Johnson & Johnson announces US$5.5 billion settlement of talc lawsuits

NEW YORK: Johnson & Johnson said on Monday (Jul 27) it would pay US$5.5 billion to resolve tens of thousands of lawsuits alleging its baby powder and other talc products cause ovarian cancer, in a landmark settlement aimed at closing a chapter of contentious litigation that has dogged the company for years.J&J said the settlement covers about 69,000 cases consolidated in federal court in New Jersey, and related cases in state court, totalling 99.75 per cent of the remaining talc claims.Plaintiffs' law firms confirmed the deal on Monday, saying it was a good resolution after a decade-long court battle. The deal must still be approved by the judge overseeing the federal litigation.J&J's vice president of litigation, Erik Haas, said the claims were "meritless" and that the company was willing