadelphia County jury on Friday found Johnson & Johnson liable for the death of Gayle Emerson, a tax preparer and Philadelphia native who developed ovarian cancer after decades of using J&J’s talc-based baby powder. The jury awarded $250,000 to her estate.

The verdict marks the first talc plaintiff win in Philadelphia since trials resumed following J&J’s failed bankruptcy strategy, which froze roughly 175 cases in the city for nearly five years.

Verdict Breakdown

The jury deliberated for three and a half days before returning:

• $50,000 in compensatory damages
• $200,000 in punitive damages

The punitive finding means the jury concluded that J&J’s conduct went beyond negligence, warranting punishment.

The Trial

The three-week trial in Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas, before Judge Sean Kennedy, centered on whether asbestos in J&J’s talc products caused Emerson’s ovarian cancer. Emerson used J&J’s talc-based baby powder for feminine hygiene from 1969 to 2017. She was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2015 at age 64 and died in 2019 at age 68. Her son and daughter continued the lawsuit on behalf of her estate.

Plaintiff attorney Leigh P. O’Dell of Beasley Allen Law Firm argued that “Johnson & Johnson hid the presence of asbestos from the FDA, regulators, and consumers like Ms. Emerson since the 1960s.” During closing arguments, O’Dell pointed to J&J’s $72.27 billion net worth and urged jurors to award punitive damages that “send a clear message.”

Defense attorney Shaila Diwan of Kirkland & Ellis argued “the evidence shows this was not caused by Johnson’s baby powder,” citing Emerson’s medical history, including douche use, obesity, age, and family history as alternative explanations.

J&J’s Response

J&J’s Worldwide Vice President of Litigation called the amount a “token verdict” that “reflects the jury’s appreciation that the claims were meritless and divorced from the science.” The company announced plans to appeal.

Philadelphia’s Talc Backlog

This was only the second talc case to reach a Philadelphia jury. The first, in 2021, ended in a defense verdict for J&J. Between that trial and this one, J&J’s subsidiary LTL Management filed for bankruptcy twice in attempts to resolve talc claims through a limited settlement. Both filings were dismissed by federal courts, and cases resumed in 2025.

Approximately 175 talc cases remain on Philadelphia’s docket. The Emerson verdict could influence how those cases proceed, as plaintiff attorneys now have a local liability finding to point to.

Part of Broader Verdict Pattern

The Philadelphia award comes amid a string of talc verdicts against J&J across multiple states:

• $1.56 billion to Cherie Craft in Baltimore (December 2025)
• $966 million to Mae Moore’s family in California (October 2025)
• $65.5 million to a Minnesota mother with pleural mesothelioma (December 2025)
• $42.6 million to the Lovell family in Massachusetts (January 2026)
• $25 million to Evan Plotkin in Connecticut (October 2025)

More than 67,000 talc lawsuits remain pending against J&J nationwide. The company has now lost two consecutive trials since its bankruptcy plan was rejected, after recording zero plaintiff wins during the extended stay.