Vi-Jon, LLC, a St. Louis-based manufacturer of private-label body powder and other dry bath products, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy with a proposed plan to resolve hundreds of talc-related cancer claims through a bankruptcy settlement trust.
The company, which made store-brand body powders sold by major retailers, faces 367 mesothelioma and lung cancer claims from victims who allege their talc products were contaminated with asbestos.
Vi-Jon stopped making and selling talc-based products in 2016. Because asbestos-related diseases can take decades to develop, new Vi-Jon asbestos claims have continued to emerge.
As a leading mesothelioma law firm, Sokolove Law has been helping victims of asbestos exposure and their families pursue compensation since 1979. Let us fight for your family.
Behind the Vi-Jon Bankruptcy: Talc Liabilities Grew to $700 Million+
Vi-Jon's Chapter 11 filing, submitted on August 2 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, follows a dramatic increase in the company's projected talc litigation costs.
According to court filings, Vi-Jon initially estimated that talc-related litigation, settlements, and judgments could cost up to $120 Million. A 2026 update put the number at more than $700 Million.
The company attributed the growing liability estimate to:
- A sharp rise in the number of talc claims naming Vi-Jon
- Increasing average talc settlement costs
- A drastic drop in the number of talc claims being dismissed
At the same time, Vi-Jon's business has been shrinking. The company reported net sales of $26 Million in 2025 and expects just $21 Million in 2026, citing a significant decline in body powder sales beginning in late 2025.
Facing mounting claims and falling revenue, Vi-Jon turned to bankruptcy — a strategy other talc defendants, including Johnson & Johnson and Avon, have also used to try to contain their talc liabilities.
How the Vi-Jon Talc Asbestos Settlement Trust Would Work
Before filing for Chapter 11, Vi-Jon signed a restructuring support agreement with their parent company Emprise Group and talcum powder attorneys representing more than 75% of current talc claimants.
Notably, Vi-Jon's parent company and their other affiliates did not file for bankruptcy — only the subsidiary holding the talc liability did. That corporate structure could limit how much money is ultimately available to victims.
Under the proposed Vi-Jon talc settlement plan:
- All current and future talc claims against Vi-Jon would be channeled into an asbestos trust fund instead of being decided by juries.
- Emprise would contribute roughly $32 Million when the plan takes effect — about $25 Million to fund the trust for talc claimants and $7 Million to cover remaining bankruptcy costs.
- Emprise would also accelerate a payment of about $8.1 Million to Vi-Jon to support the company during the bankruptcy.
- The plan is intended to deliver "complete finality" to Vi-Jon, Emprise, and the other non-debtor affiliates, meaning victims generally could not pursue the parent company's assets afterward.
The plan also contemplates transferring certain Vi-Jon assets to Emprise or another affiliate, keeping the business running while the talc liability is resolved through the trust.
Why the Corporate Structure Matters for Victims
Because Vi-Jon deals almost exclusively with affiliates for sourcing, packing, and distribution, the debtor has no third-party unsecured debt — just a debt of about $1.4 Million owed to a related company.
In practice, that means the talc liability sits inside a small, shrinking subsidiary, while the parent company's profitable brands and broader assets remain outside the bankruptcy.
Victims who might have expected to hold the larger corporate family accountable in front of a jury may instead be limited to compensation available through the proposed trust — one funded at a fraction of the company's own $700 million liability estimate.
Trusts can offer faster, more certain payment than litigation. But payout formulas, proof requirements, and filing deadlines will determine how much each claimant actually recovers, which is why getting help from an experienced talc attorney is so important.
The Dangers of Asbestos-Contaminated Talc
Talc and asbestos are minerals that often form near each other in the earth, which means talc can be contaminated with asbestos when mined. For decades, talcum powder products were sold to consumers without warnings about this risk.
When contaminated powder is applied, microscopic asbestos fibers can be released into the air and inhaled. Once in the body, these fibers can cause inflammation and scarring that may lead to cancer decades later.
Diseases linked to asbestos-contaminated talc include:
- Mesothelioma
- Lung cancer
- Ovarian cancer
Because these diseases often take 20 to 50 years to develop, many people who used store-brand body powders years ago are only now being diagnosed — long after the products left store shelves.
What Vi-Jon Body Powder Users Should Do Now
If you or a loved one regularly used store-brand body powder and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or another asbestos-related disease, you may be entitled to compensation.
Taking a few steps now can help protect a potential claim:
- Preserve proof of use: Save any receipts, product containers, packaging, or photos of the talc products you used, and write down when and where you used them.
- Document your diagnosis: Keep copies of medical records, imaging, and pathology reports connecting your illness to asbestos exposure.
- Act quickly: Bankruptcy cases move on strict timelines, and trust claim windows and bar dates can cut off your right to recover if you miss them.
- Talk to a lawyer: If the proposed trust is approved, its distribution rules, proof requirements, and release language could significantly affect your compensation.
"If you've had an asbestos-containing talc product and you've been using it, it doesn't matter who the company is — we've probably already made claims against them before. And if not, we'll make one now."
– Ricky LeBlanc, Managing Attorney at Sokolove Law
Stay tuned to our talcum powder lawsuit updates page as the Vi-Jon bankruptcy moves forward. We'll continue tracking key court filings, deadlines, and developments that could affect current and future talcum powder claims.
Get Help Pursuing Talc & Mesothelioma Compensation
A company's bankruptcy doesn't end your right to seek justice. Compensation may still be available through asbestos trust funds or claims against other manufacturers responsible for your exposure.
At Sokolove Law, we have more than 45 years of experience helping victims of asbestos and talc exposure pursue the compensation they deserve. Our team understands the complexities of corporate bankruptcies and can fight to identify every potential source of recovery for your family.
We've secured billions of dollars for clients harmed through no fault of their own, including victims of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.
Contact us at (800) 647-3434 right now or fill out our online form to get a free case review. There are no upfront costs or hourly fees to work with our team.
