Timeline of Johnson & Johnson Talcum Powder Litigation
Written by Jay M. Kelley III in Drug & Medical Devices, Health & Wellness, In the news on April 28, 2025
Filing of Lawsuits (Starting 2009)
- Lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson started in 2009, with plaintiffs claiming that the company’s talc-based baby powder caused ovarian cancer due to asbestos contamination.
First Major Trial (2013)
- The first significant trial concerning Johnson & Johnson’s talc products occurred in 2013. This case established a foundation for future litigation and opened the way for larger verdicts in subsequent years.
Verdicts Against J&J (2016 – 2018)
- Between 2016 and 2018, several jury trials resulted in significant verdicts against Johnson & Johnson. Plaintiffs were awarded large sums after claiming their ovarian cancer was caused by long-term use of talc products.
Denial of Mesothelioma Claims (2019)
- In 2019, Johnson & Johnson publicly denied that its talc products could cause mesothelioma, despite lawsuits linking the disease to asbestos contamination in the company’s baby powder.
FDA Testing and Baby Powder Recall (2019)
- In October 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) discovered trace amounts of asbestos in Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder samples. The company recalled 33,000 bottles of the product in response, although it disputed the FDA’s findings. That same year, Johnson & Johnson announced that it would cease the sale of talc-based baby powder in North America.
Bankruptcy Filing 1 (October 2021)
- In October 2021, Johnson & Johnson began a corporate restructuring by establishing a subsidiary, LTL Management, to take on its talc-related liabilities. Subsequently, LTL filed for bankruptcy using a method known as the “Texas Two-Step.” However, the court ultimately rejected this bankruptcy filing, ruling that Johnson & Johnson had enough financial resources to handle the lawsuits directly.
First Settlement Offer (April 2023)
- In April 2023, Johnson & Johnson proposed a $8.9 billion settlement to resolve claims related to ovarian and gynecological cancers. However, the offer was rejected due to problems with the process used to obtain approval from claimants.
$6.5 Billion Settlement Proposal (May 2024)
- In May 2024, Johnson & Johnson renewed its proposal to settle $6.5 billion in remaining talc-related lawsuits. This proposal came after ongoing challenges in court.
Bankruptcy Filing 2 (July 2024)
- LTL Management filed for bankruptcy for the second time in July 2024, aiming to resolve pending lawsuits through a restructured agreement. However, the court blocked this attempt due to issues with collecting claimant votes and other legal concerns.
Bigger Settlement Offer (September 2024)
- In September 2024, Johnson & Johnson increased its settlement offer to $8 billion to address the court’s earlier concerns and gain broader support. Despite the higher amount, the court rejected this revised proposal as well.
Bankruptcy Filing 3 (September 2024)
- In late September 2024, Johnson & Johnson filed for bankruptcy for the third time, aiming to resolve all remaining talc-related lawsuits through a comprehensive settlement plan.
Settlement of All Mesothelioma Claims (January 2025)
- By January 2025, Johnson & Johnson announced that it had settled nearly all outstanding mesothelioma cases, effectively removing these claims from the broader litigation.
Bankruptcy Judge Denies J&J’s Settlement Plan (March 2025)
- In March 2025, a bankruptcy judge rejected Johnson & Johnson’s $8 billion settlement plan due to flaws in the process used to solicit votes from personal injury claimants. This decision marked the court’s third time denying the company’s bankruptcy strategy.
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