Johnson & Johnson (J&J) has been hammered by a St. Louis jury and ordered to pay $72 million to the family of a woman who died from ovarian cancer. The family of Jackie Fox filed a wrongful death claim for ovarian cancer caused by talcum powder that she used throughout her life.
Fox used J&J talcum powder products for feminine hygiene, and she alleged that the world’s largest pharmaceutical and medical device company failed to warn that the talc migrates through the vagina and increase the risk of ovarian cancer.
The jury in the Missouri Circuit Court in St. Louis, found that J&J should pay the family $10 million in compensatory damages, for her wrongful death. The jury also found that J&J acted with gross negligence and wanton disregard for the plaintiff’s health and safety, and awarded $62 million in punitive damages. Punitive damages are awarded when the jury finds egregious behavior and is designed to punish the company for wrongful acts.
The jury noted that internal documents showed that the company knew about increased risk of ovarian cancer from talc for years, but hid the vital information from talc powder users.
Shower-to-Shower and Baby Powder Under Fire
Johnson’s Baby Powder is the most popular talcum powder product sold by the company. The talc is usually used in infants to prevent diaper rashes and it is also marketed to adult women for general hygiene purposes, as the Shower-to-Shower product.
1,200 Talc Ovarian Cancer Lawsuits Pending
There are about 1,200 Baby Powder lawsuits and Shower-to-Shower body powder lawsuits pending against J&J, with similar allegations that the company failed to warn that the talcum-based powders may increase the risk of ovarian cancer when applied to the female genitals.
According to medical experts, pathological evidence reveals that the talc may migrate through the vagina and into the fallopian tubes, uterus and ovaries, causing inflammation leading ovarian cancers. Microscopic evidence of talc particulate infiltration is found in the ovaries of affected women.
2nd Jury Talc Ovarian Cancer Verdict
In October 2013, a South Dakota jury found that J&J failed to warn about the risk of ovarian cancer from talcum powder, but no damages were awarded. In that South Dakota case, a 56 year old woman was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and three doctors found that her cancer tissue had evidence of talc in the ovaries.
New Jersey Talc Powder State Court Mass Tort
The New Jersey Supreme Court in November 2015, consolidated all talcum powder lawsuits filed on behalf of women diagnosed with ovarian cancer.
All talc cancer cases filed throughout New Jersey state court are centralized before Judges Julio L. Mendez and Nelson C. Johnson in Atlantic County, as part of a Multi-County Litigation (MCL). There are more than 100 ovarian cancer lawsuits over talcum powder pending throughout the state.
Shezad Malik is an Internal Medicine and Cardiology specialist, a Texas Medical Doctor (retired) and Defective Medical Device and Dangerous Drug Attorney. Dr. Shezad Malik Law Firm has offices based in Fort Worth and Dallas and represents people who have suffered catastrophic and serious personal injuries including wrongful death, caused by the negligence or recklessness of others.
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