Mass tort lawsuit · Checked on November 3, 2026
Talc lawsuit (Johnson & Johnson): status November 2026
This litigation is closed to new advertising on this site. On July 27, 2026 Johnson & Johnson announced a proposed $5.5 billion resolution of about 76,000 remaining ovarian cancer talc claims, conditioned on high participation. About 69,376 cases were pending in MDL 2738 on November 2, 2026. Plaintiffs allege that talc products caused ovarian cancer.
| Case | MDL 2738 |
|---|---|
| Court | U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey |
| Judge | Michael A. Shipp |
| Pending cases | 69,376 (as of November 2, 2026) |
| Stage | Proposed $5.5 billion resolution of existing ovarian claims (July 2026) |
| New cases | Closed or settled; this page is for information only |
| Next scheduled date | None announced in the records we checked |
| Last checked | November 3, 2026 |
What plaintiffs allege
Plaintiffs allege that Johnson's Baby Powder and Shower to Shower talc products caused ovarian cancer and that J&J failed to warn. J&J denies the claims.
Where the case stands
- July 22, 2026: the MDL court ordered plaintiffs to show why remaining claims should not be dismissed for lack of proof of specific causation (reported).
- July 27, 2026: J&J announced the proposed resolution, conditioned on at least 95% participation (verified, J&J release).
- Mesothelioma talc claims are not covered by that proposal (verified, J&J release).
Settlement status
Johnson & Johnson proposed a $5.5 billion resolution of about 76,000 remaining ovarian cancer claims on July 27, 2026, conditioned on at least 95% participation (verified, J&J release). Mesothelioma claims are not included. It is a proposal, not a final settlement.
Updates
Newest first. Each entry says whether we read the record ourselves (verified) or it comes from coverage (reported).
- November 2026: The federal panel's report of November 2, 2026 listed 69,376 pending cases (verified, JPML report).
- October 2026: The federal panel's report of October 1, 2026 listed 69,340 pending cases (verified, JPML report).
- July 2026: July 22: the MDL court ordered plaintiffs to show why remaining claims should not be dismissed (reported). July 27: J&J announced a proposed $5.5 billion resolution of ovarian claims (verified, J&J release).
Questions
Is the talc lawsuit real?
Yes. The U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation listed 69,376 pending cases in MDL 2738 as of November 2, 2026 (verified). A pending case is a claim filed in court, not a finding that the claim is true.
When will the talc lawsuit settle?
Nobody can predict when or whether a mass tort will settle. What has been disclosed so far: Johnson & Johnson proposed a $5.5 billion resolution of about 76,000 remaining ovarian cancer claims on July 27, 2026, conditioned on at least 95% participation (verified, J&J release). Mesothelioma claims are not included. It is a proposal, not a final settlement.
Does the proposal cover mesothelioma?
No. J&J said the July 2026 proposal covers ovarian cancer claims, not mesothelioma.
Sources
- JPML, Pending MDL Dockets by Actions Pending, November 2, 2026 verified
- Johnson & Johnson press release, proposed resolution of ovarian talc litigation verified
- Johnson & Johnson Form 10-Q, quarter ended September 27, 2026 (SEC): $5.5 billion accrual, about 76,500 U.S. plaintiffs verified
Verified means we read the court, agency or company record ourselves on the check date. Reported means the fact comes from news or law firm coverage and could not be confirmed on a primary record.