Asbestos-Tainted Talcum Powder Lawsuits

If you're experiencing health problems that might be linked to the presence of asbestos in talcum powder products, you might be considering legal action against the product manufacturer. Here's what to keep in mind:

• Thousands of lawsuits have been filed over illness linked to Johnson's Baby Powder and similar products.
• A typical talc-asbestos claim proceeds through a number of distinct stages, but most talc-asbestos lawsuits will likely reach settlement before trial.
• A whole host of factors—including the complexity of medical evidence in these kinds of cases and the limitless resources of defendants like Johnson & Johnson—make it crucial to have an experienced lawyer on your side.

Talc-Asbestos Injury Lawsuits

Talc is a naturally-occurring mineral that is often found (and mined) alongside asbestos—another natural mineral, but also a known carcinogen with a long history of causing serious health problems like mesothelioma and other forms of cancer.

Since the 1960s studies over the safety of of talc-based powders have revealed a potential connection between these products and the development of ovarian cancer, mesothelioma, and other illnesses, but no conclusive link has been established.

The FDA currently categorizes its research on the issue as "ongoing," although in 2019 the agency alerted consumers to the presence of asbestos in a sample of a product lot of Johnson's Baby Powder, and announced that the company was voluntarily recalling a small amount of the product. Other J&J products (including all other product lots of Johnson's Baby Powder) remained on the shelves, even as the company began facing a wave of lawsuits alleging that its talc-based products caused ovarian cancer, mesothelioma, and other health problems.

J&J's risk-profit balance tilted for good in May 2020, when the company announced that it would stop selling its Baby Powder product across North America.

Who Is Being Sued for Talc-Related Illness?

The vast majority of talc-asbestos lawsuits have been filed against Johnson & Johnson and its largest talc supplier, Imerys Talc America, Inc. The main legal arguments in these lawsuits are that J&J and Imerys:

• knew or should have known that their materials and products were unreasonably dangerous, and/or
• should have done more to warn consumers of health risks associated with its talc materials and products, or to make the materials and products safer.

Besides J&J, Avon is also facing hundreds of lawsuits alleging that the presence of asbestos-tainted talc in Avon products has caused mesothelioma and other health problems.

Am I Eligible to File a Talcum Powder Lawsuit?

If you're considering taking legal action against J&J, the first thing to know is that it's not enough to have used Johnson's Baby Powder or another talcum powder product in the past, no matter how extensively. In order to file an injury lawsuit like this, you need to be able to demonstrate that:

• you've used Baby Powder or another talcum powder product (often over a course of years), and
• you've received a medical diagnosis of an illness that might be linked to your exposure to talc (such as ovarian cancer or mesothelioma).

Even if you or a loved one have used Johnson's Baby Powder for years, it's important to remember that use of a recalled/withdrawn product, on its own, won't justify the filing of a lawsuit (or at least it won't help prove your individual case).

Diagnosis of a Health Problem Is Often Critical

A clear diagnosis is often a critical step on the path toward legal action. In fact, most lawyers will not start a talcum powder lawsuit until they have confirmed that a possible client has a specific health problem that can be linked to use of a certain talc product.

Some attorneys will arrange for a health assessment (a physical examination and imaging tests) for potential clients. Other times attorneys will order medical records from the potential client's doctor or hospital and send the material to medical experts for evaluation.

If your doctor does not think you have a diagnosable condition related to your use of a talc product, but a lawyer's medical expert thinks you do, you can take the expert's report to your own doctor for a follow-up exam, or seek a second opinion from a different doctor.

Should I File a Talcum Powder Lawsuit?

Even when you've been diagnosed with a health problem that could be related to your use of Johnson's Baby Powder or a similar talc-based product, the decision to file a lawsuit is a very personal one.

Some personal injury/product liability lawsuit plaintiffs are motivated by a sense of justice, or even outrage at a large corporation's hubris in putting a dangerous product on the market.

For other plaintiffs, the decision is perhaps a simpler one: the desire to be made whole (to the extent that's possible) after a harmful act, and to have legitimate losses compensated. That brings us to another common question on the minds of potential talc-asbestos plaintiffs.

What's the Time Limit for Filing a Talcum Powder Lawsuit?

Laws called "statutes of limitations" determine the time limit that will apply to your ability to file a lawsuit over health problems caused by your use of a product like Johnson's Baby Powder.

When Does the Statute of Limitations "Clock" Start?

Since the development of illnesses like cancer can be gradual, it's not always clear when the statute of limitations "clock" actually starts. In some states (like California), the date the person knew—or should have known in the eyes of the law—that their health problems were linked to a talc product is typically the start of the statutory time period. But other factors can influence when the statute of limitations "clock" is said to start.

Symptoms Versus Diagnosis

In some jurisdictions, the point when the plaintiff became aware (or should have become aware) of their health problems is what matters, not necessarily their potential or actual knowledge of the cause of their harm. Product manufacturers have also been known to argue that the onset of symptoms (not necessarily a clear diagnosis of a health problem) is enough to start the statute of limitations "clock" in certain cases, and some courts have agreed.

Which Statute of Limitations Applies?

