Johnson & Johnson Ordered To Pay $72M for Cancer Case Linked to Talcum Powder

Powder users, beware!

According to a recent news published by Reuters, “Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) 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.”

The verdict was announced last Monday by jurors of the St. Louis circuit court. The lawyers and the court records indicated that the family of Jacqueline Fox has received $10 million for actual damages plus $62 for punitive damages.

Jacqueline Fox of Birmingham, Alabama died of ovarian cancer after years of using Johnson & Johnson powders.

This marks the first time that a United States jury awarded such damages over a claim. Over the years, the Johnson & Johnson has never taken the initiative to warn their buyers about the fact that talc-based products could lead to cancer. In Missouri state court alone, around 1,000 cases have been filed against the company.

The Reuters report shared:

“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.”

Fox, photographed with her son Marvin Salter here, passed away at the age of 62.

Fox’s laywer Jere Beasley said that the company “knew as far back as the 1980s of the risk,” and yet they continued “lying to the public, lying to the regulatory agencies,” all in an effort to boost sales.

Johnson & Johnson spokeswoman Carol Goodrich explained:

“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.”

Watch the video report here:

Time to remove one item from the grocery list then!

H/T: Reuters