$24.6M Default Judgment in Gold Bond Talc Case
Los Angeles court enters default judgment against Martin Himmel Inc. after the former Gold Bond owner lost counsel and stopped participating.
A Los Angeles County Superior Court judge awarded $24.6 million to Stephen Anderson, a man with mesothelioma who alleged that decades of exposure to asbestos-contaminated Gold Bond talc powder caused his cancer. Judge Bruce G. Iwasaki entered the default judgment in February 2026 after the defendant, Martin Himmel Inc., abandoned its defense.
Martin Himmel Inc. owned the Gold Bond brand from 1990 to 1996. The company was served with the lawsuit in November 2024 and initially responded by filing an answer in February 2025. But the company’s legal counsel withdrew in October 2025, and Martin Himmel failed to retain new representation or participate further in the case.
How the Default Happened
A default judgment occurs when a defendant fails to respond to or participate in a lawsuit. In this case, Martin Himmel Inc. did initially engage. The company filed an answer to the complaint, which means it acknowledged the lawsuit and contested the claims.
The turning point came when the company’s attorneys withdrew in October 2025. After counsel was relieved, the court struck Martin Himmel’s answer following a hearing. With no defense on record and no attorney of record, the court entered a default.
Anderson’s legal team then submitted a brief in December 2025 requesting $60 million in non-economic damages and $4.63 million in economic damages. Judge Iwasaki awarded $20 million in non-economic damages (covering pain and suffering) and the full $4.63 million in economic damages (covering medical costs and lost income), for a total of $24.6 million.
The Plaintiff’s Exposure History
Anderson alleged that he was exposed to asbestos-contaminated Gold Bond talc powder both as a child (when the product was applied to him) and through personal use from 1984 to 2007. The case was part of a multi-defendant lawsuit, with Martin Himmel Inc. being one of the companies named.
Gold Bond is a well-known consumer brand that has included talcum powder among its products. Martin Himmel Inc. owned the brand during the 1990s before selling it to Chattem Inc. for $40 million in 1996. Chattem was later acquired by Sanofi.
Asbestos contamination in talc products has been a subject of litigation for years. Talc and asbestos are minerals that can occur in geological proximity, and talc mined from contaminated deposits may contain asbestos fibers if not rigorously tested and purified.
Context: Rising Talc Verdicts
Recent talc-related mesothelioma verdicts include:
- $1.56 billion against Johnson and Johnson in Baltimore (December 2025)
- $966 million against Johnson and Johnson in California (October 2025)
- $51 million against Avon, affirmed on appeal (March 2026)
- $20 million against Johnson and Johnson in Florida (October 2025)
The trend reflects growing judicial and jury willingness to hold talc manufacturers accountable for asbestos contamination in consumer products. Many talc brands reformulated or discontinued talc-based products in recent years, though legacy exposure claims continue to generate litigation.
A default judgment means the defendant did not contest the case. Martin Himmel Inc. may seek to have the default set aside by demonstrating good cause for its failure to participate. The company could also appeal the judgment amount.
What a Default Judgment Means
Default judgments are unusual in asbestos litigation, where defendants typically mount aggressive defenses. A company losing its counsel and failing to retain new attorneys suggests financial or operational difficulties that prevented continued participation.
For people with mesothelioma pursuing legal claims, the case illustrates that not all defendants have the resources or willingness to fight through trial. Some companies that manufactured, distributed, or sold asbestos-containing products no longer operate or have limited ability to defend claims.
The judgment is enforceable against Martin Himmel Inc.’s assets, though collecting on a judgment from a company that has effectively stopped participating in litigation can present practical challenges.
References
Goldberg Segalla. (2026-03-09). $24.6 Million Default Judgment: Anderson v. Martin Himmel Inc..
https://www.goldbergsegalla.com/blog/asbestos-case-tracker/mesothelioma/judge-enters-24-6m-default-judgment-in-asbestos-talc-suit/
Goldberg Segalla. (2026-03-01). Stephen Anderson et al. v. BorgWarner Morse Tec Inc. et al. (LexisNexis Jury Verdicts and Settlements).
https://www.goldbergsegalla.com/app/uploads/2026/03/Stephen-Anderson_-et-al.-v.-BorgWarner-Morse-Tec-Inc._-et-al_-2026-LexisNexis-Jury-Verdicts-_-Settl.pdf
Reader Q&A
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a default judgment?
What is Gold Bond talc powder?
Can asbestos in talc powder cause mesothelioma?
How does this compare to other asbestos verdicts?
What is the average payout for a mesothelioma settlement?
Average mesothelioma settlements range from $1 million to $1.4 million for people with mesothelioma filing personal injury or wrongful death claims. Trial verdicts average higher, from $2.4 million to $20.7 million, though fewer than 5% of cases reach trial. Asbestos trust fund payouts average $300,000 to $400,000. Actual amounts vary by case factors like exposure history and defendant liability. These figures come from law firm reports on 2026 cases.
How did Steve McQueen get mesothelioma?
Steve McQueen was exposed to asbestos through multiple occupational and military sources over several decades. His primary exposure occurred during his service in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1947 to 1950, when he worked aboard naval ships and in shipyards, including removing asbestos lagging from pipes at Camp Lejeune. After his military service, he encountered additional asbestos exposure on movie soundstages where insulation contained the mineral, while wearing flame-resistant racing suits made with asbestos, and while working on race car and motorcycle brakes. McQueen did not develop symptoms until 1978, nearly 30 years after his initial military exposure, reflecting the typical latency period of 20 to 50 years between asbestos exposure and mesothelioma diagnosis. He was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma in December 1979 and died in November 1980 at age 50.
How much is the talcum powder lawsuit going to payout?
Talcum powder lawsuits linked to mesothelioma in people with exposure to asbestos-contaminated products have resulted in varied payouts, with averages for mesothelioma claims reported between $1 million and $1.4 million according to Mealey’s Asbestos Litigation Report. Legal industry estimates place general talc settlements lower, around $500,000 per plaintiff, though individual verdicts range from $8 million to over $966 million before reductions. Johnson & Johnson has proposed multi-billion-dollar funds, such as $6.48 billion in 2024, but final per-person amounts depend on case details like diagnosis severity and usage duration, with many resolved confidentially.
Is mesothelioma 100% fatal?
Mesothelioma has a very poor prognosis, with a median survival of approximately one year from diagnosis and a five-year survival rate of 10-12%. However, it is not universally 100% fatal. Some people with mesothelioma have survived for extended periods with multimodal treatment (surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation), and survival outcomes vary significantly based on cancer stage, histological type, and individual response to treatment. Peritoneal mesothelioma, for example, shows better one-year survival rates (92%) compared to pleural mesothelioma (approximately 40% 1-year survival per SEER), suggesting that type and early detection can influence outcomes. While the disease remains highly aggressive and fatal in the majority of cases, advances in treatment protocols continue to improve survival rates incrementally.