Many states have a specific statute of limitations for product liability lawsuits, while in other jurisdictions the limitations period for general personal injury lawsuits will apply.

In most instances in most states, regardless of the liability theory you're relying on, the filing deadline ranges from one to six years for a lawsuit over health problems caused by talc products.

Finally, for wrongful death lawsuits, a different statute of limitations applies (usually with a deadline of one to two years from the person's death). For details on how the statute of limitations affects your situation, talk to a lawyer.

What Kind of Compensation Is Available In a Talcum Powder Lawsuit?

A plaintiff's compensation comes in the form of "damages" paid by the defendant in the lawsuit (a manufacturer like Johnson & Johnson, for example). Whether an asbestos-talc lawsuit settles out of court or the plaintiff gets a jury verdict in their favor after trial, a number of different types of compensation are available. We'll provide the details in the next section.

It's important to note that if the spectrum of your damages isn't clear—maybe your doctors haven't decided on the nature and extent of medical care you'll need in the future, or the potential for long-term disability isn't fully understood—it's probably not a good idea to consider any settlement offer. Your attorney will almost certainly want to wait until both of you have a complete and accurate picture of your losses.

How Much Is My Talc-Asbestos (Talcum Powder) Claim/Settlement Worth?

As with any injury-related case, figuring out the value of a claim over the safety of a talc product starts with an understanding of the nature and extent of the injured person's "damages," which is a legal term that refers to compensation for losses suffered by that person (the plaintiff).

Damages are paid by the defendant in the lawsuit. (In these talc-related cases, the defendant is usually a manufacturer like Johnson & Johnson.) Whether your talcum powder case settles out of court or you receive a judgment in your favor after a trial, the money you receive is considered damages. (Learn more about damages in a personal injury case.)

Let's look at some common categories of damages, and how each might affect the value of your talc-asbestos lawsuit.

Cost of Past and Future Medical Care

As a plaintiff, if you win or settle your case, your damages include compensation for:

• any medical treatment you've received as a result of your cancer diagnosis or other health issues linked to your use of an asbestos-containing talc product, and
• any care you'll need in the future.

Note that if the full extent and impact of your medical complications isn't clear, it's probably not in your best interest to accept an injury settlement offer. Your attorney will almost certainly want to wait until both of you have a clear picture of this component of your damages. Once you accept an injury settlement, you can't go back and reopen your claim, even if you learn that your health problems are worse than you first thought.

Lost Income and Diminished Earning Capacity

If your cancer diagnosis or other health issues have forced you to take time off from your job, or have otherwise affected your ability to earn a living, that kind of economic harm will also factor into your damages in a claim over a talc product. Specifically, you are entitled to compensation for any income you've already lost—and for income you would have earned in the future but now won't—due to your health issues. In "legalese," an award based on future income is characterized as compensation for the injured person's "loss of earning capacity" or "diminished earning capacity."

"Pain and Suffering"

While economic losses like medical bills and lost income are fairly easy to calculate, "pain and suffering" isn't so easy to quantify. But this category of damages plays a big part in determining how much you can expect to receive in an injury case, and can be a crucial component of a talcum powder lawsuit. Pain and suffering is often broken down into two types:

• Physical pain and suffering includes the discomfort resulting from your asbestos-related health problems, including any pain caused by the course of care necessary to properly diagnose and treat your condition.
• Mental pain and suffering can be viewed as the subjective psychological impact of your health problems. This includes anguish, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, fear, anger, humiliation, anxiety, shock, sleeplessness, and other negative effects.

Learn more about pain and suffering in a personal injury case.

The Stages of a Typical Lawsuit Over Asbestos-Tainted Talcum Powder

A talc-asbestos lawsuit usually goes through the following phases:

• The consumer (now the "plaintiff") files a civil complaint in court. The complaint is the document that starts the personal injury lawsuit. It describes the plaintiff's case and claims against the "defendant" (in talc-asbestos cases, the defendant is usually a manufacturer, such as Johnson & Johnson).
• The defendant files an answer to the complaint.
• The discovery process begins: The plaintiff and defendant exchange information, medical records, and other evidence through written questions (interrogatories), sworn testimony (depositions), and document requests.
• Pre-trial motions are filed and hearings are held: Both sides of the lawsuit try to persuade the judge to allow or prohibit certain evidence (testimony from a proposed expert witness, for example) or to dismiss all or part of the other side's argument.
• Trial takes place: The plaintiff and defendant carefully set out their arguments in front of the judge or jury, and the judge or jury decides whether the defendant should be held financially responsible for the plaintiff's health problems and other losses (damages) tied to use of the talcum powder product.

Those are the basic steps in the process, but the two sides could discuss (and finalize) a settlement at any point (more on this later). Now let's take a closer look at factors that have the biggest impact on how long the talc-asbestos lawsuit process might take.

Factors That Can Extend the Timeline of Your Talcum Powder Case

Most talc-asbestos lawsuits rely on the legal concept of product liability, in which a plaintiff seeks to hold a manufacturer responsible for health problems caused by an unreasonably dangerous or otherwise defective product. These kinds of cases can be quite complex:

• There might be issues to address right at the outset, including the appropriate statute-of-limitations filing deadline in light of the plaintiff's symptoms.
• There will certainly be stacks of medical records to sift through, plus expert witnesses to hear from (often multiple experts on both sides of the case).

