Johnson & Johnson is responsible for $37.3 million in compensatory damages owed to four people who claimed they developed talcum powder cancer in the form of peritoneal mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of an internal organ caused by asbestos exposure, states the Mayo Clinic. Peritoneal mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the abdomen linked to the ingestion of asbestos fibers that cause irritation and inflammation that eventually give rise to cancer.

All four plaintiffs said they used Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder products for years, believing the products were safe, all-natural talc. A Middlesex County jury of six in the New Jersey Superior Court trial decided the plaintiffs were harmed by talc products that were allegedly tainted with asbestos.

Johnson & Johnson is facing thousands of trials alleging the company not only sold asbestos-tainted talcum powders, but also knew the powders were laden with certain amounts of asbestos.

Plaintiff awards were as follows; D’Angela M., $14.7 million; Douglas and Roslyn B., $7.25 million; David and Darlene E., $9.45 million; and William and Elizabeth R., $5.9 million.

D’Angela, now 41, said she was only 38 years old when she was diagnosed with talcum powder cancer. She said she used baby powder from infancy through age 21.

Talcum Powder Cancer Allegations

Talc
is a naturally occurring mineral that is often found in or near asbestos when talc is mined. Sometimes, ribbons of asbestos are seen running through talc.

Asbestos has been a known carcinogen for many decades.

According to the New York Times, an executive-level Johnson & Johnson employee suggested to his superiors in 1971 that the talc used in the company’s products might contain asbestos and that the company should impose tighter controls on the raw material.

Although secret, internal communication allegedly showed company executives were concerned about asbestos fibers tainting their talc-based powders, they publicly defended their products and found fault with any third party tests that indicated asbestos could be mixed with their final talcum powders. The New York Times indicated that years of litigation led to the discovery of corporate documents that purportedly showed the expressed worries of top-level executives. The news organization said it also sifted through government records available through the Freedom of Information Act and interviewed researchers and lawyers.

In addition, Johnson & Johnson facing accusations its talc-based powders caused peritoneal mesothelioma, other lawsuits allege the baby powders have caused ovarian cancer and pleural mesothelioma, which is a cancer of the lining of the lungs.

The recent decision to award $37.3 million in combined compensatory damages to the four victims of peritoneal mesothelioma will be followed by a separate trial with a different jury who will decide on punitive damages against Johnson & Johnson in relationship to the four plaintiffs’ diseases.