Johnson & Johnson has agreed to pay an estimated $5.5bn to resolve tens of thousands of lawsuits alleging its baby powder and other talc products caused ovarian cancer, in a landmark deal that could end a contentious, decade-long legal battle.
Settlement details and scope
The settlement, announced on Monday, covers about 76,000 claims, including those consolidated in a federal court in New Jersey and related cases in state court. This represents nearly all remaining talc claims against the company. The US multinational had previously settled most cases alleging its talc contained asbestos and caused mesothelioma.
Plaintiffs' law firms confirmed the deal, calling it a good resolution after a 10-year court battle. The agreement must be accepted by 95% of the ovarian cancer claimants in state or federal court before it becomes final.
Company stance and payment structure
Johnson & Johnson's vice president of litigation, Erik Haas, said the claims were “meritless” but that the company was willing to settle to gain closure. “While we are confident the company would have ultimately prevailed with further litigation, as it has in the vast majority of cases tried to date, this resolution allows the company to put this matter behind it and remain focused on its mission to develop medicines and devices that save lives,” Haas said.
Johnson & Johnson expects to pay $3bn in 2027, with further payments in 2028. The deal could be worth more depending on participation. Chris Seeger, a lawyer representing about 2,500 clients with talc claims who helped negotiate the agreement, said Johnson & Johnson could ultimately pay $7bn or more. The settlement assigns specific values to qualifying ovarian cancer claims but does not cap the total payout, Seeger noted. “We got a fair settlement, and our clients are going to be happy with it.”
Legal background and previous attempts
The settlement follows a series of court wins for Johnson & Johnson, including victories in individual trials, successful efforts to disqualify plaintiffs' lawyers, and court rulings against experts used by plaintiffs. Last week, a federal judge cast doubt on individual plaintiffs' ability to prove that talc specifically caused their ovarian cancer.
Johnson & Johnson has long denied that its talc products caused cancer, stating that talc was safe and did not contain asbestos. The company stopped selling talc-based baby powder in the US in 2020, switching to a cornstarch product. Litigation resumed in March 2025 after being on hold for over three years while Johnson & Johnson unsuccessfully pursued a “Texas two step” bankruptcy strategy through a shell-company subsidiary, filing three bankruptcies that each ended in dismissal.
Comparison with previous proposals
Unlike the proposed bankruptcy settlements, Monday's agreement applies only to existing claims and does not address future lawsuits. The exclusion of future claims made more money available to current plaintiffs and accelerates payments so that all claims will be paid within 18 months instead of over a decade, Seeger said.
