Minnesota jury awards $65.5 million in a talc and mesothelioma case against Johnson & Johnson
A jury in Ramsey County, Minnesota, awarded $65.5 million in December 2025 to a 37-year-old woman with pleural mesothelioma who said Johnson & Johnson talc products she used as a child exposed her to asbestos, the Associated Press reported. Johnson & Johnson denies its products contained asbestos and said it would appeal.
Last reviewed October 29, 2026 against the sources listed at the end of this page.
In short
- The verdict came after a 13-day trial in Ramsey County District Court in St. Paul, according to the AP.
- Johnson & Johnson says its baby powder is safe, does not contain asbestos, and does not cause cancer, and said it expects the decision to be reversed on appeal.
- The AP noted other talc verdicts in 2025, including a $966 million California verdict in October in a mesothelioma death case.
- A verdict is not final until post-trial motions and appeals end. Results in one case do not predict another.
Event date: December 19, 2025. Posted October 29, 2026; updated October 29, 2026.
What happened
According to the Associated Press, jurors found that Johnson & Johnson should compensate Anna Jean Houghton Carley, who used the company's baby powder throughout her childhood and later developed mesothelioma in the lining of her lungs. Her lawyers argued the company sold talc products while knowing they could be contaminated with asbestos and did not warn consumers. Johnson & Johnson's vice president of litigation told the AP the lawsuits rest on "junk science" and that the company expects an appellate court to reverse the decision. Law360 later reported that Johnson & Johnson's request to undo the verdict was denied.
The AP noted that Johnson & Johnson stopped selling talc-based baby powder in the United States in 2020 and worldwide in 2023.
Why talc cases come up in mesothelioma
Most mesothelioma is linked to asbestos at work, but talc can be mined from deposits that also contain asbestos. That question, whether a particular product was contaminated, is the central dispute in these cases and is decided case by case. See risk factors and asbestos exposure.
Keep this in context
Jury verdicts can be reduced or overturned after trial or on appeal, and each case depends on its own facts, evidence, and state law. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. If you have questions about a possible claim, our statute of limitations page explains filing deadlines.
911Meso.com news covers major developments only: verdicts and court rulings, trust payment changes, EPA asbestos rules, FDA actions and major research, and cancer-center designations. Each item links to its primary sources. It is general information, not legal or medical advice. Laws can change, and results in one case do not predict another.
Get our printable guide to diagnosis, treatment, and legal options by email.
Get the guideThis is a news summary for general information, based on the sources below. It is not legal or medical advice. Laws can change, and results in one case do not predict another. Talk with your doctor about treatment questions and with a licensed attorney about legal ones.