Nortex Times

Bill Hammond, co-founder of Bill Hammond and Associates, said on November 8th that a proposed $9 billion talc litigation settlement could help avoid decades of prolonged court battles.

"Texas stands at a pivotal moment in the high-stakes talc litigation saga, where the urgency for resolution has never been greater for our legal system," said Hammond. "A recently proposed litigation plan allowed claimants to vote independently on resolving this prolonged talc lawsuit while pledging billions of dollars in payouts to ovarian cancer claimants. This would offer a more straightforward and convenient solution than the unpredictability of elongated litigation. The value of this plan is tremendous as it guarantees a payout close to $9 billion over 25 years, a far better recovery than what could be achieved through trial."

According to recent developments, a new legal plan has been introduced, allowing claimants to vote individually on how to resolve the long-standing talc lawsuit. The plan promises billions in payouts for ovarian cancer claimants and aims to provide a simpler resolution compared to the uncertainties of extended legal proceedings.

Johnson & Johnson (J&J) is currently involved in litigation concerning allegations that its talc-based products, such as baby powder, have caused cancer. In September 2024, a J&J subsidiary, Red River Talc LLC, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas.

This move could allow the company to resolve more than 62,000 lawsuits. The proposed settlement plan offers approximately $8 billion to claimants over 25 years. According to Hammond, 83% of current claimants have expressed support for this plan, exceeding the 75% approval threshold required by U.S. bankruptcy code.