In the latest talc trial to kick off in St. Louis, MO, the makers of Johnson & Johnson's baby powder face its biggest legal test yet for its iconic yet embattled product.To date, the manufacturer has suffered some previous defeats in cases over its storied brand. St. Louis juries have already ordered the company to pay verdicts of $55 million, $70 million and $110 million, and J&J has pledged to appeal in each instance.
Opening statements began in a trial consolidating the claims of 22 plaintiffs-six of whom are deceased-who say their routine use of the baby powder led to ovarian cancer. J&J denies the claims.
The women say J&J has known about the alleged link to cancer for decades, and that the company has long known about potential asbestos contamination in its product. Plaintiffs also say J&J worked with lobbyists to suppress evidence of a link to cancer rather than warn consumers. The trial is expected to run through mid-July.
A J&J representative said, "Johnson's Baby Powder does not contain asbestos or cause ovarian cancer and we will continue to defend the safety of our product."
After other losses-one in St. Louis-Johnson & Johnson has had some success in appeals. The company has won reversals of a $417 million Los Angeles talc verdict and another $72 million verdict handed down by a St. Louis jury. The company has also won ovarian cancer talc cases in New Jersey and St. Louis.
Recently, some plaintiffs have taken claims of a link between the product and mesothelioma to trial, with some success. This year, plaintiffs in New Jersey and Los Angeles won verdicts of $117 million and $25.75 million, respectively, and J&J said it will appeal. The company previously won a mesothelioma lawsuit in Los Angeles, and another late last month ended in a mistrial in South Carolina.
As of J&J's most recent quarterly filing with the SEC, the company faces about 9,100 lawsuits alleging harm from talc powder use.