Juries have awarded more than $2.5 billion to people who developed cancer after using talcum powder products. The verdicts span from 2013 (the first plaintiff win) through ongoing 2026 trials, with amounts ranging from $250,000 to $4.69 billion. These awards reflect jury findings that Johnson & Johnson knew about the cancer risk and failed to warn consumers.
This page tracks every significant talcum powder verdict, organized chronologically. Verdicts include both ovarian cancer and mesothelioma cases, as both are part of the broader talc litigation.
2026 Verdicts
$250,000 (February 2026, Pennsylvania)
A Pennsylvania jury awarded $250,000 ($50,000 compensatory, $200,000 punitive) to the estate of a woman who used Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder for more than 45 years before dying of ovarian cancer in 2019. The punitive damages component reflected the jury’s finding that J&J’s conduct warranted punishment beyond compensating the family’s losses.
A separate ovarian cancer trial in Pennsylvania (the new state MDL) began in January 2026 and was ongoing as of February 2026.
$24 Million (January 2026, California)
A California court entered a $24 million default judgment against Chattem Inc. (maker of Gold Bond) after the company failed to respond to a mesothelioma lawsuit alleging asbestos-contaminated talc.
$42 Million (2026, Massachusetts)
A Massachusetts jury awarded $42 million in a talcum powder mesothelioma case against Johnson & Johnson.
2025 Verdicts
$1.5 Billion (December 2025, Baltimore)
A Baltimore jury awarded $1.5 billion to Cherie Craft, who developed peritoneal mesothelioma after decades of talcum powder use. This verdict, the largest individual talc award in history, included substantial punitive damages. The case alleged that J&J’s talc products were contaminated with asbestos and that the company concealed this risk from consumers.
$966 Million (October 2025, Los Angeles)
The estate of Mae Moore received a $966 million verdict from a Los Angeles jury. Moore developed mesothelioma allegedly from using J&J talcum powder products over many years. The verdict included both compensatory and punitive damages.
$40 Million (December 2025, California)
A California bellwether trial resulted in a $40 million verdict for two women who developed ovarian cancer after years of genital talcum powder use. This case was significant as one of the first federal bellwether trials to reach a verdict on ovarian cancer claims specifically.
2020 Verdict
$750 Million (2020, New Jersey)
A New Jersey jury awarded $750 million in a mesothelioma case against J&J. This verdict was among the first to exceed the billion-dollar mark when including all damages, though some components were later reduced on appeal.
2018 Verdict
$4.69 Billion (July 2018, St. Louis, Missouri)
The largest talcum powder verdict in history was awarded to 22 women and their families who alleged that decades of genital talc use caused their ovarian cancer. The St. Louis jury found that J&J acted with actual malice by failing to warn about the known risk.
The verdict consisted of:
- $550 million in compensatory damages (approximately $25 million per plaintiff)
- $4.14 billion in punitive damages
The Missouri Court of Appeals later reduced the verdict to approximately $2.12 billion (cutting the plaintiff group and adjusting damages), which the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review. Even reduced, it remains the largest talc verdict upheld on appeal.
2017 Verdicts
$417 Million (August 2017, Los Angeles)
Eva Echeverria was awarded $417 million after a Los Angeles jury found that her ovarian cancer was caused by decades of talcum powder use. The verdict was later overturned on procedural grounds and a retrial was ordered.
$110 Million (May 2017, St. Louis)
Lois Slemp, a Virginia woman with ovarian cancer, was awarded $110 million ($5.4 million compensatory, $105 million punitive) by a St. Louis jury.
$70 Million (March 2017, St. Louis)
Deborah Giannecchini received a $70 million verdict from a St. Louis jury for her ovarian cancer, which she attributed to decades of J&J Baby Powder use.
2016 Verdicts
$72 Million (February 2016, St. Louis)
The estate of Jacqueline Fox received the first major talcum powder verdict: $72 million ($10 million compensatory, $62 million punitive). Fox used J&J Baby Powder for 35 years before being diagnosed with ovarian cancer, from which she died in 2015. This verdict opened the floodgates for thousands of subsequent filings.
$55 Million (May 2016, St. Louis)
Gloria Ristesund was awarded $55 million after a St. Louis jury found that her ovarian cancer resulted from long-term talcum powder use.
2013: The First Win
Deane Berg (October 2013, South Dakota)
The first plaintiff to win a talcum powder ovarian cancer case was Deane Berg, who proved that J&J’s warnings were inadequate. However, the jury did not award damages, making it a symbolic victory that nonetheless established a legal precedent.
