In a major legal setback, a Los Angeles jury has ordered global healthcare giant Johnson & Johnson to pay $966 million (around Rs 7,91,00 crore) in damages to the family of Mae Moore, a woman who died in 2021 from mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive form of cancer.
The lawsuit, filed by Moore’s family in 2021, alleged that J&J’s talc-based baby powder contained asbestos fibers, which led to her illness. After a detailed trial, the jury awarded $16 million in compensatory damages and an additional $950 million as punitive damages, citing negligence and failure to warn consumers.
Legal experts noted that while the punitive award could be reduced on appeal, the verdict sends a strong message about corporate accountability and consumer safety. The U.S. Supreme Court typically recommends that punitive damages not exceed nine times the compensatory amount.
Johnson & Johnson has not issued an official comment yet but has consistently denied the presence of asbestos in its products, maintaining that its talc powders are safe and do not cause cancer. The company stopped producing talc-based baby powder in the U.S. in 2020, replacing it with a cornstarch-based alternative.
The jury’s decision highlights the growing emphasis on product transparency and consumer health, reminding corporations worldwide of their ethical and legal responsibilities.
This verdict could reignite thousands of similar claims pending across the U.S., marking a defining moment in one of the largest corporate liability battles in recent years.
