St. Louis, Missouri—A third St. Louis jury has awarded a California woman $70.1 million in connection with her use of Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder. Deborah Giannecchini, age 63 of Modesto, reportedly used the product for 45 years. She now suffers from ovarian cancer, and has an 80 percent chance of dying within two years.
Two earlier St. Louis juries awarded $72 million and $55 million, respectively, for similar claims affecting two other women.
The bulk of the damages awards in all three Johnson & Johnson cancer cases represented punitive damages. These are added sums intended to punish those who are found to have engaged in wrongdoing.
Jurors found that Johnson & Johnson knew of the risks associated with genital-area use of talcum powder, yet failed to place a warning on their products.
Another defendant in the case, Imerys Talc America, was ordered to pay $2.5 million in damages to Ms. Giannecchini. Imerys is the company that supplies talc to Johnson & Johnson.
The next state court trial presently is scheduled to begin in January 2017.