J&J announces $5.5bn settlement of talc lawsuits
Johnson & Johnson will pay $5.5 billion to settle approximately 69,000 lawsuits alleging its talc products cause ovarian cancer.Summary
Johnson & Johnson has announced a $5.5 billion settlement to resolve tens of thousands of lawsuits claiming its talc-based products cause ovarian cancer. The agreement covers about 69,000 consolidated federal cases in New Jersey and related state court cases, representing 99.75% of the remaining talc-related claims. The deal is currently awaiting approval from the presiding federal judge.
While the company maintains that the claims are "meritless" and that its talc products are safe and asbestos-free, J&J stated the settlement is intended to provide closure and allow the company to focus on its medical mission. This resolution follows a decade of litigation and previous unsuccessful attempts to resolve the claims through bankruptcy filings. Notably, the settlement applies only to existing claims and does not cover potential future lawsuits.
J&J transitioned from talc-based baby powder to a cornstarch-based product in the US in 2020. The legal battle has been marked by significant shifts, including a recent federal court ruling that cast doubt on the ability of individual plaintiffs to prove a direct causal link between talc and ovarian cancer.
(Source：Rte.ie)