On October 6, 2025, a Los Angeles jury ordered Johnson & Johnson (J&J) to pay $966 Million to the family of Mae Moore, who died from mesothelioma in 2021 at the age of 88.
Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. Internal company documents show J&J knew their talc-based products could be contaminated with asbestos, yet they continued to market their products as safe.
Mae's family claimed she used Johnson's® Baby Powder on herself and her children for years. The jury found that J&J’s failure to warn consumers about the potential presence of asbestos in their baby powder played a key role in her illness.
"It's not about money. It's about them taking responsibility for what they did not do."
– Mae Moore
This J&J talc verdict adds to mounting legal pressure on the pharmaceutical giant, which is currently facing tens of thousands of lawsuits over asbestos-contaminated talc. The jury's decision sends a strong message that corporate negligence has real consequences — and that companies must prioritize consumer safety.
As a national mesothelioma law firm, Sokolove Law can help families affected by mesothelioma, ovarian cancer, and other asbestos-related diseases pursue the justice and compensation they deserve. Let us fight for you.
About the Nearly $1 Billion Johnson & Johnson Talc Verdict
In February 2021, California resident Mae Moore filed a mesothelioma lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court against Johnson & Johnson and several other defendants.
Mae, the wife of a pastor and mother of three, passed away in December 2021 before her case reached trial. Her family amended the Johnson & Johnson mesothelioma lawsuit to a wrongful death action, continuing her pursuit of justice.
During the trial, jurors reviewed evidence showing that Johnson & Johnson knew some of the talc used in their products tested positive for asbestos, but they hid this information from the public.
The jury awarded Mae's family:
- $16 Million in compensatory damages for medical bills, pain and suffering, and more
- $950 Million in punitive damages to punish J&J for years of negligence and concealment
J&J continues to argue that their talcum powder products are safe and plans to appeal this mesothelioma verdict. The company currently faces more than 90,000 talc-related lawsuits involving mesothelioma and ovarian cancer.
This $966 Million talc mesothelioma verdict represents an important step toward accountability and justice for families harmed by Johnson & Johnson’s actions.
Johnson & Johnson’s Asbestos Cover-Up: A History of Negligence
In the 1950s and 60s, talc deposits used in Johnson & Johnson’s products tested positive for asbestos fibers. Company executives were warned about the dangers of asbestos, yet they failed to take meaningful action to protect the public.
Throughout the 1970s, multiple labs identified asbestos in J&J talc products, but the company withheld these results from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) and even commissioned studies designed to downplay the risks.
During the Moore trial, plaintiffs’ attorneys submitted internal company documents and expert testimony showing that J&J failed to eliminate asbestos contamination in some talc batches, misinterpreted or downplayed test results, and didn’t fully disclose safety risks to regulators or the public.
These claims echo earlier investigative findings and lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson. In 2023, the company discontinued all talc-based baby powder globally, switching to a cornstarch-based formula instead.
Over the years, J&J had multiple opportunities to put warning labels on products or come clean about the dangers of contaminated talc, but they chose to prioritize their profits and placed countless consumers at risk of asbestos-related diseases.
Why Is There Asbestos in Talcum Powder?
Talc and asbestos are both naturally occurring minerals that often form in the same areas. When talc is mined, it can become contaminated with asbestos fibers, especially if strict safety controls aren’t in place during extraction and processing.
For decades, many talc-based cosmetic products weren’t tested for asbestos fibers. Independent testing and government reviews have since confirmed that some of these products contained asbestos, which can be deadly even in trace amounts.
Talc products that have tested positive for asbestos contamination include:
- Baby powders and body powders, including Johnson & Johnson’s talc-based baby powder
- Certain brands of foundation, blush, and eye shadow that contain talc
- Industrial talc used in manufacturing rubber, plastics, paper, and ceramics
Many individuals used J&J’s baby powder as part of their daily routine, unaware that each use could release asbestos fibers into the air they breathed.
Even low-level or short-term asbestos exposure can lead to serious diseases, like mesothelioma, lung cancer, and ovarian cancer. There is no safe level of asbestos exposure, and inhaling or ingesting microscopic fibers can cause lifelong harm.
Get Help Filing a Mesothelioma Talc Claim
If you or a loved one used talc products and was diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease like mesothelioma, you may be eligible for compensation that can help pay for treatment and more.
A Johnson and Johnson mesothelioma settlement can ease financial burdens and make the road ahead easier for both patients and their loved ones.
Find out why families turn to Sokolove Law for help:
- 45+ years of asbestos litigation experience
- No upfront costs or hourly fees
- More than $5.3 Billion secured in mesothelioma compensation
We've helped over 9,200 families affected by asbestos exposure seek justice. If you have a case, our mesothelioma lawyers will travel to you and handle every step of the legal process, including proving how you were exposed to asbestos.
Call (800) 647-3434 right now or get a free case review to find out more about your eligibility. We're available 24/7, and there's no cost to speak with us.
