Johnson & Johnson ordered to pay $417M to cancer patient Eva Echevarria

Johnson and Johnson, a name synonymous with gentle bath products, was assessed $417 million in damages by a Los Angeles jury on Monday after the company was found liable in a case charging that they failed to highlight the dangers of their talc powder and its link to cancer, The Los Angeles Times reported.

It marks the largest verdict in at least 300 lawsuits in California and over 4,500 claims filed against the company nationwide that their Baby Powder and Shower to Shower products are linked to cancer, the Times reported.

Talcum powder, popularly used for absorbing moisture and cutting down on friction, is made from the mineral talc, which naturally contains some asbestos, which is known to be linked to cancer, according to the American Cancer Society.

While talcum powders produced since the 1970’s for the commercial market are asbestos free, researchers and scientists are still not entirely certain about the connection between the powder and instances of cancer, the ACS writes on their website, especially for women who may apply the powder to their genital area.

Research on the matter is mixed, the ACS writes, and that studies are mostly observational, relying on women’s recollection of application over many years.

The case in Los Angeles was brought forth by 63-year-old Eva Echevarria, who was diagnosed with terminal ovarian cancer in 2007. She said that she has used Johnson and Johnson baby powder since she was 11 but stopped in 2016 after seeing a news report of possible links to cancer, the LA Times reported.

Ms. Echevarria said she would have stopped using the talc powder if there had been a warning label, according to the Times.

Johnson and Johnson vowed to appeal the verdict.

“We will appeal today’s verdict because we are guided by the science, which supports the safety of Johnson’s Baby Powder,” Carol Goodrich, a representative for Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc., said in a statement to CNN.

“In April, the National Cancer Institute’s Physician Data Query Editorial Board wrote, ’The weight of evidence does not support an association between perineal talc exposure and an increased risk of ovarian cancer.’ We are preparing for additional trials in the US and we will continue to defend the safety of Johnson’s Baby Powder,” the statement continued.

In May, Johnson and Johnson also vowed to appeal the loss of a similar trial in St. Louis, Missouri. The company was ordered to pay $110 million to 61-year-old Louis Slemp of Virginia who also charged that decades of use of their talc powder was linked to her ovarian cancer.

“We understand that women and families affected by ovarian cancer are searching for answers, and we deeply sympathize with all who have been affected by this devastating disease with no known cause,” Ms. Goodrich said in a statement at the time.

“Johnson & Johnson has always taken questions about the safety of our products extremely seriously. Multiple scientific and regulatory reviews have determined that talc is safe for use in cosmetic products and the labeling on Johnson’s Baby Powder is appropriate. For over 100 years, Johnson & Johnson has provided consumers with a safe choice for cosmetic powder products and we will continue to work hard to exceed consumer expectations and evolving product preferences.”