Woman gets $110m in talc case

ST LOUIS: A jury has awarded a Virginia woman $110.5 million (R1.5 billion) in the latest lawsuit alleging that using Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder caused cancer.

The jury ruling in St Louis on Thursday for Louis Slemp, 62, of Wise, Virginia, comes after three previous St Louis juries awarded a total of $197m to plaintiffs for similar claims.

Slemp was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2012. She blamed her cancer on her use of the company’s talcumcontaining products for more than 40 years.

About 2 000 women across the US have filed similar cases over concerns about health damage caused by extended talcum powder use.

Johnson & Johnson said it would appeal. – AP