Articles Posted in Talcum Powder and Cancer

For quite some time now, victims of mesothelioma and ovarian cancer and their families have been closely monitoring Johnson & Johnson’s (J&J) repeated legal attempts to escape asbestos liability. Specifically, the giant pharmaceutical company has repeatedly tried to use a controversial bankruptcy strategy. In a significant recent development, a federal bankruptcy judge in Houston, Texas, denied the company’s third attempt to use the bankruptcy strategy as a shield against the tens of thousands of lawsuits it is facing. This decision marked a critical moment in the victims’ quest for justice.

Over 90,000 lawsuits have been filed against J&J, alleging that the giant pharmaceutical company’s baby powder, which was a staple for years, contained asbestos. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that, when inhaled or ingested, can lead to the development of mesothelioma and other severe health issues. Over the years, J&J has maintained that it is innocent and argued that its talcum powder was not asbestos-contaminated. Despite this, numerous jury verdicts have gone against the company, and personal injury as well as wrongful death claims have continued to rise.

To combat these lawsuits, Johnson & Johnson employed a controversial legal strategy called the “Texas Two-Step.” This strategy involves forming a new corporate entity, transferring all liabilities to it, and then having that entity declare bankruptcy. Johnson & Johnson aimed to limit its financial exposure while trying to resolve claims in bankruptcy court instead of through the traditional legal process, which can be quite unpredictable.

For quite some time now, victims of mesothelioma and ovarian cancer and their families have been closely monitoring Johnson & Johnson’s (J&J) repeated legal attempts to escape asbestos liability. Specifically, the giant pharmaceutical company has repeatedly tried to use a controversial bankruptcy strategy. In a significant recent development, a federal bankruptcy judge in Houston, Texas, denied the company’s third attempt to use the bankruptcy strategy as a shield against the tens of thousands of lawsuits it is facing. This decision marked a critical moment in the victims’ quest for justice.

Over 90,000 lawsuits have been filed against J&J, alleging that the giant pharmaceutical company’s baby powder, which was a staple for years, contained asbestos. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that, when inhaled or ingested, can lead to the development of mesothelioma and other severe health issues. Over the years, J&J has maintained that it is innocent and argued that its talcum powder was not asbestos-contaminated. Despite this, numerous jury verdicts have gone against the company, and personal injury as well as wrongful death claims have continued to rise.

To combat these lawsuits, Johnson & Johnson employed a controversial legal strategy called the “Texas Two-Step.” This strategy involves forming a new corporate entity, transferring all liabilities to it, and then having that entity declare bankruptcy. Johnson & Johnson aimed to limit its financial exposure while trying to resolve claims in bankruptcy court instead of through the traditional legal process, which can be quite unpredictable.

Baby powder has been a household staple for decades, with many using it to keep their skin dry and prevent irritation. However, growing concerns among consumers, doctors, and experts over the link between talc-based products and serious health issues like ovarian cancer and mesothelioma have led to significant shifts in the industry. For instance, in response to the mounting lawsuits and scientific studies, some manufacturers like Johnson and Johnson have had to remove talc from their products. But does that mean all baby powders are now talc-free? Let’s explore what baby powders contain today.

What is Talc?

Talc is a naturally occurring mineral valued for its softness and ability to absorb moisture. It has been widely used in the cosmetic industry and industrial applications such as ceramics and paint. Until recently, talc was also the main ingredient in baby powder. The concerns about talc stemmed from how it’s mined. Talc deposits are usually found near another naturally occurring mineral called asbestos, a known carcinogen. If the talc isn’t carefully purified, it can be easily contaminated with asbestos.

For several years now, Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has been battling numerous lawsuits from tens of thousands of people who claim its talc-based products, including its well-known baby powder, caused mesothelioma and ovarian cancer due to asbestos contamination. The company has previously attempted to resolve the claims through bankruptcy, which is mainly viewed as a controversial move given that it’s one of the most profitable companies in the world.  Two previous bankruptcy filings were thrown out in New Jersey and Philadelphia, but the company remains relentless. This time, it filed a bankruptcy petition in a Texas court, hoping to get the green light for a $10 billion settlement. While the company argues that the settlement plan is the fairest and fastest way to compensate victims, many claimants and government watchdogs disagree. The trial, which began on February 18, 2025, is expected to last two weeks, after which the judge will issue a verdict.

