JURY VERDICTS AGAINST JOHNSON & JOHNSON SPOTLIGHT DANGERS OF TALCUM POWDER

Twice in the past year, juries in St. Louis have awarded tens of millions of dollars to ovarian cancer victims who blamed Johnson & Johnson talcum powder for their illness.

A jury in St. Louis awarded $72 million ($10 million in actual damages and $62 in punitive damages) to Jacqueline Fox after finding her ovarian cancer and death were related to her use of Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder for feminine hygiene. Ms. Fox was diagnosed in 2013 at age 59, and died on October 6, 2015. She was never warned of the cancer risk associated with talcum powder.

Another jury recently awarded $55 million ($5 million in actual damages and $50 million in punitive damages) to a South Dakota woman who survived ovarian cancer. Diana Berg began her proceedings against J&J in 2009, claiming the pharmaceutical company was responsible for gross negligence because it failed to warn consumers of the high association of cancer from long-term exposure to cosmetic talc.

Ovarian cancer is among the most deadly of cancers. In the Fox trial, Roberta Ness, former dean of the University of Texas School of Public Health, testified as an expert witness. When explaining the link between talcum powder and ovarian cancer, she testified that “all of the studies that have actually measured frequency and duration…have all shown a statistically significant trend toward more exposure causing more disease.” She further claimed at trial that Baby Powder use could contribute to some 2,500 women being diagnosed with ovarian cancer every year and 1,500 dying.

Davis & Crump is currently accepting clients and referrals of women who used J&J Baby Powder or Shower to Shower for feminine hygiene and developed ovarian cancer. Contact our attorneys at 800-277-0300 or email us at info@daviscrump.com for more information.