Courts Reverse Johnson’s Baby Powder Judgments for Nearly $500 Million

"In back-to-back victories for Johnson & Johnson, the courts have reversed two judgments against the consumer products giant totaling nearly $500 million. The money had been awarded to women who said that they developed ovarian cancer after using the company’s talcum powder for decades.

On Friday, a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge tossed out a $417 million award won in August to Eva Echeverria. She was found to have ovarian cancer in 2007, after using Johnson’s Baby Powder for more than 40 years.

In her ruling, Judge Maren E. Nelson granted the company’s motion for a new trial. The judge cited the “insufficiency of the evidence” and said that the damages awarded were excessive."

Christina Caron reports for the New York Times October 23, 2017.