Australian woman’s cancer battle sparks talcum powder class action against Johnson & Johnson as US lawsuits pile up

Amanda Bradley, a 45-year-old Australian woman, is at the center of a class action lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson, alleging her ovarian cancer was caused by long-term use of the company’s talcum powder. Diagnosed at 34, Bradley experienced a complete hysterectomy and early menopause, profoundly impacting her life. The Supreme Court of Victoria class action, involving over 1300 Australian women, claims J&J’s talcum powder products were defective, unsafe, and negligently supplied, linking them to ovarian and reproductive cancers, as well as mesothelioma.

The lawsuit highlights concerns about asbestos contamination in talc, a naturally occurring mineral often found alongside asbestos underground, and the difficulty of completely eliminating asbestos during testing. Shine Lawyers, representing the plaintiffs, argues the products were unfit for purpose and J&J was negligent. This Australian action mirrors ongoing US lawsuits where juries have awarded substantial damages – including a $966 million verdict in California and a $1.5 billion award in Maryland – to plaintiffs with similar claims.

Johnson & Johnson has faced repeated bankruptcy attempts to manage the US claims, but these have largely been unsuccessful. Shine Lawyers is encouraging women diagnosed with relevant cancers after regular use of J&J talc between 1971 and 2023 to register their interest in the ongoing class action.

(Source：7NEWS Australia)