Imerys Talc America—the major talc manufacturer responsible for supplying Johnson & Johnson with talc for its baby powder products—has reportedly agreed to pay at least $5 million in ovarian cancer settlements for 22 women.

The ovarian cancer settlements come after a talcum powder lawsuit was filed over 22 women who alleged that their usage of talc powder for feminine hygiene purposes led to their ovarian cancer diagnoses. According to reports, Imerys agreed to make the ovarian cancer settlements just before the trial was set to official begin.

When a company like Imerys or Johnson & Johnson makes ovarian cancer settlements with injured plaintiffs, this typically does not actually concede the defendant’s liability. Instead, ovarian cancer settlements work to bring an end to litigation and offer compensation for the injured party. In some cases, ovarian cancer settlements can end in awards of tens or millions of dollars.

More and more consumers are filing lawsuits against Imerys and Johnson & Johnson—so far, the companies have been named as defendants in more than 9,000 lawsuits over contaminated baby powder talc.

Link Between Talcum Powder and Ovarian Cancer

Some baby powder products are, or used to be, made of substance known as talc. However, studies have linked talcum powder and cancer risk. Furthermore, the use of talcum-based powders—including Johnson & Johnson’s popular Shower to Shower—in the genital area has been linked with an increased risk of ovarian cancer diagnosis.

This use of Johnson & Johnson’s Shower to Shower baby powder for feminine hygiene purposes is something that generations of women have done—and indeed, something that the company itself has advertised as a safe and effective usage for these generations of women.

While Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder products have been a popular option for decades, an ever-growing pile of litigation claims that using the product in this manner may put women in danger of developing ovarian cancer.

Pursuing Ovarian Cancer Settlements

Lawsuits allege that Johnson & Johnson failed to give adequate warning about the risk of ovarian cancer linked with its baby powder products, and even misrepresented the safety of the products in its advertising, despite knowledge of the connection between talcum powder and ovarian cancer.

If you or someone you love has used baby powder as part of a regular feminine hygiene routine, and have since been diagnosed with ovarian cancer, you may be able to file a lawsuit.

While filing a lawsuit cannot take away the pain and suffering caused by ovarian cancer, and cannot bring a loved one back to life, ovarian cancer settlements can help to alleviate the financial burden caused by medical expenses and lost wages.