Johnson & Johnson stated on Monday it will pay an estimated $5.5 billion to resolve tens of 1000’s of lawsuits alleging its child powder and different talc merchandise trigger ovarian most cancers, in a landmark deal that might finish a contentious authorized battle that has dogged the corporate for a decade.
J&J stated the settlement covers about 76,000 claims, together with ones consolidated in federal court docket in New Jersey, and associated instances in state court docket, representing almost the entire remaining talc claims in opposition to the corporate. J&J beforehand settled a lot of the instances alleging that its talc contained asbestos and precipitated mesothelioma.
Plaintiffs’ legislation companies confirmed the deal on Monday, saying it was a very good decision after a decade-long court docket battle. The deal should be accepted by 95% of the ovarian most cancers claimants in state or federal court docket earlier than it turns into closing.
J&J’s vp of litigation, Erik Haas, stated the claims had been “meritless” and that the corporate was prepared to settle in an effort to get closure.
“Whereas we’re assured the corporate would have in the end prevailed with additional litigation, because it has within the overwhelming majority of instances tried so far, this decision permits the corporate to place this matter behind it and stay centered on its mission to develop medicines and gadgets that save lives,” Haas stated.
J&J expects to pay $3 billion in 2027, and it’ll make additional funds in 2028. However the deal might be price extra, relying on how many individuals take part within the settlement.
Chris Seeger, an legal professional who represents about 2,500 shoppers with talc claims and helped negotiate the settlement, stated J&J might in the end pay $7 billion or extra. The settlement assigns particular values to qualifying ovarian most cancers claims however doesn’t cap J&J’s complete payout, he stated.
“We bought a good settlement, and our shoppers are going to be pleased with it,” Seeger stated in an interview.
DEAL COMES AFTER COURTROOM WINS
J&J reached the settlement after a collection of wins in court docket, together with victories in particular person trials, profitable efforts to disqualify plaintiffs’ attorneys from the litigation, and court docket rulings in opposition to consultants that plaintiffs had used to show their instances in court docket.
J&J gained a major court docket victory within the long-running authorized battle final week, when a federal decide forged doubt on particular person plaintiffs’ means to show that talc particularly precipitated their ovarian most cancers.
J&J has lengthy denied that its talc merchandise precipitated most cancers, saying that talc was secure and didn’t comprise asbestos. The corporate stopped promoting talc-based child powder within the U.S. in 2020, switching to a cornstarch product.
The litigation resumed in March 2025, after being put on maintain for greater than three years whereas J&J unsuccessfully pursued a technique often known as the “Texas two step,” submitting three bankruptcies via a shell-company subsidiary in an effort to settle the instances. Every chapter led to dismissal.
Earlier than the chapter makes an attempt, J&J had a blended file in talc trials, with a multibillion verdict in favor of twenty-two ladies who stated child powder precipitated their ovarian most cancers. The corporate gained some trials outright and had different verdicts lowered on enchantment.
In contrast to the proposed chapter settlements, Monday’s settlement applies solely to current claims and doesn’t tackle future lawsuits.
The exclusion of future claims made more cash out there to present plaintiffs than the chapter proposal did, and it additionally accelerates the funds so that every one claims will likely be paid inside 18 months as a substitute of being unfold out over greater than a decade, Seeger stated.
