Another Talc Powder Trial Loss for J&J – $110 Million Verdict

• June 7, 2017
• Verdicts and Settlements

A successful jury ruling came for 62-year old Lois Slemp of Virginia on May 4, 2017 in her case against Johnson & Johnson alleging that using its baby powder caused her ovarian cancer.

A St. Louis jury awarded over $110 million to Slemp – $5.4 million in compensatory damages and $105 million in punitive damages. Imerys Talc America, J&J’s talc supplier, was also included in the lawsuit and was deemed to have been one percent responsible, translating to a $50,000 portion of the verdict.

Johnson & Johnson, accused of failing to warn consumers about the potential cancer risks from talc-containing products, has been aware for decades of studies suggesting that it is a carcinogen.

Case is Slemp v. Johnson & Johnson, 22nd Judicial Circuit of Missouri, No. 1422-CC09326-01

Talc Powder Trial Outcomes

While J&J secured its first trial win In March 2017, this is the fourth verdict against the company by plaintiffs alleging that J&J’s talc-powder products caused them to develop ovarian cancer.

• February 2016, jury ordered J&J to pay $72 million to the family of a woman who died from ovarian cancer.
• May 2016, jury awarded $55 million to a woman who developed ovarian cancer after having used the products for decades.
• October 2016, jury awarded over $70 million.

Link Between Talcum Powder and Ovarian Cancer

Talcum powder, derived from talc, is a mineral composed of hydrated magnesium silicate. Commonly known as baby powder, it is used to treat rashes and has been used for personal hygiene and cosmetics. In general, it may be recognized as safe, but it can pose serious health threats when used for feminine hygiene.

Several studies have confirmed that talc applied to a woman’s genital area may travel through the vagina into the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries.

Manufacturers such as J&J appear to have known for decades about the risk of ovarian cancer from talcum powder use for feminine hygiene; yet only very inadequate warnings have been provided.

Ovarian cancer symptoms

According to the CDC, ovarian cancer may cause one or more of these symptoms

• Vaginal bleeding or discharge that is not normal for you
• Pain in the pelvic or abdominal area (this would be the area below your stomach and between your hip bones)
• Back pain
• Bloating (when the area below your stomach swells or feels full)
• Feeling full quickly while eating
• A change in your bathroom habits such as having to pass urine very badly or very often, constipation or diarrhea

Receive a Free Evaluation from Knowledgeable Product Liability Attorneys

Have you been diagnosed with ovarian cancer after having used talcum-powder products long-term? We can help you obtain your medical records and request that a biopsy sample from your cancerous ovary be examined using a special scanning microscope. If talcum fibers are present, this may be an underlying cause of ovarian cancer.

If you have questions about the link between talcum powder and ovarian cancer, contact us for a free, no-obligation review of your case.

Our knowledgeable staff is available at (877) 284-6600.

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Photo Credits

• JeepersMedia Johnson’s Baby Powder, Talc, Talcum, pics by Mike Mozart of TheToyChannel and JeepersMedia on YouTube. #Johnsons #Baby #Powder #Talc #Talcum via photopin (license)
• JeepersMedia Johnson’s Baby Powder, Talc version via photopin (license)