Pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson has been ordered to pay $72 million dollars to the family of a woman who died from ovarian cancer that was reportedly caused by the company’s talc-based Baby Powder and Shower to Shower products.
The family was awarded $10 million in damages as well as $62 million in punitive damages. Jurors found the company liable for negligence, fraud and conspiracy.
Talcum Powder and Ovarian Cancer
Jackie Fox was one of more than one thousand women who have filed talcum powder lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson claiming the company failed to warn consumers about the risks associated with the talcum powder in two of its products, Baby Powder and Shower to Shower.
Numerous studies dating back to the 1980s have linked talcum powder with an increased risk for developing ovarian cancer.
Fox stated in the lawsuit that she had used Shower to Shower and Baby Powder for feminine hygiene for 35 years before she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2013. She died in October 2015 when the cancer returned.
During the trial, Fox’s attorneys claimed that Johnson & Johnson was aware of the possible link between talcum powder and ovarian cancer, but failed to warn consumers. The team reportedly shared an internal memo from the company in 1997 suggesting the connection.
The verdict was the first to award monetary compensation over the allegations. In 2013, a South Dakota jury determined that Baby Powder was a factor in the plaintiff’s development of ovarian cancer, but did not reward damages.
Despite the outcome of the case, Johnson & Johnson continues to stand by its products and refuses to issue any safety warnings about the risks of its products.
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer after using talcum powder, you may be entitled to compensation. The class action lawyers at GWC Injury Lawyers are dedicated to holding negligent companies accountable for their actions.
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