Johnson & Johnson Talcum Powder Ovarian Cancer Litigation

This massive multidistrict litigation consolidates claims from approximately 60,000 plaintiffs — primarily women and the estates of deceased women — who allege that long-term perineal use of Johnson & Johnson's iconic talcum powder products, including Baby Powder and Shower to Shower, caused ovarian cancer and mesothelioma. Plaintiffs contend that J&J's talc was contaminated with asbestos, a known carcinogen, and that the company concealed internal research dating back decades that raised serious concerns about the safety of its talc-based products. Internal documents revealed during litigation showed that company scientists and executives were aware of the potential asbestos contamination and cancer risks yet continued to market the products aggressively, particularly to women and in communities of color.

Johnson & Johnson has pursued a highly controversial legal strategy, twice attempting to use a subsidiary bankruptcy filing (dubbed the "Texas Two-Step" maneuver) to cap its liability and funnel all talc claims into a bankruptcy proceeding. After courts rejected the first bankruptcy attempt, J&J proposed a $6.475 billion settlement in 2024 through a new subsidiary bankruptcy — a figure plaintiffs' attorneys argue is grossly insufficient given the scale of harm and the company's revenues. The litigation remains one of the most consequential and closely watched mass tort cases in U.S. history, raising fundamental questions about corporate accountability, the integrity of internal safety research, and the permissibility of using bankruptcy as a litigation shield.