$70 Million Awarded in Baby Powder Lawsuit

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Summary: A California woman claiming she developed ovarian cancer from years of using Johnson & Johnson baby powder was awarded over $70 million by a jury.

A California woman was awarded over $70 million by a St. Louis jury in the latest Johnson & Johnson baby powder lawsuit. There is a growing concern regarding the extended use of talcum powder to one’s health.

  

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The trial brought by Deborah Giannecchini of Modesto began on September 26. The accused Johnson & Johnson of “negligent conduct” for making and marketing their baby powder which she claims is the source of the ovarian cancer she was diagnosed with in 2012.

Attorney for the plaintiff Jim Onder said in a statement, “We are pleased the jury did the right thing. They once again reaffirmed the need for Johnson & Johnson to warn the public of the ovarian cancer risk associated with its product.”

Johnson & Johnson spokeswoman Carol Goodrich stated back, “We deeply sympathize with the women and families impacted by ovarian cancer. We will appeal today’s verdict because we are guided by the science, which supports the safety of Johnson’s Baby Powder.”

Two other lawsuits were won in St. Louis earlier this year for a combined amount of $127 million. Two lawsuits in New Jersey were thrown out by a judge for lack of reliable evidence that talc causes ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer is relatively rare, accounting for about 22,000 of the estimated 1.7 million new cases this year in the U.S.

Read Johnson & Johnson Agrees to $181 mln Settlement over Improper Marketing of Risperdal.

Roughly 2,000 women have also filed similar lawsuits across the country, in great part due to ads created after the St. Louis victories despite there being a little to no link between the baby powder and ovarian cancer. The majority of all health groups declare talc powder to be harmless.

Onder of the Onder Law Firm in St. Louis used research that goes back to the 1970s to indicate a connection. The studies found woman that use talc on their genital area are up to 40 percent more likely to develop the cancer. Factors known to increase the risk of ovarian cancer are age, obesity, estrogen therapy, not having children, genetic mutations, and family or personal history of breast or ovarian cancer. Onder accused Johnson & Johnson of targeting overweight, black and Hispanic women – those most at risk.

Do you think Johnson & Johnson should be held liable for the women having ovarian cancer where there are other risk factors that contribute? Tell us in the comments below.

To learn more about the St. Louis cases read:

Johnson & Johnson Ordered to Pay $72 Million in Cancer-Causing Baby Powder Case

Johnson & Johnson Ordered to Pay $55 Million in Talc Powder Case

Photo: thestar.com