By Jonathan Stempel | Reuters
Johnson & Johnson (JNJ.N) was ordered by a Missouri state jury to pay $72 million of damages to the family of a woman whose death from ovarian cancer was linked to her use of the company’s talc-based Baby Powder and Shower to Shower for several decades.
In a verdict announced late Monday night, jurors in the circuit court of St. Louis awarded the family of Jacqueline Fox $10 million of actual damages and $62 million of punitive damages, according to the family’s lawyers and court records.
The verdict is the first by a U.S. jury to award damages over the claims, the lawyers said.
Johnson & Johnson faces claims that it, in an effort to boost sales, failed for decades to warn consumers that its talc-based products could cause cancer. About 1,000 cases have been filed in Missouri state court, and another 200 in New Jersey.
Fox, who lived in Birmingham, Alabama, claimed she used Baby Powder and Shower to Shower for feminine hygiene for more than 35 years before being diagnosed three years ago with ovarian cancer. She died in October at age 62.
Jurors found Johnson & Johnson liable for fraud, negligence and conspiracy, the family’s lawyers said. Deliberations lasted four hours, following a three-week trial.
Jere Beasley, a lawyer for Fox’s family, said Johnson & Johnson “knew as far back as the 1980s of the risk,” and yet resorted to “lying to the public, lying to the regulatory agencies.” He spoke on a conference call with journalists.
Carol Goodrich, a Johnson & Johnson spokeswoman, said: “We have no higher responsibility than the health and safety of consumers, and we are disappointed with the outcome of the trial. We sympathize with the plaintiff’s family but firmly believe the safety of cosmetic talc is supported by decades of scientific evidence.”
Trials in several other talc lawsuits have been set for later this year, according to Danielle Mason, who also represented Fox’s family at trial.
Originally entitled: “J&J must pay $72 million for cancer death linked to talcum powder: lawyers”
Robert O’Leary, JD BARA, has had an abiding interest in alternative health products & modalities since the early 1970’s & he has seen how they have made people go from lacking health to vibrant health. He became an attorney, singer-songwriter, martial artist & father along the way and brings that experience to his practice as a BioAcoustic Soundhealth Practitioner, under the tutelage of the award-winning founder of BioAcoustic Biology, Sharry Edwards, whose Institute of BioAcoustic Biology has now been serving clients for 30 years with a non-invasive & safe integrative modality that supports the body’s ability to self-heal using the power of the human voice. Robert brings this modality to serve clients in Greater Springfield (MA), New England & “virtually” the world, with his website. He can also be reached at romayasoundhealthandbeauty@gmail.
They made a fortune so $72M is no problem…
are they still allowed to market it for babies? what is the follow up for this?
It is still on the market just you have to decide not to use it… we live in a fucked up world
yep, our fda is full of shit too
Throw that stuff out!
Ppl see this as outrageous but still use perfums, toxic soaps, toxic cleaning products or air freshners and eat non organic food full of toxic cancer causing chemicals. Glad they were fined tho!
I would use talcum powder at work, everyday, particles in my face. Bullshit. I haven’t used it for about 5 years, but I spent 11 years straight using talcum powder. Which I thought I was doing ok by using baby powder towards the end then I realized it’s just the same. Garbage. Thanks.
J & J is the worst !
Known it for a looong time.
Debra
If this is really dangerous to use then why im still seing this in every market around… perhaps an explanation t0o from them atleast
companies shoukd be held responsible for the chemicals they use and sell. Period. Too many rip off companies
only 72mil? thats nothing
Melanie Tinsman
This is disgusting! Women get ovarian cancer from a number of things but I don’t see how they can prove that powder caused it not to mention the $72,000,000.00
It was proven in a court of law with a judge and jury that there was a direct link between her use of talc and her cancer…just because you don’t understand how doesn’t make it disgusting that’s very narrow minded.
The disgusting part was the outrageous amount of money awarded.
I thought they were a “family company”…more marketing bullshit.
What about the rest of us where is our 72million dollar sttlement?
