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Johnson & Johnson offers up to $5.5 billion to settle baby powder cancer lawsuits
CNN • • general
Key Points:
- Johnson & Johnson has allocated $5.5 billion to settle approximately 76,000 US lawsuits alleging its talcum powder products caused ovarian cancer, proposing up to $3 billion in payouts starting in 2027.
- The settlement requires acceptance by law firms representing at least 95% of claimants to proceed, with the company aiming to resolve what it calls “meritless 15-year litigation.”
- J&J denies its talc products cause cancer and has shifted to cornstarch-based baby powder globally, citing product portfolio simplification and safety defense.
- Legal outcomes have varied, with some large verdicts against J&J, including a $966 million mesothelioma case, while other cases found the company not liable; J&J plans to appeal recent adverse rulings.
- A federal judge recently challenged around 69,000 claims, requiring plaintiffs to provide specific evidence linking their cancer to J&J’s talc products, reflecting ongoing legal complexities in the litigation.