J&J has sold talc-based baby powder for many decades. However, it has faced several lawsuits alleging that its talc-based baby powder was contaminated with asbestos, a known carcinogen. Asbestos exposure is known to cause serious illnesses, including mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer with no cure. Despite J&J’s claims that its products were safe, thousands of claimants diagnosed with mesothelioma and ovarian cancer filed lawsuits arguing that scientific studies suggest otherwise on the safety of their products and that J&J failed to warn consumers about the risks of using the products.

To resolve the many lawsuits against it, J&J created a subsidiary, Red River Talc, and transferred all its asbestos liabilities to the unit. Red River then filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, pausing all lawsuits against J&J while the court considered the settlement plan. This was also to force claimants into a bankruptcy settlement instead of a jury trial where verdicts could be much higher. When an asbestos company files for bankruptcy, all lawsuits are halted until the bankruptcy court decides. If successful, a company must establish a trust fund through which claimants can seek compensation based on predefined criteria. In return, the company continues its operations.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently proposed a new rule to enhance the safety of cosmetic products containing asbestos. The rule, titled “Testing Methods for Detecting and Identifying Asbestos in Talc-Containing Cosmetic Products,” seeks to mandate standardized testing procedures to identify the presence of asbestos, a known carcinogen, in these products.

Talc is a mineral commonly used in cosmetics for its moisture-absorbing properties and smooth texture. However, since talc deposits are often geologically close to asbestos, they can easily become contaminated with asbestos fibers. Asbestos exposure has been linked to severe health issues, including lung cancer, mesothelioma, and ovarian cancer. This is the rationale behind the FDA’s proposal to standardize testing methods to minimize the risk of asbestos contamination. The FDA requires manufacturers to implement two methods for testing:

  • Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM)

For purposes of this article, the claimants in this case will be referred to as S.S and B.S.

In a recent court decision, a Rhode Island judge ruled in favor of two plaintiffs, S.S. and B.S., a couple pursuing justice against Johnson & Johnson (J&J) in a mesothelioma lawsuit. S.S., a mesothelioma patient, and B.S., her husband, filed the lawsuit against more than 40 defendants, including two subsidiaries of Johnson & Johnson, who they blame for negligently exposing her to asbestos through their talc products. J&J and the two subsidiaries petitioned the court to substitute two other subsidiaries, but the judge presiding over the case denied the request.

S.S. and B.S. filed a lawsuit in March this year, citing exposure to asbestos-contaminated talc products as the cause of S’s mesothelioma. Among the many defendants, the two named in their lawsuit were LLT and Old Holdco, two J&J subsidiaries. Johnson & Johnson is facing many asbestos-related lawsuits, so to shift its legal focus, the giant pharmaceutical company tried to substitute two other subsidiaries. J&J asked the court to assign its liabilities to Pecos River Talc LLC and Johnson and Johnson Holdco Inc. J&J’s request was rooted in a corporate restructuring process the company claimed shifted its talc-related liabilities. In other words, according to Johnson & Johnson, Pecos and Johnson and Johnson Holdco are the defendants that should have been named in the lawsuit.

Recently, the Department of Justice (DOJ) took a firm stand against giant pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson (J&J) after the company tried to file for bankruptcy again. Johnson & Johnson is facing mesothelioma and ovarian cancer lawsuits from tens of thousands of victims who blame the asbestos-contaminated talc in the company’s famous baby powder for their illness. To address these claims, J&J has repeatedly attempted a controversial strategy of filing for bankruptcy. Many people thought that J&J’s latest bankruptcy filing attempt would succeed. However, the DOJ intervened in the case and filed a motion to dismiss the company’s bankruptcy case.

