$70M Settlement for J&J Talc Powder Cancer Lawsuit

Santa Clara, CAA $70 million award has been granted court approval for a woman in California who sued Johnson & Johnson (J&J) alleging J&J Talc Powder caused her cancer. The suit claimed “negligent conduct" in making and marketing its baby powder.

The case was brought by Deborah Giannecchini of Modesto, California, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2012. She is one of nearly 2,000 women who have filed similar suits, and thousands more are under review by lawyers.

Giannecchini’s win follows earlier awards against J&J for $72 million and $55 million. The $72 million award was granted in February to relatives of a woman who died of ovarian cancer, and the $55 million award to an ovarian cancer survivor.

Talc is a mineral often used to absorb moisture in cosmetic products. Since the 1970s, studies have suggested that talc could be linked to ovarian cancer, according to the lawsuit. Lawyers argued that J&J knew of those studies but put profits ahead of human life by continuing to market their talc products for feminine hygiene use.