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June 14, 2026

America November 14, 2025 5 mins read

J&J Bellwether LA Suit Opens With Explosive Allegations Over Talc and Cancer Risks

America ı By Rihem Akkouche

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J&J Bellwether LA suit

A Litigation Landscape Shifted by Bankruptcy Failures

The Los Angeles trial is part of a broader legal saga that has stretched across years and jurisdictions:

  • In 2017, an L.A. jury issued a $417 million verdict, later overturned.

  • In 2021–2024, J&J launched multiple attempts at a “Texas two-step” bankruptcy, seeking to resolve all talc claims.

  • Courts ultimately rejected the strategy, including a Texas judge’s rejection in March, which scrapped a proposed $9 billion settlement.

With bankruptcy off the table, J&J returned to the courtroom — and recent outcomes have been severe, including a $966 million verdict last month for an 88-year-old mesothelioma victim.

The Human Story Behind the Science

Daniel S. Robinson of Robinson Calcagnie, counsel for the Schultz plaintiffs, described Deborah Schultz’s seven-year battle with ovarian cancer. He told jurors she had no genetic markers or environmental risks but used Johnson’s Baby Powder for decades.

Robinson emphasized studies linking talc exposure and ovarian cancer, noting the “striking consistency” across research spanning decades.

The plaintiffs will call expert William Longo, who they say has identified asbestos in J&J powders. Birchfield also noted the FDA’s proposed rule last year establishing new testing methods for asbestos in cosmetic talc.

Defense Insists the Big Picture Refutes Causation

Brown argued the plaintiffs' experts use unreliable methods and that if talc caused ovarian cancer, the country would have seen a dramatic spike during more than a century of widespread product use.

“I’m afraid you’ll see snippets,” she warned, “but not the whole picture.”

Trial Continues Friday

The bellwether trial — one that may set the tone for thousands of future cases — resumes Friday.

Representation:

  • For Kent: Margaret M. Thompson & Anthony Dow Birchfield Jr., Beasley Allen

  • For the Schultzes: Daniel S. Robinson, Robinson Calcagnie Inc.

  • For Johnson & Johnson: Allison Brown, Kuan Huang & Julia E. Romano, Kirkland & Ellis LLP

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Rihem Akkouche is a passionate journalist dedicated to shedding light on compelling stories, sparking conversations, and fostering a more informed world.

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