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Johnson & Johnson offers $5.5 billion to settle tens of thousands of lawsuits over talc products and ovarian cancer

Johnson & Johnson has proposed a $5.5 billion settlement to resolve approximately 76,000 lawsuits alleging that its talc-based baby powder and other products caused ovarian cancer. The New Jersey-based pharmaceutical giant denied that its talc products caused the cancer but agreed to the deal to achieve legal closure after a decade of litigation. The settlement is conditioned on the participation of at least 95% of the remaining claimants in state and federal courts. Erik Haas, the company's vice president of litigation, stated that the claims lacked scientific merit, but the company remains confident it would have prevailed in further litigation. Chris Seeger, the lead counsel for the plaintiffs, noted that the settlement provides fair compensation for women who have waited over a decade for relief. The agreement accelerates payments, with Johnson & Johnson expected to pay an initial $3 billion in 2027, followed by further payments in 2028. This landmark deal concludes a long-standing legal battle that has weighed on the company for years.

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