Timeline of Johnson & Johnson Talcum Powder Litigation

Talcum Powder

Filing of Lawsuits (Starting 2009)

First Major Trial (2013)

The first significant trial concerning Johnson & Johnson’s talc products occurred in 2013. This case established a foundation for future litigation and opened the way for larger verdicts in subsequent years.

Verdicts Against J&J (2016 – 2018)

Between 2016 and 2018, several jury trials resulted in significant verdicts against Johnson & Johnson. Plaintiffs were awarded large sums after claiming their ovarian cancer was caused by long-term use of talc products.

Denial of Mesothelioma Claims (2019)

In 2019, Johnson & Johnson publicly denied that its talc products could cause mesothelioma, despite lawsuits linking the disease to asbestos contamination in the company’s baby powder.

FDA Testing and Baby Powder Recall (2019)

In October 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) discovered trace amounts of asbestos in Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder samples. The company recalled 33,000 bottles of the product in response, although it disputed the FDA’s findings. That same year, Johnson & Johnson announced that it would cease the sale of talc-based baby powder in North America.

Bankruptcy Filing 1 (October 2021)

In October 2021, Johnson & Johnson began a corporate restructuring by establishing a subsidiary, LTL Management, to take on its talc-related liabilities. Subsequently, LTL filed for bankruptcy using a method known as the “Texas Two-Step.” However, the court ultimately rejected this bankruptcy filing, ruling that Johnson & Johnson had enough financial resources to handle the lawsuits directly.

First Settlement Offer (April 2023)

In April 2023, Johnson & Johnson proposed a $8.9 billion settlement to resolve claims related to ovarian and gynecological cancers. However, the offer was rejected due to problems with the process used to obtain approval from claimants.

$6.5 Billion Settlement Proposal (May 2024)

Bankruptcy Filing 2 (July 2024)

LTL Management filed for bankruptcy for the second time in July 2024, aiming to resolve pending lawsuits through a restructured agreement. However, the court blocked this attempt due to issues with collecting claimant votes and other legal concerns.

Bigger Settlement Offer (September 2024)

In September 2024, Johnson & Johnson increased its settlement offer to $8 billion to address the court’s earlier concerns and gain broader support. Despite the higher amount, the court rejected this revised proposal as well.

Bankruptcy Filing 3 (September 2024)

In late September 2024, Johnson & Johnson filed for bankruptcy for the third time, aiming to resolve all remaining talc-related lawsuits through a comprehensive settlement plan.

Settlement of All Mesothelioma Claims (January 2025)

By January 2025, Johnson & Johnson announced that it had settled nearly all outstanding mesothelioma cases, effectively removing these claims from the broader litigation.

Bankruptcy Judge Denies J&J’s Settlement Plan (March 2025)

In March 2025, a bankruptcy judge rejected Johnson & Johnson’s $8 billion settlement plan due to flaws in the process used to solicit votes from personal injury claimants. This decision marked the court’s third time denying the company’s bankruptcy strategy.