Jury Awards $250,000 in Johnson & Johnson Talc Powder Cancer Case

A Pennsylvania state jury has awarded $250,000 to the family of Gayle Emerson in a lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson over its talc-based baby powder. The family claimed it caused Emerson's ovarian cancer, a significant win for plaintiffs in the extensive talc litigation against the company.

The Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas found in favor of Emerson's family, with the jury awarding $50,000 in compensatory damages and $200,000 in punitive damages. The lawsuit accused Johnson & Johnson of being aware of the dangers of its talc products but failing to adequately warn consumers.

Johnson & Johnson maintains that its talc-based products are safe and declined to comment on the recent verdict. The company, facing over 67,000 lawsuits, halted U.S. sales of its talc powder in 2020. Legal battles continue as the company denies allegations of its products containing asbestos and causing cancer.