Talcum Powder Lawsuit News: Missouri Jury Convened to Hear Ovarian Cancer Claims Filed on Behalf of 22 Plaintiffs

Published on June 6, 2018 by Sandy Liebhard

Another Johnson & Johnson talcum powder lawsuit went to trial this week, as the Missouri 22^nd Circuit Court in St. Louis empaneled a jury to hear a case filed on behalf of 22 women who claim the company’s Baby Powder and Shower-to-Shower products contributed to their ovarian cancer.

The case, Ingham, et al. v. Johnson & Johnson, et al. (No. 1522-CC1041), names just one plaintiff from Missouri. The remaining 21 are residents of other states.

Jury selection in the case began on Monday. The trial is expected to last roughly 6 weeks.

As is the case with more than 7,000 similar claims pending in courts throughout the United States, plaintiffs allege that Johnson & Johnson was aware of scientific evidence linking the regular, repeated application of talc-based powders to the female genitals to an increased risk of ovarian cancer. They further allege that Johnson & Johnson declined to warn consumers of this possible risk in order to protect sales of Baby Powder and Shower-to-Shower.

Missouri Talcum Powder Verdicts

Missouri’s 22^nd Circuit is home to one of the nation’s larger talcum powder litigations, and has been convening trials since February 2015:

• February 2016: Johnson & Johnson ordered to pay $72 million to the family of an Alabama woman who died from ovarian cancer.
• May 2016: Johnson & Johnson ordered to pay $55 million to a South Dakota woman.
• 27, 2016: Johnson & Johnson ordered to pays $70 million to California woman;
• March 2017: Jury finds in favor of Johnson & Johnson in a talcum powder lawsuit filed on behalf of a Tennessee woman.
• May 2017: Jury ordered to pay $110.5 million to a Virginia woman.

The $72 million verdict was eventually dismissed to comply with new standards set by the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling in Bristol-Myers Squibb v. Superior Court of California, which held that plaintiffs must file suit in jurisdictions where defendants are headquartered or where their injuries occurred.

However, the $110 million verdict was upheld, after the trial court concluded that jurisdiction was appropriate because Johnson & Johnson had used a Missouri-based company to label, package and distribute their talc products.

Johnson & Johnson is appealing the other Missouri verdicts that were awarded to other out-of-state talcum powder plaintiffs.