Asbestos Allegations Continue to Haunt J&J
Johnson & Johnson has long maintained that its talc-based products are safe. However, thousands of internal documents revealed in discovery suggest the company knew for decades that some talc products may have contained trace amounts of asbestos—a known carcinogen.
Despite these revelations, J&J stopped selling talc-based Baby Powder in North America only recently and insists it acted out of “misinformation” and not safety concerns.
That claim rings hollow for the tens of thousands of women now pursuing justice through the courts. Many have spent years undergoing aggressive cancer treatments while fighting to have their cases heard.
Billions on the Line as Litigation Reignites
The legal and financial stakes for Johnson & Johnson are massive. In prior verdicts, juries have awarded billions in damages, including a $4.69 billion Missouri judgment in 2018 for 22 women who developed ovarian cancer. Though J&J succeeded in reducing some awards on appeal, the potential for future jury trials poses a serious threat.
With the bankruptcy shield now dissolved, attorneys for plaintiffs are preparing to flood courthouses with new filings.
Industry analysts say the company could be exposed to tens of billions in new liabilities. J&J’s stock remains under pressure as Wall Street assesses the damage from resurgent litigation.
