In a significant legal ruling, Johnson & Johnson (JNJ.N) has been ordered to pay $15 million to Evan Plotkin, a Connecticut man who claims that decades of using the company’s talc powder led to his diagnosis of mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer. The jury delivered its verdict on Tuesday in Fairfield County, Connecticut Superior Court.
Plotkin filed his lawsuit in 2021 shortly after receiving his cancer diagnosis, asserting that inhaling J&J’s baby powder contributed to his illness. The jury not only found in favor of Plotkin but also determined that additional punitive damages should be assessed, which will be decided later by the presiding judge.
Ben Braly, Plotkin’s attorney, expressed satisfaction with the jury’s decision, stating, “Evan Plotkin and his trial team are thrilled that a jury once again decided to hold Johnson & Johnson accountable for their marketing and sale of a baby powder product that they knew contained asbestos.”
In response, Erik Haas, J&J’s global vice president of litigation, announced the company’s intention to appeal what he termed “erroneous” rulings made by the trial judge. Haas emphasized that the verdict contradicts decades of independent scientific assessments asserting that talc is safe, free from asbestos, and does not cause cancer.
This verdict emerges as Johnson & Johnson navigates ongoing claims from over 62,000 individuals alleging that their use of talc products has resulted in ovarian and other gynecological cancers. The company is currently pursuing a nearly $9 billion settlement through bankruptcy proceedings to resolve these claims. While this bankruptcy deal faces legal challenges from some plaintiffs’ attorneys and has temporarily halted lawsuits related to gynecological cancers, it does not impact the smaller number of mesothelioma cases like Plotkin’s. Although J&J has previously settled some mesothelioma claims, it has yet to propose a nationwide settlement for these cases.
The controversy surrounding J&J’s talc products stems from allegations that they were contaminated with asbestos—a known carcinogen linked to mesothelioma and other serious health issues. In 2020, the company withdrew its talc-based powder products from the U.S. market amid growing concerns over safety.
As this case unfolds, it highlights the ongoing scrutiny faced by Johnson & Johnson regarding the safety of its talc products and the potential health risks associated with their long-term use.
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