Published September 28, 2026
Johnson & Johnson has reached a settlement with the families of three women whose ovarian cancer claims went to trial together as a bellwether case in Los Angeles earlier this year. What makes the deal unusual is that J&J won that trial. The settlement, reported in mid-September 2026, ends the families' post-trial effort to overturn the jury's verdict. Terms were not disclosed.
The consolidated trial in Los Angeles County Superior Court lasted about six weeks. The families of Mary Owens, Bonnie Tienken, and Geneva Williams claimed that the women's long-term use of J&J talcum powder caused the ovarian cancer that killed them. In June 2026, the jury voted 10-2 that J&J and its talc subsidiary Red River Talc LLC were not negligent and not liable for the deaths. The families then filed post-trial motions, and the settlement means those motions will not be decided.
J&J hasn't explained its reasons. It's common, though, for a defendant to settle after a win to avoid the risk that a judge orders a new trial or an appeals court reverses the verdict. In this case, the company may also have wanted to avoid distractions while a much larger resolution is underway. The Los Angeles results have gone both ways. In December 2025, an earlier bellwether jury in the same courthouse awarded $40 million to two women after finding that J&J's talc was a substantial factor in their ovarian cancer.
Separately, J&J's proposed $5.5 billion settlement of ovarian cancer claims is still being finalized. It takes effect only if at least 95% of eligible plaintiffs sign on, and the number of claimants has grown past 69,000. J&J maintains that its talc products are safe and do not contain asbestos. It switched its U.S. baby powder from talc to cornstarch in 2020.
If you used talc-based powder for feminine hygiene and were later diagnosed with ovarian cancer, or were diagnosed with mesothelioma after talc exposure, see Atumio's talcum powder case page for a free eligibility review, or start your case review directly.