J&J Baby Powder Lawsuits Continue to Hang in the Balance Amid Bankruptcy Court Plans

Lawsuits claiming a connection between Johnson & Johnson's baby powder and ovarian cancer will remain on hold at least until mid-March. This decision comes as the company seeks a definitive resolution to disputes through the bankruptcy proceedings of a subsidiary.

In a recent court hearing, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Christopher Lopez expressed a preference not to extend the delay to include other potentially liable parties, opting instead to allow some lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson to proceed. The healthcare giant is currently facing numerous lawsuits alleging that contaminated talc in its baby powder has caused cancer in tens of thousands of women.

Judge Lopez, who operates in Houston, scheduled a hearing for the end of January. The hearing will determine whether to approve Johnson & Johnson's strategy to allocate over $8 billion to resolve cancer-related claims. The plan includes creating a corporate entity specifically designed to assume the cancer claims and seek bankruptcy protection.