Two Women Win Big in Court Against Johnson & Johnson

A recent court case in California has left Johnson & Johnson with a hefty price tag. A jury decided that the company should pay $40 million to two women who claimed that using the company's baby powder led to their ovarian cancer. The women, Monica Kent and Deborah Schultz, both used the product for decades. They argued that Johnson & Johnson knew about the potential risks but didn't warn consumers. The jury agreed, awarding Kent $18 million and Schultz $22 million. Johnson & Johnson isn't taking this lying down. They plan to appeal the decision, saying they expect to win, as they usually do in similar cases. The company has consistently maintained that their talc-based products are safe and don't cause cancer. This isn't the first time Johnson & Johnson has faced such claims. Over 67, 000 lawsuits have been filed by people who say their cancer was caused by the company's baby powder. Some of these cases have resulted in massive payouts, with one reaching $4. 69 billion. The company has tried to settle these lawsuits through bankruptcy, but their attempts have been rejected by federal courts. Despite this, they continue to fight these cases in court. The lawsuits mainly involve ovarian cancer claims, but there are also cases involving mesothelioma, a rare and deadly cancer. Johnson & Johnson has settled some of these claims but hasn't reached a nationwide settlement. In the past year, Johnson & Johnson has faced several large verdicts in mesothelioma cases. One such case in Los Angeles resulted in a $900 million payout. The women's attorney argued that Johnson & Johnson knew about the risks as far back as the 1960s but did everything they could to hide the truth. The company's attorney, however, argued that the connection between talc and cancer is not backed by major U. S. health authorities. This case is a reminder of the power of the legal system in holding companies accountable for their products. It also highlights the ongoing debate about the safety of talc-based products.