Sure, give that headline a quick read-through one more time just so we are all on the same page here.

Mega-company Johnson & Johnson were yesterday ordered to pay $55 million (R807 million) in damages, a woman successfully proving that ‘using the company’s talc-powder products for feminine hygiene caused her to develop ovarian cancer’.

J&J will of course appeal, although this could be the catalyst for a slew of around 1 200 similar lawsuits. Reuters with more:

Following a three-week trial in Missouri state court, jurors deliberated for about a day before returning a verdict for Gloria Ristesund. She was awarded $5 million in compensatory damages and $50 million in punitive damages…

Ristesund said she used J&J’s talc-based powder products – which include the well-known Baby Powder and Shower to Shower Powder – on her genitals for decades. According to her lawyers, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer and had to undergo a hysterectomy and related surgeries. Her cancer is now in remission.

This is actually the second lawsuit of this nature, J&J already having to pay $72 million to the family of a woman who died from ovarian cancer after using the same product.

The majority of cases are taking place in New Jersey and Missouri at present, and it looks like the company could well be taken to the cleaners on this one.

If you have been using similar products perhaps you might want to speak to your doctor, it’s always better to err on the side of caution in such matters.

[source:reuters]