Johnson & Johnson settles talc case for US$2M

Johnson & Johnson agreed to pay more than US$2 million to resolve a woman’s claims that asbestos-laced baby powder caused her cancer, according to people familiar with the case. The settlement marks a rare decision by the firm to cut a deal while fighting thousands of similar claims. Jurors in state court in Oakland, Calif., heard more than two weeks of testimony before the judge told them Monday the case had settled. On Tuesday, a new report showed talcum powder is not linked to ovarian cancer. The largest-ever study is likely to reverse the outcomes of several billion-dollar court cases, The Daily Telegraph reported. The U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Science pooled data from 252,745 women and found no evidence talc was dangerous when used as a feminine hygiene product.