A Richmond County State Court jury ruled in favor of Johnson & Johnson in a lawsuit filed over the death of a woman who used the company’s talcum powder. Also named in the suit was Pharma Tech Industries, a Royston, Ga. based company that bottled Johnson’s Baby Powder.
The lawsuit was filed by the daughter of Margie Evans. Evans died in March 2018. Her daughter, Charvette Monroe, is the executor of her mother’s estate. The court case sought general and special damages but did not specify an amount. It also asked the court to award punitive damages.
Filed in October 2018, the lawsuit said Evans used Johnson’s Baby Powder on a daily basis starting in 1952 and continued to do so for 56 years. Evans was first diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2016.
Documents filed with the court said Evans, who taught elementary school in Richmond County for 30 years, underwent abdominal surgeries, more than 20 rounds of chemotherapy and participated in a clinical trial, all of which were unsuccessful. The lawsuit alleged the talcum powder contained asbestos, a known carcinogen, and that the company was aware of the danger.
The lawsuit listed five charges including negligent design and failure to warn. On Oct. 5, the 12-member jury ruled in favor of the two companies on all counts.
Quotes from the case
Melissa Munoz, media relations for Johnson & Johnson, provided a statement that said:
“After careful consideration of the science and facts presented at trial, another jury agreed that Johnson’s Baby Powder is safe and does not cause cancer.
“Today’s verdict is now five claims in a row that have been unanimously rejected by juries in these cases. And yet, despite the lack of any scientific evidence to support their claims, the plaintiff trial bar continues to push forward with its misinformation campaign to drive baseless and inflammatory headlines in the hopes they can force a resolution of these cases. The claims by these lawyers are unfounded and it is clear the only interest they have is their own financial gain.
“We deeply sympathize with anyone suffering from cancer and know they are seeking answers. That’s why the facts are so important – and the facts are that research, clinical evidence and over 40 years of studies by independent medical experts around the world continue to support the safety of cosmetic talc. To learn more about our position and the science supporting the safety of our product, visit www.FactsAboutTalc.com.”
The Barnes Law Group represented Evans’ daughter. It has not responded to a request for comment.
Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder has been the target of similar lawsuits, filed in state and federal courts, since 2016.
In 2019, the Food and Drug Administration announced the company was voluntarily recalling one batch of the baby powder.
In May 2020, the company announced it would halt the sale of talc-based baby powder in the United States and Canada.
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a Staff Reporter with The Augusta Press. You can reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com
