A Minnesota jury awarded $65.5 million to Anna Jean Houghton Carley, a 37-year-old mother of three, after she claimed Johnson & Johnson’s talc powder exposed her to asbestos and led to mesothelioma.
Verdict Details
Carley used the baby powder throughout childhood and later developed mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer caused primarily by asbestos exposure. The jury found that Johnson & Johnson sold and marketed talc-based products despite knowing they can be contaminated with asbestos.
Legal Arguments
Carley’s attorneys argued that her family was never warned about potential dangers. The product was taken off U.S. shelves in 2020. Ben Braly said, “This case was not about compensation only. It was about truth and accountability.”
Company Response
Erik Haas, worldwide vice president of litigation for Johnson & Johnson, said the baby powder is safe, does not contain asbestos, and does not cause cancer. He expects an appellate court to reverse the decision and said, “These lawsuits are predicated on ‘junk science,’ refuted by decades of studies that demonstrate Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder is safe, does not contain asbestos and does not cause cancer.”
Broader Context
This verdict follows earlier rulings: a Los Angeles jury awarded $40 million to two women who claimed the powder caused ovarian cancer, and a California jury ordered the company to pay $966 million to a family whose member died of mesothelioma, alleging asbestos contamination.
Key Takeaways
- $65.5 million verdict awarded to mother of three in Minnesota.
- Claim links Johnson & Johnson talc powder to asbestos-related mesothelioma.
- Company plans to appeal; has previously stopped selling talc-based powder worldwide in 2023.
The decision adds to a growing list of lawsuits alleging that Johnson & Johnson’s talc products may pose health risks, and the company faces mounting legal challenges over its legacy products.
