Over $1.5 Billion Awarded in Johnson & Johnson Mesothelioma Lawsuit

In December 2025, a Baltimore jury delivered a landmark verdict in one of the longest-running product liability cases in U.S. corporate history.

A Maryland state court ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay more than $1.5 billion to Cherie Craft, who developed peritoneal mesothelioma after decades of using J&J’s talc-based baby powder products.

The award, the largest ever for a single plaintiff in a talc case, included approximately $59.8 million in damages for Craft’s medical bills and other losses, as well as $1 billion in punitive damages against J&J and $500 million against a subsidiary.

If you used talcum powder products and now have cancer, you may qualify for compensation. Get a free case review now.

About the Johnson & Johnson Mesothelioma Lawsuit Verdict

For years, Craft used Johnson & Johnson’s talc products exactly as intended, trusting a household brand that had marketed itself as gentle and safe for daily use.

That trust unraveled in 2024, when Craft was diagnosed at age 54 with peritoneal mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer caused by asbestos exposure and known for taking decades to develop.

At trial, her asbestos lawyers walked the jury through that timeline: the routine use, the long period between exposure and diagnosis, and the science linking asbestos-contaminated talc to mesothelioma. They argued that J&J failed to adequately warn consumers even though it knew of the risk.

“J&J never warned. J&J never placed any sort of label on its products indicating they contained asbestos. J&J always told the public that there has never been a single asbestos fiber in its products.”

– Craft’s Johnson & Johnson mesothelioma lawsuit

The jury agreed, finding that Craft’s cancer was preventable and that the company’s omissions mattered. The massive $1.56 billion J&J mesothelioma verdict reflects a broader judgment about corporate responsibility, consumer trust, and the consequences of failing to disclose known risks of everyday products.

Is There Asbestos in Talc?

Talc and asbestos are naturally occurring minerals that often form close together underground. Because of that, talc can become contaminated with asbestos during mining. Asbestos is a known carcinogen, and even low-level exposure has been linked to serious diseases like mesothelioma.

Asbestos fibers have been found in a variety of products made by J&J:

• Johnson’s^® Baby Powder
• Johnson’s^® Medicated Baby Powder
• Johnson’s^® Baby Powder with Lavender
• Johnson’s^® Baby Powder with Aloe & Vitamin E
• Shower to Shower^®

Johnson & Johnson has long maintained that its talc products are safe, citing internal testing and regulatory compliance. However, the company stopped selling talc-based baby powder in North America in 2020, ending global sales in 2023, and transitioning to cornstarch-based products instead.

Juries continue to find evidence of asbestos contamination, siding with scientific experts and mesothelioma specialists. Verdicts of this size are meant to deter the company from fighting and punish J&J for what’s becoming clear corporate wrongdoing and negligence.

“Talc verdicts represent the jury’s attempt to punish the defendants for hiding the fact that they were harming people. It’s not just the damage that occurred to that family or to that individual — it’s that they’re trying to send a message: ‘Don’t do this again.'”

– Ricky LeBlanc, Talc Attorney & Managing Attorney of Sokolove Law

J&J’s Vows to Appeal ‘Junk Science’

Unsurprisingly, Johnson & Johnson immediately vowed to appeal the verdict. The company’s lawyers described the decision as “egregious” and “patently unconstitutional,” asserting that the trial court committed errors.

J&J believes the evidence presented was flawed, particularly expert testimony about talc causing cancer. Instead, the company maintains that its talc products were safe, did not contain asbestos, and that claims linking them to cancer rely on what it calls “junk science.”

This defense follows a familiar pattern in Johnson & Johnson talc litigation, where the company has frequently sought to reduce or overturn jury awards on appeal. While some verdicts have been modified, juries have continued to send a clear message about corporate accountability.

Importantly, families are slowly starting to see real compensation. Unless the company changes course and pursues a global Johnson and Johnson mesothelioma settlement, it runs the risk of paying out billions of dollars to victims who have waited far too long for justice.

Get Talc Lawyers to Fight J&J for You

If you or a loved one used talcum powder and now has cancer, LawFirm.com may be able to help. We work with top talcum powder lawyers who can help families pursue justice and compensation.

The talcum powder lawyers in our network can help you:

• Build a strong case, finding all the evidence of exposure
• File your talcum powder claim
• Negotiate settlements with J&J and other talc companies
• Fight in court on your behalf

There are no upfront costs or hourly fees. It costs nothing to file a talcum powder lawsuit, and billions could be gained — but you only have a limited time to take action after a diagnosis.

Get a free case review now to find out if you qualify for compensation.