Johnson & Johnson told to pay US$2.1 billion over cancer-causing talcum powder

The decision by an appeal court cut by more than half the US$4.4 billion awarded to 22 people in 2018 for ‘knowingly selling products that contained asbestos’

Johnson & Johnson has faced thousands of lawsuits across the US alleging it failed to warn consumers of cancer risk from asbestos in its talc-based products

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Bottles of Johnson's baby powder in a New York City store last year. Photo: Reuters

Published: 10:06pm, 24 Jun 2020Updated: 4:13am, 25 Jun 2020

A US court has upheld a verdict that talcum powder sold by Johnson & Johnson caused ovarian cancer and ordered the pharmaceutical giant to pay US$2.1 billion in damages.

The decision by the Missouri Court of Appeals cut by more than half the US$4.4 billion a jury had awarded 22 people in 2018. The court agreed that some of the plaintiffs should not have been included in the case as they were from outside the state.

But the Tuesday decision upheld the awarding of damages for the company “knowingly selling products that contained asbestos to consumers”.

“Because defendants are large, multibillion-dollar corporations, we believe a large amount of punitive damages is necessary to have an effect in this case,” the judgment said.

Johnson & Johnson has faced thousands of lawsuits across the United States alleging it failed to warn consumers of the risk of cancer from asbestos in its talc-based products. Photo: AP

“It is impossible to place monetary value on the physical, mental and emotional anguish plaintiffs suffered because of their injury caused by defendants.”

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