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  • J&J’s Talc-Cancer Lawsuits: 69,000 Cases at Risk of Dismissal as Judge Demands Stronger Evidence

    J&J’s Talc-Cancer Lawsuits: 69,000 Cases at Risk of Dismissal as Judge Demands Stronger Evidence

    A U.S. federal judge on Wednesday expressed skepticism regarding the accusations of roughly 69,000 individuals who assert that Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder and other talc-related products led to ovarian cancer. The judge stated that the plaintiffs must offer more definitive evidence or face the possibility of their lawsuits being dismissed.

    Doubts Over Evidence

    US Magistrate Judge Rukhsanah Singh, based in Trenton, New Jersey, noted that recent testimonies from two expert witnesses representing the plaintiffs raised questions about the validity of their claims. The experts had testified that talcum powder usage specifically caused the plaintiffs’ ovarian cancer. These expert testimonies were part of a preparation for a set of six pivotal, or ‘bellwether’, trials aimed at assessing the potential worth of the remaining claims and guiding settlement discussions.

    The experts in question, Judith Wolf and Daniel Clarke-Pearson, delivered their testimonies in May. Despite their involvement, they were unable to conclusively rule out other potential causes for the plaintiffs’ ovarian cancer, leading to further doubts about the lawsuits.

    Johnson & Johnson’s Stance

    Johnson & Johnson has consistently refuted the allegations that its talc products cause cancer. The company maintains its stand that talc is safe and asbestos-free. Erik Haas, Johnson & Johnson’s VP of litigation, stated that the recent decision edges these cases closer to a fair and suitable outcome – the complete dismissal of the talc lawsuits. At the time of writing, both a spokesperson for Johnson & Johnson and a lead attorney for the plaintiffs had not responded to requests for comments.

    Despite the concerns raised, Judge Singh stated that the ongoing debate over causation would not lead to an immediate dismissal of the consolidated federal lawsuits. Instead, the plaintiffs have been given until November 19 to provide a response and a reason why their case should not be dismissed due to the failure to provide an admissible expert opinion that Johnson & Johnson’s talc caused their specific cancer.

    In addition to these federal cases, Johnson & Johnson also faces lawsuits in state courts across the US. The company has seen victories in some recent trials, but large verdicts have also been awarded to plaintiffs in other cases. The litigation process resumed in March 2025 after being paused for over three years due to unsuccessful attempts by Johnson & Johnson to resolve the lawsuits through a shell company’s bankruptcy.

    As a response to the ongoing controversy, Johnson & Johnson ceased sales of talc-based baby powder in the US in 2020, opting instead for a cornstarch product.

    Questions & Answers

    What was the recent decision made by the US Magistrate Judge Rukhsanah Singh about?
    The decision expressed skepticism about the accusations made by individuals who assert that Johnson & Johnson’s talc products caused their ovarian cancer. The judge noted that the plaintiffs must provide more definitive evidence or risk their lawsuits being dismissed.

    What impact did the expert testimonies have on the case?
    The expert witnesses, Judith Wolf and Daniel Clarke-Pearson, were unable to rule out other potential causes for the plaintiffs’ ovarian cancer. This uncertainty has raised further questions about the validity of the lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson.

    What is Johnson & Johnson’s stance on the allegations about their talc products?
    Johnson & Johnson has consistently refuted the allegations, maintaining that their talc products are safe and asbestos-free. The company believes that a fair and suitable outcome would be the complete dismissal of the talc lawsuits.

  • Google Fi, the next carrier?

    Google Fi, the next carrier?

    If you are satisfied with your current phone but would prefer to switch carriers, hybrid MVNO Google Fi has a deal for you. First, some explanation. Google Fi uses two million Wi-Fi hot spots to bring you service. When you are out of Wi-Fi range, your phone checks to see which of the three 4G LTE networks that Fi supports (T-Mobile, Sprint and U.S. Cellular) has the strongest signal at the moment, and connects you to it. Doing this allows Google to keep Fi’s prices down.

    Now, let’s talk about the free month of service that Google Fi is offering to those bringing their compatible phone and number to the MVNO from another wireless provider. The offer is available from now through March 24th, and a list of supported handsets can be found here. You must sign up for a full service plan (not just data) and the phone must remain activated on Fi for 30 consecutive days.

    A week after activating your phone on Fi, you will get an email confirming the credit, which will show up on the following invoice. The credit that Google gives you will cover “a single subscriber’s unlimited talk and text, data usage, and taxes and fees for one month.” The offer is limited to one per person, or six per group plan and requires Google Payments and Google Fi accounts.

    Something else to consider, is that you cannot change your phone while in the aforementioned 30-day period. One Fi subscriber had problems with the Samsung Galaxy phone he moved over to the MVNO and could not dial out about 90% of the time. He bought a Fi compatible LG handset, and while it worked without a hitch, Fi denied him the free month.

    Google Fi costs $20/month for unlimited domestic talk and text for one person ($15 additional for each added subscriber up to a total of six), unlimited international texts, and access to cellular coverage in over 200+ countries. High-speed data costs $10/GB each month, but once you hit 6GB, the rest of the month is free. This means that for an individual, the monthly bill cannot exceed $80 (before taxes and fees) or $205 for a family of four. But there is a catch. Once you consume more than 15GB of data in one month, your data speed is throttled until the next billing cycle begins. Or, you can decide to continue receiving high-speed data by paying $10/GB for any amount of high-speed data you use over 15GB in the same month.

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