California Jury Orders J&J and Colgate to Pay Millions in Talc Cancer Case

Johnson & Johnson and Colgate-Palmolive have been ordered by a California court to pay almost $10 million in a talc cancer case in the state.

The jury ruled on Wednesday in favor of plaintiff Patricia Schmitz, who had claimed that her rare asbestos related cancer had been caused by talc-based products.

Schmitz said that she had developed mesothelioma after using both J&J’s baby powder and Colgate’s Cashmere Bouquet.
She will be awarded $4.8 million in damages from each company but she was not awarded punitive damages.

J&J has denied allegations that its talc causes cancer.

“We will pursue an appeal because Johnson’s Baby Powder does not contain asbestos or cause cancer, as supported by decades of independent clinical evidence,” a spokesperson for J&J stated.

The spokesperson added, “There were serious procedural and evidentiary errors in the proceeding that required us to move for mistrial on multiple occasions and we believe provide strong grounds for appeal.”

A spokesperson for Colgate commented that the “trial suffered from numerous significant legal and evidentiary errors that we believe unfairly prejudiced the defense.”

Disclaimer: We have no position in Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) nor Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE: CL) and have not been compensated for this article.