Nearly $1 Billion Johnson & Johnson Mesothelioma Verdict Awarded in California

In October 2025, a Los Angeles jury delivered a landmark verdict in a talcum powder lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson (J&J), ordering the company to pay $966 million to the family of Mae Moore, an 88-year-old woman who died of mesothelioma in 2021.

The jury found that J&J’s talc‑based baby powder and other similar products contained asbestos fibers and the company knowingly failed to warn consumers about the risks.

Evidence presented at trial included internal documents and decades-old testing data proving asbestos contamination in talc deposits, some of which the company tried to destroy or hide from the public.

This verdict marks a significant turning point in the broader wave of lawsuits against J&J. With over 90,000 claims pending nationwide, this near‑billion‑dollar verdict may well signal a new era of accountability — one in which juries increasingly demand financial responsibility for corporate negligence.

About the Johnson & Johnson Talc Verdict

Mae Moore used J&J talc products like Johnson’s Baby Powder® and Shower to Shower® for decades, which exposed her to asbestos and directly contributed to her fatal disease.

The jury found J&J negligent and determined its talc products were defective and unsafe, even when used by consumers in a reasonably safe and foreseeable way.

The verdict awarded a total of $966 million in compensation — $16 million in compensatory damages for actual losses and a staggering $950 million in punitive damages, the latter reflecting the jury’s finding of clear and convincing evidence that J&J’s conduct involved malice, oppression, or fraud.

The compensatory portion was divided as follows:

• $6 million for Mae Moore’s own pain and suffering, including her mental anguish, grief, and loss of enjoyment of life
• $4 million to one daughter
• $3 million each to the other two daughters for their losses

Key to the jury’s decision was evidence of longstanding internal knowledge at J&J that its talc supply sometimes contained asbestos fibers.

To manipulate and suppress testing, J&J allegedly used tests that were unlikely to detect asbestos and released those results. More sensitive methods that detected asbestos fibers were reportedly withheld.

While the award represents the largest verdict ever returned in talc‑related mesothelioma litigation, many are left wondering if the impressive result will stand the test of time, with J&J vowing to appeal.

Why Was This Mesothelioma Verdict So High?

Juries often consider the direct impact on the victim and their family, as well as whether the company acted with negligence, knowledge of risk, or intentional concealment. With Johnson & Johnson, the harm has been known for decades — yet the company continues to fight, leaving juries more inclined to raise the stakes.

In the Moore case, evidence presented at trial showed decades of internal awareness that J&J’s talcum powder products contained asbestos.

Key reasons the mesothelioma verdict was so high include:

• Severity of harm: Mae Moore’s mesothelioma diagnosis and death were directly linked to J&J talc exposure.
• Punitive damages: The jury awarded $950 million in punitive damages due to findings of malice, oppression, or conscious disregard for safety.
• Internal company knowledge: Evidence showed J&J was aware of asbestos contamination in its talc for decades.
• Suppression of evidence: The Moore family alleged that testing results showing asbestos were manipulated or destroyed.
• Impact on family: Compensatory damages included recognition of grief, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life for both Moore and her daughters.
• Message to corporation: The jury sought to hold J&J accountable and deter similar corporate wrongdoing in the future.

The combination of personal tragedy, compelling documentary evidence, and perceived corporate misconduct drove the punitive damages portion to be unusually large.

When a company’s misconduct is clear and the consequences severe, juries won’t hesitate to impose record-setting mesothelioma verdicts to reflect both the harm done and the need for corporate accountability.

Talc & the Risk of Asbestos Diseases

Talc is a naturally occurring mineral used in many consumer products like baby powder and cosmetics. However, it can sometimes be contaminated with asbestos, which occurs naturally in the earth alongside talc.

When inhaled or absorbed over time, asbestos fibers can lead to serious illnesses decades after exposure.

Key risks associated with talc contaminated by asbestos include:

• Ovarian cancer: Strongly associated with long-term genital talc use, the most common cancer linked to talcum powder
• Mesothelioma: A rare, aggressive cancer of the lining of the lungs, heart, or abdomen, directly linked to asbestos exposure
• Lung cancer: Prolonged inhalation of asbestos fibers contributing to malignant tumors in the lungs
• Asbestosis: A chronic lung disease that causes scarring and reduced lung function

Talc-related diseases can take decades to develop, meaning exposure often happens 10-50 years before a diagnosis is made.

While talc itself is not inherently dangerous, contamination with asbestos poses a significant health risk, particularly with long-term exposure. Consumers who used talc-based products daily for decades are at heightened risk for developing asbestos-related diseases.

What leaves many users upset is that the consequences of exposure are often preventable if companies had properly tested, disclosed, and safeguarded their products.

Does J&J Still Use Talc in Their Products?

In 2020, Johnson & Johnson officially discontinued talc-based baby powder in the U.S. and Canada. In August 2022, J&J announced it would phase out talc-based versions worldwide by 2023, switching Johnson’s Baby Powder to a cornstarch-based formula.

In the U.S. and Canada, all baby powder sold today is talc-free — because talcum powder lawsuits held companies accountable. However, J&J continued selling talc-containing products in other countries during this period, meaning talc is still present in some international markets.

The global phase-out indicates a timeline, not an immediate elimination, so while U.S. consumers now get a safer cornstarch version, talc exposure remains a risk in other regions until the phase-out is fully complete.

Get Help Filing a Talc Mesothelioma Lawsuit

At LawFirm.com, we’re proud to help families affected by talcum powder and asbestos exposure across the country pursue justice and compensation.

We can connect you with top talcum powder lawyers who:

• Have a long history of success securing results in all 50 states
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Get a free case review now. Our legal partners won’t back down from a fight and have the resources needed to hold powerful companies like J&J accountable.