Talc Products and Ovarian Cancer Attorneys & Lawsuits

Evidence suggests talc products, when used for feminine hygiene purposes, increase the risk for ovarian cancer. Johnson & Johnson, the manufacturer of Shower To Shower and other talcum powder products (like baby powder) has recently been hit with back-to-back multi-million dollar verdicts. After hearing weeks of evidence of corporate greed, separate juries in St. Louis, Missouri, awarded large verdicts ($72 million and $55 million) to families of victims who developed ovarian cancer after prolonged use of talcum powder for feminine hygiene. Both juries came to the same conclusions, finding it likely the long-term use of talcum powder caused the cancer AND that Johnson & Johnson likely knew about and hid these dangers from its customers. Evidence suggests the company has been aware of the potential risk for developing ovarian cancer since the 1970’s and continued to hide those dangers from the public!

The $72 million award issued in February of 2016 consisted of $10 million in compensatory damages (to cover economic and emotional losses) and $62 million in punitive damages in an attempt to send a serious message to Johnson & Johnson. There is no doubt these awards were based largely on the contention that Johnson & Johnson has known for decades of the possible link between cancer and ingredients in its talc products yet failed to warn the public of this hazard.

Similarly, Johnson & Johnson was ordered to pay a California woman $417 million, which included $347 million in punitive damages. Punitive damages were awarded to deter the defendant (Johnson & Johnson) and others from engaging in similar conduct such as hiding knowledge of the link between baby powder and ovarian cancer.