Johnson & Johnson agreed to a massive $700 million settlement with 42 states across the country, including Alabama. The settlement comes after a lawsuit was filed by the group claiming that the company was engaged in deceptive and misleading marketing tactics regarding the safety of its baby and body powder products containing the carcinogen, talc.
Additionally, the agreement specifies that Johnson & Johnson will stop the manufacture and sale of its baby powder and body powder products that contain talc within the United States. The coalition’s investigation forced the corporation to stop selling and distributing the products in other countries as well.
As part of the judgement, the state of Alabama is set to receive $13,458,975.
J&J’s worldwide vice president of litigation, Erik Hass, released a statement regarding the settlement.
“Johnson and Johnson continues to pursue several paths to achieve a comprehensive and final resolution of the talc litigation,” Hass said. “That progress includes the finalization of a previously announced agreement that the Company reached with a consortium of 43 State Attorneys Generals to resolve their talc claims.”
“We will continue to address the claims of those who do not want to participate in our contemplated consensual bankruptcy resolution through litigation or settlement.”
Under the judgment, Johnson & Johnson:
- Has ceased and not resumed the manufacturing, marketing, promotion, sale, and distribution of all baby and body powder products and cosmetic powder products that contain talcum powder, including, but not limited to, Johnson’s Baby Powder and Johnson & Johnson’s Shower to Shower (“Covered Products”) in the United States.
- Permanently stops the manufacture of any Covered Products in the United States either directly, or indirectly through any third party.
- Permanently stops the marketing and promotion of any Covered Products in the United States either directly, or indirectly through any third party.
- Permanently stops the sale or distribution any Covered Products in the United States either directly, or indirectly through any third party.
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall noted the terrible effects that the products have had on countless women for decades.
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“For generations, Johnson & Johnson advertised baby powder as a ‘clinically proven’ product for women and girls. Yet, since the 1980s this same company has known of studies showing their talc powder products were tainted with carcinogenic asbestos, increasing a user’s risk of ovarian cancer. Our large bipartisan coalition investigated and took necessary action for knowingly exploiting and deceiving consumers,” said Marshall.
“This settlement cannot reverse the harms experienced by consumers, but it can ensure that no one else is exposed to these dangerous products in the future.”
Alabama’s share of the settlement will be paid by the corporation in four annual installments, beginning next month, to be used for consumer protection enforcement and education.
Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten
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