A big trial is coming up in California. It is about talcum powder and cancer. Johnson & Johnson faces claims. Women say the company’s baby powder caused ovarian cancer. This is the first bellwether trial in state courts. It starts on November 3, 2025. The place is Los Angeles Superior Court. Two women’s cases are combined. This trial could shape many others. It may lead to settlements. Or it could spark more suits. The trial lasts four weeks. More bellwether cases follow right after.
What is a bellwether trial? It is a test case. Lawyers use it to see how juries react. It helps predict outcomes for similar suits. In mass torts, these trials guide talks. They show strengths and weaknesses. For Johnson & Johnson, this is key. They face over 60,000 lawsuits. Most claim ovarian cancer from talc use. The company says their products are safe. But plaintiffs point to asbestos in talc. This trial could change the game.
The lawsuits started years ago. In 2017, a California jury gave $417 million to one woman. Her name was Eva Echeverria. She had ovarian cancer. She used Johnson’s Baby Powder for years. She died before the verdict. That case was in Los Angeles too. It was not a bellwether. But it set a tone. Now, over 300 cases are in Los Angeles. They are coordinated. This new trial is the first bellwether among them.
Who are the plaintiffs? The cases combine two women. Both have ovarian cancer. They used talc products for feminine hygiene. One started in the 1970s. The other in the 1980s. They claim long-term use led to their illness. They say Johnson & Johnson knew risks. The company hid them. Plaintiffs’ lawyers say talc goes into the body. It carries asbestos to ovaries. This causes cancer over time.
Johnson & Johnson fights back. They say science does not prove the link. The company stopped selling talc baby powder in 2020. They switched to cornstarch. But they deny fault. In past trials, they won 16 out of 17 ovarian cancer cases. Their only big loss was in 2018. A Missouri jury gave $4.7 billion to 22 women. That was cut later. Still, it hurt their image.
This California trial is in state court. It differs from federal cases. In federal court, a multidistrict litigation (MDL) has 66,509 suits. The first federal bellwether is set for late 2025 or early 2026. A pretrial conference is in November. Mediation starts in September. Judge Michael Shipp oversees it. He dismissed Johnson & Johnson’s third bankruptcy try. Now, trials move forward.
Why California? The state has strict rules. Juries there favor plaintiffs often. Los Angeles is plaintiff-friendly. Over 300 cases are here. They are in Judicial Council Coordinated Proceedings (JCCP). This groups similar suits. The bellwether picks strong cases. It tests evidence. Both sides prepare hard.
Let’s look at the science. Talc is a mineral. It is ground into powder. Johnson & Johnson mined it. Tests found asbestos traces. Asbestos causes cancer. Plaintiffs say genital use spreads it. Studies show a link. One from Harvard links talc to ovarian cancer. It raises risk by 20-30%. The International Agency for Research on Cancer says talc is “possibly carcinogenic.” But the FDA says cosmetic talc is safe if asbestos-free.
Johnson & Johnson says their talc was pure. They tested it for decades. No asbestos in final products, they claim. Internal memos show worries, though. In the 1970s, they found traces. They kept selling. Plaintiffs use these docs. They show cover-ups. Emails from the 1990s discuss risks. The company lobbied regulators. This evidence is hot in trials.
The trial starts November 3. Jury selection first. Then openings. Plaintiffs go first. They tell stories. The women’s pain and diagnosis. How talc was marketed as safe. For moms and hygiene. Ads said “A Sprinkle a Day.” It targeted women of color more. African American women used it 44% of the time. White women 30%. This matters for damages.
Defense follows. They attack science. Call experts. Say no causation. Blame other risks. Like smoking or genes. They show wins in other courts. Juries there saw no link. Johnson & Johnson has deep pockets. Their lawyers are top. From firms like King & Spalding.
Damages could be huge. Past verdicts hit billions. Punitive damages punish bad acts. In California, no cap on them. Compensatory covers medical bills. Lost wages. Pain. For two plaintiffs, it could top $100 million. But appeals cut awards. The 2017 verdict dropped from $417 million to $21.7 million.
This trial affects the world. Other states watch. Pennsylvania and New Jersey plan trials in 2026. Federal MDL too. A plaintiff win pushes settlements. Johnson & Johnson offered $8 billion before. It failed in bankruptcy. Now, they may talk again. Mediation in September. Mediator Fouad Kurdi helps. He pushes good faith.
Plaintiffs’ lawyers are ready. Firms like Beasley Allen lead. They won big before. They say momentum is theirs. Over 65,000 suits now. New ones add weekly. Awareness grows. Women learn risks. More file.
What about settlements? Experts predict $10 billion total. Per case, $100,000 to $1 million. Depends on use and cancer stage. Some get more. Mesothelioma suits too. Talc links to lung cancer. Los Angeles County sued in 2023 over that.
The trial has drama. Witnesses include doctors. Scientists. Ex-employees. One may say Johnson knew. Regulators testify. FDA history. Juries hear emotions. Tears from families. Anger at big pharma.
Media covers it. Law.com reported first. Drugwatch updates. AboutLawsuits tracks. Social media buzzes. Hashtags like #TalcTrial. Victims share stories. Support groups rally.
For Johnson & Johnson, stakes high. Stock dipped on news. They face PR hit. Baby powder was iconic. Now, tainted. They rebrand. Focus on drugs. But talc haunts.
What next? If plaintiffs win, flood of suits. Settlements speed up. If defense wins, delay. More motions. Appeals. Either way, fight goes on. For women, justice calls. They seek truth. And money for care.
This fall trial marks a turn. In LA’s courthouse. Under bright lights. A jury decides. History watches. The powder’s legacy hangs. Will it clear? Or bury deeper?