Johnson & Johnson has been ordered by a Los Angeles jury to pay $966 million to the family of Mae Moore, an 88-year-old California woman who died in 2021 from mesothelioma, a rare cancer linked to asbestos exposure. The verdict, reached late Monday, included $16 million in compensatory damages and a staggering $950 million in punitive damages, making it the largest single-user payout in Johnson & Johnson's ongoing talc litigation history.
Mae Moore’s family filed suit in 2021, alleging that long-term use of Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder exposed Moore to asbestos fibers present in the talc-based product, leading to her cancer. Plaintiffs argued that the pharmaceutical giant concealed known risks associated with its talc powders for decades, citing internal documentation and scientific evidence. The company, however, has consistently maintained that its products are safe, free from asbestos, and do not contribute to cancer development. Johnson & Johnson ceased U.S. sales of its talc-based baby powder in 2020, switching to a cornstarch formula, and ended global sales in 2023.
Erik Haas, Johnson & Johnson’s worldwide vice president of litigation, criticized the verdict, calling it “egregious and unconstitutional” and pledging to appeal. He claimed the jury’s decision was based on “junk science” and expressed confidence that the award would be reduced on appeal, as Supreme Court precedent typically limits punitive damages to nine times compensatory damages.
The company is currently facing more than 70,000 similar lawsuits, the majority alleging links between its talc products and ovarian cancer or mesothelioma. While Johnson & Johnson has settled some cases, attempts at bankruptcy protection to resolve outstanding claims have been repeatedly rejected by federal courts. The Moore verdict highlights ongoing uncertainty in talc litigation and raises the stakes for future plaintiffs and the company alike.
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