LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Oklahoma and Arkansas have joined a multistate $700 million settlement with Johnson & Johnson.
Attorneys general from the two states announced on June 11 that they are joining a growing list of states seeking money from the settlement, brought about after allegations of the company's marketing of baby powder and baby powder products that contained talc.
Attorney General Tim Griffin said in a statement that Arkansas will receive over $12.7 million as its share, while Attorney General Gentner Drummond said in a statement that Oklahoma will be receiving $9.8 million.
“This settlement arose from allegations that Johnson & Johnson deceptively promoted and misled consumers about the safety and purity of its talc-based powder products that had been sold by the company for over a hundred years," Griffin said.
“This landmark settlement signifies a tremendous step forward in consumer protection for Oklahomans and all Americans,” Drummond said. “With research underscoring the connection between these products and ovarian cancer, this settlement is a responsible course of action.”
The lawsuit targeted the marketing, deemed deceptive, of talc-based products. The company has since stopped selling and distributing the products in the United States.
Texas, Florida, and North Carolina led the settlement, and has since been joined by 39 states and the District of Columbia.
“Johnson & Johnson has agreed to stop the manufacture and sale of talc-based baby powder and body powder products in the United States. I thank my office’s Consumer Protection Division for their diligence and effort as part the coalition of 42 states that came together to hold the company accountable," Griffin said.
The judgment, still pending judicial approval, requires the following:
- Johnson & Johnson cease and not resume manufacturing, marketing, promotion, sale, and distribution of products containing talcum powder.
- Permanently stop manufacturing of any covered products in the U.S. directly or indirectly through any third party.
- Permanently stop the marketing and promotion of covered products in the U.S. directly or indirectly through any third party.
- Permanently stop the sale or distribution of any covered products in the U.S. directly or indirectly through any third party.
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