Boston, MA – June 19, 2025 — A Suffolk County jury has awarded $8 million to an 84-year-old Massachusetts woman who developed mesothelioma after decades of using Johnson & Johnson’s talcum powder, concluding that the company’s product was contaminated with asbestos and that it failed to warn consumers.
The plaintiff, Janice Paluzzi, used Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder for years on herself and her children. She was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer linked to asbestos exposure, in 2021. During the trial, her legal team presented internal company documents showing that Johnson & Johnson had known for decades about the presence of asbestos in its talc but continued to market the product as safe.
“Johnson & Johnson knew its talc Baby Powder could kill, and they chose to keep selling it anyway, despite the availability of safer cornstarch-based powders,” said Ben Braly, one of Paluzzi’s attorneys.
The jury found the healthcare giant liable for negligence and breach of warranty. The trial team, led by lawyers from Dean Omar Branham Shirley, argued that the company betrayed the trust of families by continuing to sell the product despite its known risks. The legal group also included attorneys from Early, Lucarelli, Sweeney & Meisenkothen and the Carter Law Group.
“Johnson & Johnson sold their product as safe and took advantage of the trust of families like Ms. Paluzzi’s,” said attorney Trey Branham. “The jury saw that betrayal and delivered justice.”
Johnson & Johnson stopped selling talc-based products in the U.S. in 2020 but has faced thousands of lawsuits over the alleged link between its Baby Powder and cancer. The company has denied wrongdoing and maintains that its talc products are safe.
The case, Janice Paluzzi v. Johnson & Johnson, Civil Action No. 21-2109, was heard in Suffolk County Superior Court.