All this means some of the phases mentioned above will undoubtedly take longer than they might in a less complex lawsuit (one stemming from a car accident, for example). That's especially true when it comes to the discovery process and the filing of pretrial motions that will set the ground rules for any trial.

The court's calendar could also affect the timeline of your case. If the calendar is clogged, hearing and trial dates might get pushed back by weeks or months.

Your Talcum Powder Case Could Settle at Any Time

As discussed above, any talc-asbestos lawsuit will most likely follow roughly the same path from the filing of the complaint through a trial, but it's important to note that settlement of the lawsuit can take place at any time.

For example, soon after the complaint is filed the plaintiff's attorney could send a demand letter to the other side, detailing the plaintiff's harm and asking for a certain dollar amount as compensation. This letter could spur serious settlement talks, and if a settlement agreement is reached before trial, the lawsuit will be dismissed.

Especially as the trial date gets closer and the parties get a better sense of the case landscape (and of their respective chances of prevailing), there's a good chance they'll at least test the settlement waters.

And even if the two sides don't come together on their own to try to resolve the case out of court, depending on the jurisdiction in which the lawsuit is filed, the court is almost certain to require that the plaintiff and defendant attend at least one mandatory settlement conference before trial takes place.

Learn more about how personal injury settlements work.

The Timeline Is (Partly) Up to You

One of the biggest variables in determining how long your talc-asbestos lawsuit will take is you. If the defendant offers you a settlement early on, you'll certainly end up with some fast cash, but you might not be getting full and fair compensation for your losses. (Learn more about how much a talc-asbestos case might be worth.)

Early settlement usually isn't a good idea—especially if there are still big unknowns, including:

• a complete diagnosis of your health problems resulting from use of asbestos-tainted baby powder (or some other talc-based personal hygiene product), and
• a full picture of the medical treatment that will be necessary.

Talcum Powder Lawsuit and Settlement News

January 2023: Federal Appeals Court Nixes J&J's Bankruptcy Strategy

• In October 2021, Johnson & Johnson rolled out a cynical legal strategy, transferring all of its potential asbestos liability to a newly-formed entity (called LTL), and having that entity promptly file for bankruptcy.
• J&J seeded LTL with about $2 billion to resolve future asbestos-related claims, which still likely preventing thousands of plaintiffs from recovering for the full extent of their harm.
• In February 2022, a federal judge approved the plan, allowing LTL's bankruptcy to proceed.
• A federal appeals court said "Not so fast" in January 2023, basically ruling that the bankruptcy laws weren't meant to offer protection to entities like LTL, not when they're so closely connected to a massive (and massively solvent) corporation like J&J.
• In its decision ordering that LTL's bankruptcy petition be dismissed, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit reminded J&J of "the rule that resort to Chapter
  11 is appropriate only for entities facing financial distress," and summed things up a bit scathingly: "Our decision dismisses the bankruptcy filing of a company created to file for bankruptcy."

December 2022: Avon Ordered to Pay Over $50M

• A California jury found Avon Products, Inc. liable for over $50 million in a lawsuit brought by a woman who alleged that her mesothelioma was linked to her history of using asbestos-contaminated Avon products.
• "Punitive damages" accounted for at least $10 million of that award, after the jury found that Avon knew about the potential health risks linked to its products, and didn't do enough to warn consumers.

January 2021: Large-Scale Study Finds "No Significant" Link Between Talcum Powder Products and Ovarian Cancer

• A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found no "statistically significant association" between genital ("perineal") use of talc products like baby powder and incidence of ovarian cancer.
• The study monitored over 250,000 women, many of whom reported "frequent" and "long-term" perineal use of talc-based powders.

November 2020: Study Finds Asbestos in 15 Percent of Cosmetic Products

• Lab testing of talc-based cosmetics revealed that almost 15 percent of the products sampled contained asbestos, according to a study conducted by the Environmental Working Group.
• EWG bills itself as a "non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to protecting human health and the environment."

November 2020: Missouri Supreme Court Lets $2.1B Talc-Cancer Award Stand

• The Missouri Supreme Court refused to hear Johnson & Johnson's appeal of a $2.1 billion verdict in favor of a group of women who alleged that the company's Johnson's® Baby Powder product caused their ovarian cancer.

Do I Need a Talcum Powder Lawyer to File a Lawsuit Against Johnson & Johnson?

Filing a lawsuit over a corporate giant like Johnson & Johnson isn't something you want to try to do on your own, and articles like this one can only give you a basic sense of what to expect in your case. There's no substitute for discussing the specifics of your situation with a knowledgeable lawyer.

Talc-asbestos lawsuits often hinge on complex medical evidence. A lawyer will have the experience and resources to assemble your best case (including retaining the right medical experts) and will work towards getting the best outcome. Learn more about finding and hiring the right talc-asbestos lawyer. You can also use the tools on this page to connect with a lawyer in your area.