Complete Verdict Timeline
| Date | Amount | Plaintiff(s) | Cancer Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2026 | $250,000 | Estate | Ovarian | Pennsylvania |
| Jan 2026 | $42 million | Plaintiff | Mesothelioma | Massachusetts |
| Jan 2026 | $24 million | Plaintiff | Mesothelioma | California |
| Dec 2025 | $1.5 billion | Cherie Craft | Mesothelioma | Baltimore, MD |
| Dec 2025 | $40 million | Two women | Ovarian | California |
| Oct 2025 | $966 million | Mae Moore estate | Mesothelioma | Los Angeles, CA |
| 2020 | $750 million | Plaintiff | Mesothelioma | New Jersey |
| Jul 2018 | $4.69 billion | 22 women | Ovarian | St. Louis, MO |
| Aug 2017 | $417 million | Eva Echeverria | Ovarian | Los Angeles, CA |
| May 2017 | $110 million | Lois Slemp | Ovarian | St. Louis, MO |
| Mar 2017 | $70 million | D. Giannecchini | Ovarian | St. Louis, MO |
| May 2016 | $55 million | Gloria Ristesund | Ovarian | St. Louis, MO |
| Feb 2016 | $72 million | Jacqueline Fox estate | Ovarian | St. Louis, MO |
| Oct 2013 | $0 (liability found) | Deane Berg | Ovarian | South Dakota |
Several of these verdicts have been reduced on appeal or are subject to post-trial motions. The amounts listed are the original jury awards. The $4.69 billion Missouri verdict, for example, was reduced to approximately $2.12 billion. Even reduced amounts represent significant awards that demonstrate jury willingness to hold J&J accountable.
Patterns in the Verdicts
Mesothelioma Cases Command Higher Awards
Verdicts in talc-related mesothelioma cases tend to be significantly larger than ovarian cancer verdicts. The three largest individual awards ($1.5 billion, $966 million, $750 million) were all mesothelioma cases. This reflects the more direct causation link between asbestos (found as a contaminant in talc) and mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer with poor survival rates.
Punitive Damages Are Common
Many talc verdicts include substantial punitive damage components, often multiple times the compensatory amount. Punitive damages are awarded when juries find that the defendant acted with knowledge of the risk, willfully concealed information, or showed reckless disregard for consumer safety. J&J’s internal documents have been a key factor in these findings.
Geographic Concentration
St. Louis, Missouri has been the site of several major talc verdicts, including the $4.69 billion award. Missouri’s legal environment, including its approach to consolidating related cases and its jury pools, has been favorable to plaintiffs. However, verdicts have been won across multiple states, including California, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Massachusetts.
Appeals Often Reduce but Don’t Eliminate Awards
J&J has appealed most major verdicts. While some awards have been reduced (the $4.69 billion to $2.12 billion, for example), courts have generally upheld the underlying liability findings. The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to review the reduced Missouri verdict, allowing it to stand.
No Comprehensive Settlement Yet
Despite more than $2.5 billion in jury verdicts and 90,000+ pending lawsuits, no comprehensive settlement has resolved the bulk of ovarian cancer claims. J&J has proposed settlement amounts ranging from $6.5 billion to $9 billion through its bankruptcy strategy, but none have achieved the required claimant support.
A $700 million settlement in 2024 resolved claims from 42 states but focused on non-ovarian cancer claims and left the vast majority of ovarian cancer cases unresolved.
As trials continue and new verdicts accumulate, pressure on J&J to reach a global resolution increases. Some legal observers expect a settlement exceeding $10 billion may ultimately be necessary.
What is the average talcum powder settlement amount?▼
There is no publicly available “average” settlement for ovarian cancer talc cases, as most individual settlements are confidential. Jury verdicts have ranged from $250,000 to billions of dollars. The resolution amount in any individual case depends on factors including the severity of illness, strength of evidence, duration of talc use, and applicable state law.
Can jury verdicts be reduced after trial?▼
Yes. Defendants frequently file post-trial motions to reduce verdicts, and appellate courts can adjust awards. The $4.69 billion Missouri verdict was reduced to approximately $2.12 billion on appeal. However, the liability findings (that J&J was responsible) are typically upheld even when damage amounts are reduced.
Why are mesothelioma verdicts larger than ovarian cancer verdicts?▼
Mesothelioma is caused by asbestos, an established Group 1 carcinogen, making causation easier to prove. Mesothelioma is also an extremely aggressive cancer with median survival of 12 to 18 months, and the suffering involved often produces larger compensatory damage awards. In talc cases, the allegation is that the talc product was contaminated with asbestos, which is relatively straightforward to prove through product testing.
References
NPR. (2018-07-13). Jury Awards $4.7 Billion To Women In Johnson & Johnson Talcum Powder Suit.
https://www.npr.org/2018/07/13/628684038/jury-awards-4-7-billion-to-women-in-johnson-johnson-talcum-powder-suit
MesoWatch. (2025-12). J&J Talc Verdicts 2025.
https://mesowatch.org/news/2025/12/jj-talc-verdicts/
Reuters Legal. (2025-10). Mae Moore v. Johnson & Johnson: $966M Verdict.
https://www.reuters.com/legal/
Bloomberg Law. (2025-12). Cherie Craft v. Johnson & Johnson: $1.5B Talc Verdict.
https://news.bloomberglaw.com/
Law360. (2026-02). Pennsylvania Talc Ovarian Cancer Verdict.
https://www.law360.com/
Drugwatch. Talcum Powder Lawsuit Verdicts and Settlements.
https://www.drugwatch.com/talcum-powder/lawsuits/verdicts-settlements/