Record Breaking $417M Award in J & J Baby Powder Cancer Lawsuit

A Los Angeles woman, who was too sick to to appear in court, was recently awarded a record $417M in damages in a lawsuit linking talcum powder use to ovarian cancer. The verdict is the largest sum among recent lawsuits aimed at the consumer products giant.

Eva Echevarria, one of the many women who have sued Johnson & Johnson claiming that the use of the baby powder caused their disease. Ms. Echevarria has alleged that the company failed to adequately warn consumers about talcum powder’s potential cancer risks. According to Ms. Echevarria’s lawsuit, documentation has been found which indicates as early as the 1960’s that talcum powder was labeled a carcinogen and use of the product in the genital area increases the risk of ovarian cancer.

The jury’s award, which was the first to be heard in a California court, was comprised of $68 million in compensatory damages and $340 million in punitive damages. Currently the company faces more than 5,000 lawsuits over its talc based products.

A Johnson & Johnson spokesperson stated that the company will appeal the jury’s decision as scientific evidence supports the safe use of baby powder.

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