In February 2016, a jury in City of St. Louis Circuit Court awarded the family of Plaintiff Jacqueline Fox a verdict of $72 million, holding Johnson & Johnson liable for the woman’s ovarian cancer death. The jury agreed with evidence presented at trial indicating regular use of talcum powder products like Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower to Shower body powder for feminine hygiene contributes to an increased risk for the development of ovarian cancer.
Johnson & Johnson was found liable for failure to warn, negligence and conspiracy.
Since the Fox verdict, two more juries in City of St. Louis Circuit Court have returned verdicts for Plaintiffs whose ovarian cancer they linked to the regular genital use of Johnson & Johnson talcum powder products. In May, a jury found in favor of Gloria Ristesund, 62, who was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2011 after using J&J talcum powder products for more than 40 years. They awarded her $55 million in actual and punitive damages.
In October, a third jury in St. Louis found in favor of Plaintiff Deborah Giannecchini, who was diagnosed with Stage IV ovarian cancer at age 59, after using Johnson’s Baby Powder and Shower to Shower body powder for feminine hygiene for more than 40 years. They awarded her $70.075 million and, for the first time, also held J&J talc supplier Imerys liable for damages. The award included $575,000 in medical damages, $2 million in compensatory damages and $65 million in punitive damages against J&J, and $2.5 million in punitive damages against Imerys.