$8 Million Verdict: Jury Finds Johnson & Johnson Liable for Asbestos in Talc Powder

In June 2025, a Massachusetts jury awarded $8 million to Janice P., a woman who developed mesothelioma after decades of using Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder. The jury found that asbestos-contaminated talc caused her cancer – and that Johnson & Johnson had known about the danger but failed to warn anyone.

Janice used the powder faithfully on herself and her children for years. Her story is heartbreaking – but, sadly, not rare. Evidence presented during trial shows that Johnson & Johnson had internal reports dating back decades about asbestos showing up in their talc. Instead of pulling the product or switching to safer ingredients, they kept producing and selling it – putting millions of families like Janice’s at risk.

This verdict is one more step toward justice. But the real question so many are asking is: How did something as dangerous as asbestos end up in something as trusted as baby powder?

Talc and Asbestos: The Hidden Danger in Baby Powder 

The main ingredient in Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder is talc, a soft mineral capable of absorbing moisture and reducing friction. But here’s the issue: talc is often found near asbestos deposits in the earth. That means when you mine talc, there’s a real risk of asbestos mixing in.

Even trace amounts of asbestos can be dangerous. When the mineral fractures – such as from the process of manufacturing talc baby powder – tiny fibers can lay dormant in the product until released from use.

The fibers float in the air until they are inhaled or swallowed by unsuspecting people. These fibers can cause severe health issues when they get stuck in the body.

We’re talking about a substance that’s been directly linked to mesothelioma, ovarian cancer, and other serious health problems.

What Johnson & Johnson Knew – Yet Didn’t Say

Here’s where things get even more troubling.

Internal company documents and decades of research have shown that Johnson & Johnson knew there was a risk of asbestos contamination in its talc as far back as the 1970s. They had internal test results. They had warnings.

But rather than reformulate the product or pull it from the shelves, they kept selling it – often targeting women and communities of color.

Thousands of people, mostly women, have since come forward saying they were diagnosed with ovarian cancer or mesothelioma from using talc powder on themselves or their children – and many have filed suit, alleging that Johnson & Johnson failed to warn them.

Why This Still Matters

You might be thinking, “Well, they pulled it from the shelves, right?”

Yes, in 2020, Johnson & Johnson finally discontinued manufacturing and selling its talc-based powder in the U.S. and Canada. A little while later, the company put a halt to it worldwide. But for decades, people used this product daily, and asbestos diseases like mesothelioma can take years to develop. This means anyone who used Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder, say, in the 1990s could be developing a mesothelioma tumor right now.

If you’ve been diagnosed with this illness and used Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder regularly, it’s worth asking the hard questions.

Because your story matters, and your health should never have been put at risk.

Choosing the Right Legal Team

When you’re facing a serious medical diagnosis or piecing together what could have caused it, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. However, you don’t have to figure this out alone.

At BCBH Law, we handle talc and asbestos cases with the compassion, clarity and strength they deserve. We’ll listen to your story, walk you through your options, and fight to get you the justice you deserve.

If you or a loved one used Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder and were later diagnosed with ovarian cancer or mesothelioma, you may have a legal case. Choosing the right lawyer matters – and at BCBH Law, we’re ready to help you every step of the way.

Reach out today. Let’s talk.