A lawsuit settlement with Johnson & Johnson will net Oklahoma $9.8 million as well as a pledge from the company to stop producing talc-based products.
The amount the pharmaceutical corporation will pay to Oklahoma is part of a $700 million multi-state agreement reached Tuesday to resolve a lawsuit over Johnson & Johnson’s products containing talcum powder, such as baby powder, body powder and cosmetics.
The company has faced thousands of lawsuits throughout the country, including in Oklahoma County, from states and individual plaintiffs who allege the talcum powder was contaminated with cancer-causing asbestos.
Attorneys general from Texas, Florida and North Carolina led the lawsuit that included Oklahoma, along with 41 other states and the District of Columbia.
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond will use the $9.8 million to further his duties and activities under the consumer protection act, his office said.
“This landmark settlement signifies a tremendous step forward in consumer protection for Oklahomans and all Americans,” Drummond said in a statement. “With research underscoring the connection between these products and ovarian cancer, this settlement is a responsible course of action.”
