Johnson & Johnson Settles Two Talc Cases as April Trial Calendar Looms
Johnson & Johnson settled two cosmetic talc cases in March 2026, one before jury selection in Florida and another after opening statements in Washington, as the company faces multiple trials scheduled for April.
Consumer healthcare giant Johnson & Johnson recently settled two cosmetic talc cases, one shortly before jury selection and the other just after opening statements. The company faces a busy talc trial calendar heading into April.
The trial that settled shortly before jury selection was slated to take place in Broward County, Florida while the trial that settled after opening statements took place in Pierce County, Washington. The settled Washington case is captioned Verna Richards v. Johnson & Johnson and the settled Florida case is captioned Mary Martinez v. Johnson & Johnson.
Despite these settlements a number of potentially significant J&J talc trials lay ahead, including the second bellwether in ovarian cancer-related cases consolidated in Los Angeles following a $40 million plaintiff verdict at an initial trial late last year. Meanwhile mesothelioma-related trials continue, with April dates slated in Ohio and California.
Both settled trials would have featured Dallas-based Dean Omar Branham on the plaintiff side. The firm has taken the lead on bringing J&J talc cases to trial since a lengthy pause caused by bankruptcy maneuverings. J&J was represented by King & Spalding and Kirkland & Ellis, two powerhouse defense firms that have taken on the bulk of J&J's imposing talc trial docket.
The bulk of J&J cosmetic talc trials to date involved mesothelioma-related claims. Plaintiffs allege they inhaled asbestos in products like Johnson's Baby Powder, which they argue caused a rare form of cancer largely associated with exposure to asbestos.
J&J maintains their products never contained asbestos, and their position that the company utilized rigorous safety testing and that plaintiff claims are based on fundamentally flawed scientific studies has resulted in numerous defense verdicts across multiple jurisdictions.
A far fewer number of trials to date involved women alleging they developed ovarian cancer after applying cosmetic talc products directly to their bodies. A long-awaited trial involving ovarian cancer claims ended with a $40 million plaintiff verdict last year, and a follow-up set for late April will likely draw similar scrutiny.