Johnson & Johnson Sees Legal Win In Talc Powder Cancer Claims

A New Jersey appeals court overturned a $223.8 million verdict linked to asbestos exposure in Johnson & Johnson's JNJ talc powder products. 

The verdict had been awarded to four plaintiffs who claimed that they developed cancer due to exposure to asbestos in J&J's talc products.

In a statement, J&J Worldwide Vice President of Litigation Erik Haas hailed the decision as rejecting "junk science" presented by "experts" paid by the mass tort asbestos bar. 

The case originally resulted in a jury ordering J&J to pay $37.2 million in compensatory damages and $750 million in punitive damages, later reduced to $186.5 million under state law, Reuters reported.

The appeals court decision was based on the finding that the trial court had failed in its "gatekeeping role" to assess whether the plaintiffs' experts provided scientifically sound testimony. 

The three experts in question had not adequately explained their methodology or facts supporting their claim that the plaintiffs' cancer was caused by asbestos in talc products, Reuters noted.

J&J faces over 38,000 lawsuits alleging that its talc products, including Johnson's baby powder, contain asbestos and have caused various cancers, including ovarian and mesothelioma.

The cost of talc-related verdicts, settlements, and legal fees for J&J has reached approximately $4.5 billion, prompting the company to shift away from talc-based baby powder in favor of cornstarch-based alternatives due to mounting legal challenges and concerns about product safety.

Price Action: JNJ shares are up 0.26% at $155.75 premarket on the last check Wednesday.

Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.