CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia is part of a $700 million nationwide settlement in relation to the marketing of Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder products.
West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey and a bipartisan coalition of 42 attorneys general came to an agreement that West Virginia will receive a little more than $5.9 million of the $700 million settlement, pending judicial review.
The lawsuit addresses the manner in which Johnson & Johnson promoted and used its talcum powder products. Johnson & Johnson faced allegations that showed deception of consumers by way of advertisements in relation to the purity of its talcum-based powder products.
“This is a prime example that businesses should be up-front and honest about their products’ information, especially when the safety and wellbeing of consumers rely upon the accuracy and truthfulness of that information,” Morrisey said in a news release. “Let this be a warning to those who are promoting their products in a deceitful manner to mislead consumers: we will investigate, and you will be held accountable to the full extent of the law,” Morrisey added.
While the $700 million lawsuit targeted the deceptive manner in which Johnson & Johnson marketed its talcum products, there have been a number of separate lawsuits filed by private plaintiffs alleging that talc can cause health issues such as ovarian cancer and mesothelioma.
As part of the settlement, Johnson & Johnson agreed to conclude the sale and distribution of any baby powder or other product containing talc in the United States.
Johnson & Johnson previously sold these products for more than 100 years.