Ramsey County jury awards $65.5M to Anna Jean Houghton Carley in J&J talc case
A Ramsey County jury awarded $65.5 million to 37-year-old Anna Jean Houghton Carley, who developed mesothelioma she says resulted from childhood use of Johnson & Johnson baby powder; the verdict was returned Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, after a 13-day trial. Johnson & Johnson said it will appeal and maintains its talc is asbestos-free and does not cause cancer, noting it removed talc-based baby powder from U.S. shelves in 2020 and ended global sales in 2023 amid a wave of other large talc verdicts, including $40 million in Los Angeles and a separate $966 million California mesothelioma award.
đ Key Facts
- A Ramsey County jury awarded $65.5 million to 37-year-old Anna Jean Houghton Carley, who developed mesothelioma she says resulted from childhood use of Johnson & Johnson baby powder.
- The verdict was returned on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, following a 13-day trial.
- Johnson & Johnson says it will appeal and maintains its talc powder is asbestos-free and does not cause cancer.
- As background, J&J removed talc-based baby powder from U.S. shelves in 2020 and stopped global sales in 2023.
- The verdict comes amid other large talc-related awards, including $40 million in Los Angeles to two women and a separate $966 million California mesothelioma verdict.
đ Relevant Data
White men and women have the highest rates of mesothelioma at 1.12 cases per 100,000 people, while Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders have the lowest at 0.46 cases per 100,000 people, Black people at 0.79, and Hispanics at 0.71.
The Link Between Race and Mesothelioma- Asbestos Exposure â Mesothelioma Hub
Johnson & Johnson selectively marketed its talcum-based products to Black women, contributing to higher usage rates among this group.
Advocacy group sues Johnson & Johnson over cancer-linked talcum powder marketing to Black women â CNN
Non-Hispanic Black women have a fertility rate of 55 births per 1,000 women ages 15-44, higher than the rate for non-Hispanic White women at approximately 53.7.
Fertility rates by race/ethnicity: United States, 2021-2023 Average â March of Dimes
Higher parity is associated with a decreased risk of ovarian cancer.
Trends of Ovarian Cancer Incidence by Histotype and Race/Ethnicity in the United States 1992â2019 â Cancer Research Communications
đ° Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- Plaintiff identified as 37-year-old Anna Jean Houghton Carley, who developed mesothelioma after childhood use of J&J baby powder.
- Jury verdict followed a 13-day trial and was returned on Friday, Dec. 19, 2025.
- Johnson & Johnson says it will appeal and maintains its talc powder is asbestos-free and does not cause cancer.
- Context: AP notes J&J removed talc-based baby powder from U.S. shelves in 2020 and stopped global sales in 2023.
- Additional national context: recent talc verdicts include $40M in Los Angeles to two women and a separate $966M California mesothelioma verdict.