Johnson & Johnson Pulls Talc from Shelves for Good

 

 

Johnson's Baby Powder discontinued

At OnderLaw, we’ve long said our primary goals are to fight for justice for our clients and hold companies accountable when they put profits over people. This week’s news that Johnson & Johnson has removed its talc-based Johnson’s Baby Powder from the consumer market is a win of historic proportions — not only for tens of thousands of women who have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer after using Johnson’s Baby Powder for years, but for the civil justice system as well.

What consumer complaints could not do alone, lawsuits managed to accomplish. Because these women were willing to stand up with us to share their stories and, at times, lay bare their lives to strangers, J&J is no longer getting by with selling a deadly product to unsuspecting consumers. Together, we’ve managed to save countless women from having to face ovarian cancer. 

Though J&J has not admitted liability, scientific evidence and J&J’s own internal memos uncovered in court have undeniably put pressure on the company to stop putting profits over people. We do not believe it is coincidental that J&J’s decision to pull its cancer-causing product from the market is on the heels of the finding by the federal district court in the talc multidistrict litigation (MDL) just weeks ago that causation science is sound.  

This week’s news marks the end of an era in which Johnson & Johnson went to often-shocking lengths to sell billions of dollars in products, simply because they believed they were too big to take on.

We’re taking them on. With truth and facts on our side, and with your help, we are winning.

What Happens Next in J&J Talc Litigation?

Removing talc products from shelves suggests the company is feeling pressure from shareholders to settle the thousands of cases that are currently outstanding. The company has not admitted guilt, but with so many lawsuits pending, we wouldn’t expect them to. Yet, the move to pull the products is a good indicator that Johnson & Johnson knows the evidence is stacked against them.

This development bodes well for the thousands of women who have suffered because of J&J’s greed. We are not willing to settle for less than our clients deserve, however, and if J&J does not come to the table with a fair and just settlement, we will continue to prepare for trials.

FAQs

We have received several inquiries on social media about Johnson & Johnson talc litigation. Here are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions:

How do women get ovarian cancer from talc use?

Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower to Shower were marketed as effective after-bath and after-shower products to use as part of a good hygiene routine. They were used on babies after baths, and women sprinkled them on their bodies and in their underwear to control perspiration and odors.

Alarms were sounded on the product when talc and asbestos were found in the ovaries and other tissues removed from women with ovarian cancer. Since then, peer-reviewed studies have shown that talcum powder is carcinogenic. Additional studies have proven talc applied to a woman’s genital area can travel up the reproductive tract to the ovaries and cause an inflammatory response linked to development of ovarian cancer.

What if J&J files bankruptcy? 

Johnson & Johnson has been incredibly profitable and has multiple highly-successful products on the market. Though bankruptcy is highly unlikely, even in the event it were to happen, bankruptcy courts acknowledge outstanding lawsuits and require companies to set aside money to settle them.

Has J&J stopped making talc products altogether?

Unfortunately, no. The company is still selling talcum powder to markets outside of the United States and Canada, where they are currently not facing lawsuits.

Will anyone within Johnson & Johnson face criminal charges?

According to a February 2020 Johnson & Johnson shareholder report, records have been requested by the Justice Department and by the Securities and Exchange Commission. No further information is available, but it may be a clue that a criminal investigation is ongoing.

Is it too late to file a claim?

Time may be running out. If you have been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and used Johnson & Johnson talc for a period of years, you may be eligible for compensation. Contact OnderLaw from anywhere in the United States for a free, no-obligation consultation.