Healthcare corporation Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has proposed a payment of up to $5.5bn to settle nearly 70,000 legal claims regarding its talcum powder products. These lawsuits allege that the company’s talc-based items, including its signature baby powder, were responsible for causing ovarian cancer in users. The firm continues to maintain that these allegations are groundless.
Erik Haas, the company’s vice president of litigation, stated that while J&J believes it could eventually win these cases in court, they have decided to pursue a settlement to resolve the ongoing legal strain. The proposal requires support from legal representatives of 95% of the plaintiffs involved in ovarian cancer claims across federal and state courts to proceed.
The agreement stipulates an initial payment of $3bn scheduled for next year, with subsequent payments deferred until at least 2028. J&J has long insisted that their products do not contain asbestos and are safe for use, citing numerous scientific studies. Despite this defense, the company moved to stop selling talc-based powder globally in 2022, shifting its inventory to a cornstarch-based formula.
