In December 2025, a Baltimore jury handed down a record-setting talc verdict, awarding more than $1.5 Billion to a woman who alleged that Johnson & Johnson’s talc products exposed her to asbestos and caused mesothelioma, a rare cancer.
The verdict, comprised mostly of punitive damages to punish J&J for failing to warn consumers of the potential risk, is reportedly the largest talc-related award to a single victim in 15 years of talcum powder litigation.
This latest talc mesothelioma verdict is not an isolated outcome, with a nearly $1 Billion verdict awarded only months ago. Across the country, juries are increasingly siding with mesothelioma victims and their families after hearing evidence that talc products may have been contaminated with asbestos — and that J&J hid the risks.
Asbestos fibers in talc can become airborne during use. When these microscopic fibers are inhaled or swallowed, they can lead to asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma 20-50 years later.
As a leading mesothelioma law firm since 1979, Sokolove Law is proud to help asbestos exposure victims and their families hold companies like J&J accountable for their dangerous products.
Understanding the $1.5 Billion Johnson & Johnson Talc Verdict
In the recent talcum powder trial, Maryland jurors awarded over $1.5 Billion to Cherie Craft, a 54-year-old woman who was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma in January 2024.
Craft reportedly used Johnson & Johnson’s talc-based baby powder on herself and her children for more than 40 years, from about 1971 to 2024. Her legal team argued the asbestos contamination in those products was a substantial factor in her illness.
Jurors ultimately sided with Craft, finding that J&J and the company's subsidiary failed to warn consumers about the potential presence of asbestos in their talc products and the associated cancer risk.
The latest $1.5 Billion J&J talc verdict for mesothelioma includes:
- $1 Billion from Johnson & Johnson in punitive damages
- $500 Million from Pecos River Talc, a J&J subsidiary, in punitive damages
- $59.84 Million in compensatory damages for Craft's medical care, lost wages, and more
“The jury heard evidence that J&J kept from regulators, doctors, and its customers decades of evidence that its baby powder contained asbestos. J&J continues to deny this evidence and refuses to do the right thing by those who were hurt by their actions.”
– Craft's Talcum Powder Lawyer
The substantial punitive damages award — a combined $1.5 Billion — signals that the conduct went beyond mere negligence and warranted punishment to deter future wrongdoing by Johnson & Johnson and other talcum powder companies.
Talc & Asbestos Exposure
Talcum powder is a naturally occurring mineral that has been widely used in personal care products, cosmetics, and industrial applications for decades. Talc is often found in close proximity to asbestos in the earth and can be contaminated with asbestos fibers during the mining process.
Asbestos is a known carcinogen, and even a single exposure can cause serious harm. It can take decades for symptoms of an asbestos-related disease to appear, so many consumers may not even know that a talc product was responsible for their illness when diagnosed.
Exposure to asbestos in talc has been directly linked to:
Craft alleged that "she repeatedly inhaled, ingested, and was regularly exposed to asbestos dust" originating from J&J talc. Over time, this exposure caused peritoneal mesothelioma, which affects the abdominal lining.
Internal documents show J&J executives knew about asbestos in their talc products dating back to the 1970s, but they failed to alert government regulators or consumers like Craft.
Despite so many verdicts against J&J, the company still maintains their talc products are safe and plans to appeal the Craft verdict. However, the company settles around 95% of mesothelioma lawsuits filed against them, showing a reluctance to take their chances in court.
Does J&J Still Use Talc?
Johnson & Johnson no longer uses talc in their baby powder products in the United States and Canada, having discontinued those talc-based formulas as early as 2020 amid declining sales and mounting legal challenges tied to alleged asbestos contamination.
The company extended that decision globally, phasing out talc-containing baby powder worldwide in 2023 and transitioning their product line to cornstarch-based alternatives instead.
However, J&J has stated that this shift reflects a commercial decision aligned with consumer trends, even as the company continues to defend the safety of their previous talc formulas.
Get all the latest talcum powder lawsuit updates and news now. New cases are being filed daily, and federal litigation continues to move forward — but there's still time for you to get involved.
J&J Talc Verdict Amounts & Corporate Accountability
The $1.5 Billion J&J talc verdict is one of the largest talc verdicts awarded for mesothelioma to date, but the verdict represents far more than compensation. The size of the award suggests the jury found the conduct at issue particularly troubling, especially given the evidence and the devastating nature of mesothelioma.
Punitive damages are intended to punish a company for wrongful conduct and prevent similar behavior in the future. These damages make up the overwhelming majority of this verdict, making the message clear.
When juries award punitive damages at this level, it often signals a belief that the defendant’s actions went beyond negligence and rose to the level of reckless disregard for consumer safety.
The compensatory portion of the award is intended to address the real, measurable harm caused by mesothelioma. While substantial, compensatory damages typically account for only a fraction of the total verdict in cases where juries believe a company’s conduct warrants punishment.
Sokolove Law: Fighting for Mesothelioma Victims Since 1979
At Sokolove Law, our mesothelioma lawyers are dedicated to fighting on behalf of asbestos exposure victims and their families. We've helped thousands of clients figure out how they were exposed to asbestos — and get justice from the companies responsible.
Families place their trust in Sokolove Law because we have:
- Over 45 years of mesothelioma litigation exposure
- A proprietary database of asbestos exposure evidence
- No upfront costs or hourly fees
- Successfully helped thousands across all 50 states
- Secured over $5.3 Billion in asbestos settlements and verdicts nationwide
“Because it's not your fault and it should never have happened to you, you have a right to make a claim against the folks who knew it was gonna happen to you and did nothing about it.”
– Ricky LeBlanc, Managing Attorney at Sokolove Law
Get a free case review now to find a top mesothelioma lawyer near you. It costs nothing to find out your legal rights and options.
