Johnson & Johnson Proposes Settlement to End Talc Powder Cancer Nightmare

Bloomberg News reported today, Monday, that Johnson & Johnson has reached a preliminary agreement to pay around $700 million to settle lawsuits from more than 40 U.S. states claiming the company falsely marketed talc-based baby powder. According to the Bloomberg report, the settlement will avoid potential lawsuits accusing Johnson & Johnson of concealing any link between the talc in its powder and various types of cancerous tumors. Bloomberg stated that Johnson & Johnson and state attorneys general are still working on the specific terms of the deal, but they have agreed on the total amount. The judiciary has rejected two attempts by the company to use bankruptcy proceedings to limit its exposure to talc-related lawsuits. Last year, Johnson & Johnson allocated about $400 million to resolve consumer protection lawsuits in the United States as part of its broader efforts which have cost it $8.9 billion to settle claims that baby powder and other talc products cause cancer. Several states, such as New Mexico and Mississippi, initiated consumer protection actions against Johnson & Johnson before the first bankruptcy filing of its unit "LTL Management" in 2021 halted these investigations from proceeding. Johnson & Johnson maintains that its talc products are safe and do not cause cancer.