Sadly though everything we put in our mouth, skin, things we use or do on daily basis contains something toxic to us, either someone is immune to them or die. This is all done by humans, us.
MAY this is such a BS Commerical!!!!!!!! for J & J
That’s not real.the people died with cervical cancer ovarian cancer that’s from inside .I should believe by outside. Might be too much sex or herety cancer they want to get money from the company. Why the babies doesn’t get cancer?.many women’s get breast cancer and never feed or delivered babies. And maney virgins women’s get utero or cervical cancer doesn’t mean the soaps or sex made cancers.honestlu they want to be a millionars from the company obviously
um research prolonged use
Thanks
Just because it is topical does not mean it only affects the outside of your body. You are a porous organic being, you need to do some research as Angela McClure-Chance directed.
It works the same way deodorant gets in & causes cancer….through your skin
If that cause cancer.why the people use it.i never use deodorant. Baking soda is safe cheaper and natural. Any ways people is dying, cancer is a pandemic .I’m a health care aid and I seem different types of cancer.mouth,brain,skin,bones,liver, lungs cancer etc. Omg.who’s going to demanding if we’re eating chimicals everywhere
I’m caring a guy rich guy he never been exposed to anything even use perfume. Using the best and natural soaps. 67 years old with brain cancer. Is a pandemic for me is a extortion taking advance from a death person.the worse part is millions. Isn’t like 2 or 3 millions. They are like starving dogs.gross I want to vomiting to read news like this want.never think in God to be blessed
WTF is next?
My mum who has a mental illness told me 30 years ago that talc causes cancer. She not that mental now it seems
Lesley George
News reports state women should avoid using it but they still sell it from the supermarket shelves labeled ‘baby powder’ …..WT…..
They should both be banned damnit! Thats why we have these children also with cancer.
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Almost everything made and processed through chemical reactions are expected to harm our bodies..so,this is nothing new to me.
Daun Disher
I thought the ingredients was changed time ago in uk not sure but I won’t be using it or there other products
Britt wtf
I think it’s pretty sad that murder can be settled with government ordained paper.
It should be banned.
Claice Joy Tejada
How do you even prove that she died from using these products
Imprison anybody allowing these products to be sold to the public!!
Test in govt Lab must be done in 2 or more lab and then live the products to market it is govt falt . Govt have take care of people health dept . Products CEO have rights to take care of people . It is humanity
Lian Whye Tan
Shahrir Roose
Use as shoe deodorant. Works ya, Gary Lim?
Mate, it’s the best foot deodorant ever ….I just thought the RSGC oldies should know bout this since they use so much of it
Carroms
Talc also is not good for babies. It can cause or exacerbate asthmatic problems
Is that all, all my children had this on them from the day they were born for 2 years as did every other mother I new witch cancers have been linked to this please.
Won’t bring her back but the money can be used towards good helpful future action and works. Has anyone bothered to explain why and how this ‘lovely smelling and touchy feely, clean me, dry my moist bit’ product affects the body?
I was raised using powders and did so on my children. When my Gradchildren were born my son -in-law knew of this and we didn’t use on them. Please spread the word. It’s dangerous for children.
Ghulam Aishah
Why not invetigate thoroughly.. for sure they are not the only people who patronized the product
BAD PRODUCTS
FOR SURE !
Its Johnson & Johnson way to stimulate the economy
Is there anything safe left now??
Roscoe Bigsby
Sounds like bullshit to me. What was the judge’s take in this deal?
My mom used J & J talcum powder after every bath my whole life. She died of ovarian cancer two years ago. I suspected the powder then. She put it in a can with a big powder puff she kept in her bathroom which made its way to my house in a box. Upon finding it, I took it straight to the garbage. I didn’t want the powder or even the can to remind me.
First of all, it depends on the levels and duration of the suffering. Her losts and the negative impacts to the amount of people around her or people in the world. What if her contributions to the world make a huge (constructively) difference etc.
NO BLOODY WAY……….until PROVEN beyond ALL doubt.
bloody america…..someone stands on your foot and you sue for milllions.