Published October 26, 2026
Johnson & Johnson won a talc mesothelioma trial in Ohio last week. On Friday, October 23, an Ohio state court jury found in the company's favor in a wrongful death lawsuit brought by the family of a woman who had mesothelioma, Law360 reported. The family alleged that her cancer was caused by long-term use of talc-based cosmetic products contaminated with asbestos.
Public reporting on the verdict so far is limited. The county, the decedent's name, the specific products at issue and the basis for the jury's decision have not been widely reported, and it is not yet known whether the family plans post-trial motions or an appeal. We will update this story if more details become public.
The Ohio result is a win for J&J in a year when juries have gone both ways. In June, a Los Angeles jury awarded $32 million to the family of Maria Lozano, who used Johnson's Baby Powder for more than 50 years before dying of pleural mesothelioma, according to Asbestos.com; J&J said it would appeal. Atumio has also covered a $10 million New Orleans mesothelioma verdict and a Los Angeles ovarian cancer bellwether that ended in a defense verdict followed by a settlement.
These cases are being tried one by one because J&J's effort to resolve its talc liabilities through bankruptcy failed. After a federal judge rejected its proposed $8 billion settlement in March 2025, the company said it would litigate the remaining cases individually. Asbestos.com put the number of remaining talc-related claims at roughly 60,000.
A single defense verdict does not decide anyone else's claim. Every talc and asbestos case turns on its own facts: which products were used and for how long, other possible exposures, medical records, and the law of the state where the case is filed. Mesothelioma is strongly associated with asbestos exposure, and many people were exposed through work, military service or consumer products rather than talc alone.
If you or a family member has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, see Atumio's asbestos and mesothelioma case page for a free eligibility review, or start your case review directly.