Johnson & Johnson talc lawsuit overview:
- Who: A Los Angeles jury found in favor of Johnson & Johnson and Red River Talc LLC in a bellwether talc trial.
- Why: Plaintiffs alleged Johnson & Johnson’s talcum powder products caused three women to develop ovarian cancer.
- Where: The talc bellwether trial took place in California state court.
- How to get help: Did you use talcum powder on a daily basis for at least four years and were later diagnosed with ovarian cancer? If so, you may be eligible to join a talcum powder class action lawsuit.
A Los Angeles jury found Johnson & Johnson and Red River Talc not liable in a bellwether trial involving claims that the companies’ talcum powder products caused three women to develop ovarian cancer.
The jury returned a 10-2 verdict in favor of the defendants after a six-week trial, concluding the companies were not negligent in connection with the deaths of Mary Owens, Bonnie Tienken and Geneva Williams. The women’s families alleged decades of talc use caused the women to develop ovarian cancer.
The verdict marks a significant win for the company amid the ongoing wave of Johnson & Johnson talc lawsuits, which include tens of thousands of cases nationwide alleging the talc products caused ovarian cancer and mesothelioma.
According to plaintiffs, the three women used Johnson & Johnson talcum powder products for feminine hygiene and other purposes for decades because they relied on the company’s assurances that the products were safe.
Johnson & Johnson has consistently denied that its talc products contain asbestos or cause cancer.
After the jury returned its verdict, Erik Haas, Johnson & Johnson’s worldwide vice president of litigation, stated: “As with our victory last week in Oklahoma, yet another jury found what we have always maintained: that Johnson’s Baby Powder is safe, does not contain asbestos and does not cause cancer,” as reported by Law360.
Verdict follows prior $40 million talc bellwether loss
The trial was the second ovarian cancer bellwether case in the coordinated Los Angeles talc litigation.
In December 2025, a different Los Angeles jury awarded $40 million to plaintiffs after finding Johnson & Johnson’s talc products were a substantial factor in causing ovarian cancer in two women. That jury declined to award punitive damages.
One juror in the latest trial told Law360 she was not persuaded by decades-old internal company documents that plaintiffs argued demonstrated Johnson & Johnson knew its talc contained asbestos.
The juror said she believed the company conducted extensive testing and that plaintiffs did not sufficiently prove talc caused ovarian cancer.
Plaintiffs’ attorney Andy Birchfield said discussions with jurors indicated the legal team will need to do a better job explaining evidence in future trials.
Johnson & Johnson began selling talc-based baby powder in the United States in 1894. The company replaced talc with cornstarch in its U.S. baby powder products in 2020 and later made the same change internationally in 2023.
The company has faced years of litigation over allegations that its talc products caused cancer. Johnson & Johnson has repeatedly attempted to resolve many of the claims through bankruptcy proceedings involving a subsidiary, but those efforts have been rejected by courts.
What do you think about the jury’s verdict in this Johnson & Johnson talc trial? Let us know in the comments.
Plaintiff John Owens is represented by Daniel S. Robinson of Robinson Calcagnie Inc. Plaintiffs Kimberly J. Hedrick, Eric D. Tienken and Kevin Tienken are represented by Ari S. Friedman of Wisner Baum. Plaintiff Harold Williams Jr. is represented by Andy Birchfield and Leigh O’Dell of Beasley Allen Law Firm and Daniel S. Robinson of Robinson Calcagnie Inc.
The Johnson & Johnson talc lawsuit is Johnson & Johnson Talcum Powder Cases, Case No. JCCP4872, in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles.
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