Johnson & Johnson pay out £85 million to woman who blamed ovarian cancer on their talcum powder

Medical device and pharmaceutical manufacturer Johnson & Johnson seem to be paying out lawsuit after lawsuit these days.

Being in the industry they’re in, you could expect a lot of claims, but the lawsuits Johnson & Johnson have faced over the past few years have been huge.

In recent news, a woman from the U.S. has been awarded £85 million after blaming her ovarian cancer on the prolonged use of Johnson & Johnson’s popular talcum powder. 62 year old Lois Slemp reportedly used the product for over 40 years every day, and she is now undergoing chemotherapy after she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2012, which later spread to her liver.

The verdict reached in the St Louis court on the 5^th May 2017 was that the talcum powder produced by Johnson & Johnson did not come with any warnings of risks attached to it. Prosecutors argued that the company failed to warn consumers about risks linked to ovarian cancer.

This is not the first case. Nearly 2,400 women have claimed that Johnson & Johnson’s talcum products have caused them to suffer with ovarian cancer. Last year, Johnson & Johnson lost two cases forcing them to pay out nearly £42 million. These women are making their claims based on scientific evidence that the talcum product is linked to the risk of ovarian cancer.

A previous study carried out by Dr Margaret A. Gates in the U.S found that “women who apply it to the genital area every day are 41% more likely to develop ovarian cancer”. As a result, the NHS are actively encouraging women not to use talcum powder because of the increased risk. The study also highlights that certain genetic profiles may be at a higher risk of developing the life threatening condition.

Paving the way

Although Johnson & Johnson have not yet accepted liability for any cancer cases, this triumph potentially paves the way for more compensation to be paid out to victims who have suffered at the hands of the corporate giant.

Ms Slemp was unfortunately too ill to attend the hearing but her lawyer stated:

“Once again we’ve shown that these companies ignored the scientific evidence and continue to deny their responsibilities to the women of America.”

Her case was reportedly the largest settlement Johnson & Johnson have paid out so far in regards to the talcum powder legal actions, yet in our eyes, Johnson & Johnson still aren’t doing enough.

Failing to inform consumers of the risks associated with their products can amount to negligence. Our Group Action Lawyers are investigating the issues here in the U.K., and if you have been affected, you are free to contact us for help and advice.

If you have experienced any kind of extreme side effect from a product that you were not previously informed about, you may have grounds to claim compensation on the basis of negligence. Talk to one of our expert solicitors to see if you could be eligible for compensation today.