A Minnesota jury has ordered pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson to pay $65.5 million in compensation to a mother of three who developed a deadly cancer she claims was caused by using the company's talc-based baby powder.
Verdict in Minnesota Court
Jurors in Ramsey County District Court reached their decision on Friday 20th December 2025, following a 13-day trial. They found in favour of Anna Jean Houghton Carley, 37, who argued that her lifelong use of Johnson's Baby Powder exposed her to asbestos, leading to her diagnosis of mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer affecting the lining of the lungs and other organs, primarily linked to asbestos exposure. Carley's legal team successfully argued that she used the product throughout her childhood and that her family was never warned of any potential dangers.
Company Denies Claims and Plans Appeal
Johnson & Johnson has stated it will appeal the verdict. Erik Haas, the company's worldwide vice president of litigation, maintained that their baby powder is safe, does not contain asbestos, and does not cause cancer.
"These lawsuits are predicated on 'junk science,' refuted by decades of studies," Haas said in a statement. He expressed confidence that an appellate court would reverse the decision.
However, Carley's attorney, Ben Braly, framed the case as a matter of corporate accountability. "This case was not about compensation only. It was about truth and accountability," Braly stated.
Broader Legal Battle Over Talc Safety
This verdict is the latest in a long series of lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson concerning its talc products. The company ceased selling talc-based powder globally in 2023, having already removed it from US shelves in 2020.
The legal allegations centre on claims that talc can be contaminated with asbestos and is linked to cancers like mesothelioma and ovarian cancer. Just earlier in December 2025, a Los Angeles jury awarded $40 million to two women who claimed the powder caused their ovarian cancer. In October, another California jury ordered the firm to pay a staggering $966 million to the family of a woman who died of mesothelioma.
Despite the mounting verdicts, Johnson & Johnson continues to vigorously defend the safety of its historic product, setting the stage for further protracted legal battles in appellate courts.
