Johnson & Johnson Agrees to Pay $5.5 Billion to Settle Talc Cancer Lawsuit

Johnson & Johnson has agreed to pay an estimated $5.5 billion to resolve tens of thousands of lawsuits alleging that its baby powder and other talc-based products caused ovarian cancer, in a landmark settlement that could bring an end to a decade-long legal battle.

The company said the agreement covers approximately 76,000 claims, including cases consolidated in federal court in New Jersey and related lawsuits pending in state courts. The settlement represents nearly all of the remaining talc-related claims against the company.

Johnson & Johnson had previously settled most lawsuits alleging that its talc products contained asbestos and caused mesothelioma.

Law firms representing the plaintiffs welcomed the agreement, describing it as a fair resolution after more than ten years of litigation. The settlement, however, will only become final if 95% of ovarian cancer claimants in state and federal courts agree to its terms.

Johnson & Johnson's Vice President of Litigation, Erik Haas, maintained that the claims were "meritless," but said the company chose to settle to achieve closure and focus on its mission of developing life-saving medicines and medical devices.

Under the agreement, the company expects to pay $3 billion in 2027, with the remaining payments scheduled for 2028. The total payout could rise if more claimants participate in the settlement.

Attorney Chris Seeger, who helped negotiate the agreement and represents around 2,500 talc claimants, said Johnson & Johnson could ultimately pay $7 billion or more. He noted that while the settlement assigns fixed values to qualifying ovarian cancer claims, it does not place a cap on the company's total financial liability.

The settlement follows a series of courtroom victories for Johnson & Johnson, including favorable trial outcomes, successful efforts to disqualify certain plaintiffs' lawyers, and rulings limiting expert testimony used by plaintiffs. Last week, a federal judge also questioned whether individual plaintiffs could prove that talc specifically caused their ovarian cancer.

Johnson & Johnson has consistently denied that its talc products caused cancer, insisting that the products were safe and free of asbestos. The company stopped selling talc-based baby powder in the United States in 2020, replacing it with a cornstarch-based version.

Litigation resumed in March 2025 after being paused for more than three years while the company unsuccessfully pursued the so-called "Texas two-step" bankruptcy strategy, filing three bankruptcy cases through a subsidiary in an attempt to resolve the lawsuits. Each filing was ultimately dismissed by the courts.

Unlike the earlier bankruptcy proposals, the new settlement applies only to existing claims and does not cover future lawsuits. According to attorney Chris Seeger, the agreement provides greater compensation for current claimants and ensures that payments will be completed within 18 months, rather than being spread over more than a decade.