California Court Overturns $417 Mln Verdict Linking J&J Baby Powder With Cancer

(RTTNews) - Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) has won its appeal of a $417 million verdict in a lawsuit brought by a California woman who claimed she got ovarian cancer from using the company's talcum powder, according to reports.

Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Maren Nelson reportedlycited errors and jury misconduct when she overturned the fourth-largest jury award of the year.

The ruling comes after a Missouri appeals court on Tuesday voided a $72 million talc cancer verdict.

Nelson also ruled there wasn't convincing evidence that Johnson & Johnson acted with malice and the award for damages was excessive.

Plaintiff Eva Echeverria alleged Johnson & Johnson failed to adequately warn consumers about talcum powder's potential cancer risks. She used the company's baby powder for feminine hygiene on a daily basis beginning in the 1950s until 2016 and was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2007, according to court papers.

She died after the jury announced its verdict in August.