Johnson & Johnson has followed in the footsteps of many asbestos companies facing lawsuits from mesothelioma and ovarian cancer victims. The pharmaceutical giant has filed for bankruptcy a number of times in an attempt to settle the tens of thousands of claims it is facing. All the claimants blame the company’s talc-based baby powder for their illness. They claim that the baby powder was contaminated with asbestos, a substance that is known to cause various illnesses, including mesothelioma and ovarian cancer. However, according to the U.S. Trustee, Johnson & Johnson is trying to abuse the bankruptcy system. The Trustee noted that J&J’s bankruptcy filing differs from standard asbestos trust funds since the company is not in need of bankruptcy relief. The Trustee noted that J&J is not in genuine financial distress.

Johnson & Johnson’s strategy involves filing for bankruptcy through a subsidiary called Red River Talc LLC. Pointing to this subsidiary, the U.S. Trustee said that it serves no legitimate purpose and seems solely designed to protect J&J, a company that is financially stable and cannot provide a conformable plan of reorganization. This is Johnson & Johnson’s third time attempting to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, a bankruptcy chapter that is meant for companies facing genuine financial distress. According to the Trustee, this third filing is no different from the previous filings that the court rejected for similar reasons.

Dynarex, a medical supply company based in New Jersey, recently recalled numerous cases of baby powder contaminated with asbestos. The baby powder had been sent to distributors in different states in the U.S., sparking fears over many people suffering asbestos exposure and eventually developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses. The recall resulted from a routine U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) sampling program, which revealed that the finished products were asbestos-contaminated. The FDA also identified other lots of products that contain asbestos because of the company’s use of the same bulk talc material.

The recall affects products that were distributed in Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, New Jersey, Colorado, North Carolina, Alabama, Illinois, Washington, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and other states. In addition to being sold in stores, the affected products were also sold online through Amazon. According to the FDA, consumers who purchased Dynacare Baby Powder by Dynarex in several batches, including B048, B049, B050, B051, and B052, should not continue using the products.

Because of the growing concerns over asbestos contamination and the tens of thousands of lawsuits that have been filed against companies because of talc-based consumer products, many large companies have stopped using talc in their products. Studies have shown that long-term use of talc for personal care can increase the risk of asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma and ovarian cancer. One of the most notable companies that stopped using talc in its products after facing significant legal liabilities for mesothelioma and ovarian cancer cases is Johnson & Johnson (J&J). With billions of dollars in damages awarded to claimants and countless cases yet to be filed and resolved, many companies have switched to using cornstarch as a safer alternative to talc in their consumer products. Despite this shift, Dynarex continued using talc in its products, putting consumers at risk.

The outcome of one of the nation’s first talcum powder/mesothelioma trials could determine if Johnson & Johnson agrees to another massive settlement.

The trial, taking place amidst J&J’s ongoing efforts to settle thousands of talc-related ovarian cancer lawsuits, involves a male plaintiff who alleges he developed mesothelioma due to inhaling asbestos allegedly present in Johnson’s Baby Powder.

Evan Plotkin argues he developed mesothelioma in 2021 at the age of 64 after years of using talc-based cosmetic products, however J&J, which denies its talc products ever contained asbestos, maintains his mesothelioma likely did not develop from asbestos exposure but rather from a family medical history that supposedly made him more likely to get cancer.

For purposes of this article, the deceased mesothelioma victim in this case will be referred to as T.G.

In a recent court decision, a Chicago appeals court upheld a jury’s verdict against Johnson & Johnson (J&J), providing the deceased mesothelioma victim’s family with the deserved justice. Earlier this year, a Cook County court in Illinois ordered the giant pharmaceutical company to pay T.G.’s family $45 million in damages after T.G. died of malignant mesothelioma. J&J tried to secure a retrial, but the court of appeals stood firm and ensured the jury’s decision in favor of the late T.G.’s family remained intact.

T.G., who had six children, was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer that occurs due to asbestos exposure. This illness most commonly affects the lining of the lungs. After T.G.’s death, her family filed a wrongful death lawsuit against J&J. According to the lawsuit, the source of the asbestos exposure that resulted in the death of T.G. was J&J’s talc-based product, which she used throughout her life. T.G. also used the product on her children. During the trial, the family’s legal representative presented evidence revealing that J&J’s talc-based product contained asbestos and the company knew about the dangers of this for years but failed to inform or warn the public, thus endangering the lives of millions of consumers, including T.G. and her children.

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