It looks like Johnson & Johnson will have to part with nearly a billion dollars. A Los Angeles jury ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $966 million to the family of a woman who died from mesothelioma, finding the company liable in the latest trial alleging its talc products cause cancer.
The family of Mae Moore, a California resident who died at age 88 in 2021, sued the company the same year, claiming J&J’s talc baby powder products contained asbestos fibers that caused her rare cancer. The jury late on Monday ordered J&J to pay $16 million in compensatory damages and $950 million in punitive damages, according to court filings.
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“The plaintiff lawyers in this Moore case based their arguments on ‘junk science’ that never should have been presented to the jury,” Erik Haas, Johnson & Johnson’s worldwide vice president of litigation, said.
The verdict could be reduced on appeal as the U.S. Supreme Court has found that punitive damages should generally be no more than nine times compensatory damages.
Johnson & Johnson (J&J), founded in 1886 by Robert Wood Johnson and his brothers James Wood Johnson and Edward Mead Johnson, is a multinational healthcare company headquartered in New Brunswick, New Jersey. Initially established to address the need for sterile surgical dressings, J&J has since expanded into pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and consumer health products.
As of October, J&J reported annual revenues of $90.63 billion. The company has a market capitalization of approximately $453.15 billion, reflecting its significant presence in the healthcare industry. In 2024, J&J achieved adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of $9.98, marking a 0.6% increase from the previous year. The company continues to invest heavily in research and development, allocating over $17 billion in 2024, which represents 19.4% of its sales.
J&J’s diversified portfolio includes leading products such as the cancer treatment Darzalex, the immunology drug Tremfya, and the cardiovascular device company Abiomed. The company remains a key player in the global healthcare sector, known for its commitment to innovation and patient care.
Despite J&J’s strong global presence and diverse healthcare portfolio, these legal battles continue to pose substantial risks to its reputation and finances.
In the past year, J&J has been hit with several substantial verdicts in mesothelioma cases but Moore’s case is among the largest.
The verdict highlights the continuing scrutiny over the safety of its talc products and may fuel further litigation. Although J&J disputes the science behind the claims and plans to appeal, the large punitive damages signal increased accountability pressures on the company.
The case also exemplifies how longstanding product liabilities can affect even industry giants, emphasizing the importance of regulatory compliance and transparent communication with consumers.