Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has agreed to a $700 million settlement with a coalition of 43 states, including Texas, Florida, and North Carolina, over claims that the company misled consumers about the safety of its talcum powder products. This settlement follows allegations that J&J's marketing tactics were deceptive, leading consumers to believe that their baby powder and body powder products, which contained talc, were safe.

Research has linked talc to serious health conditions, including ovarian cancer and mesothelioma. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton highlighted that J&J was aware since the 1980s of studies showing that their talc powder could be contaminated with carcinogenic asbestos, increasing cancer risk among women using the products in the genital area. Texas will receive over $61.5 million from the settlement, pending judicial approval.

As part of the settlement, J&J will cease manufacturing, selling, or distributing talc products in the US. Attorney General Letitia James of New York, which will receive $44 million, emphasised the illegality and cruelty of targeting communities with hazardous products. The company is also working on a proposed $6.48 billion settlement to address pending lawsuits, aiming to comprehensively resolve the talc litigation.

J&J was represented by a legal team from O’Melveny, led by Daniel Suvor, in these negotiations and settlements.
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No amount of money can undo the pain caused by Johnson & Johnson’s talc-laced products, but today families can rest assured that the company is being held accountable for the harm it caused.

Letitia James

Attorney general of New York | 11/06/2024