Attorney General Austin Knudsen announced today that Montana will receive over $3.5 million from a multi-state settlement with Johnson & Johnson. The settlement resolves allegations that the company manufactured, marketed, and knowingly sold baby powder tainted with carcinogenic asbestos.
Montana will receive $3,537,515 of the total $700 million multi-state settlement. As part of the agreement, Johnson & Johnson has also committed to ceasing the manufacturing, marketing, promotion, sale, and distribution of all baby, body, and cosmetic powder products. This includes refraining from such activities through third parties.
"Johnson & Johnson violated Montana’s consumer protection laws but worse put the health and safety of consumers at risk. The company’s actions are unacceptable and I’m glad we could help to hold them accountable," Attorney General Knudsen stated.
The settlement holds Johnson & Johnson accountable for manufacturing and selling talc body powder products while marketing them as safe for daily use by consumers despite knowing that asbestos in the products could cause cancer. The company continued these practices for decades despite being aware of their harmful effects.
In his complaint against Johnson & Johnson, Attorney General Knudsen asserts that the company's actions violated Montana’s Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Acts by misrepresenting the sponsorship, approval, characteristics, benefits, or qualities of their talc powder products and by misrepresenting their safety.
Montana is scheduled to begin receiving payments from the settlement on July 30, 2024. Payments will continue through 2027. The funds will be dispersed at Attorney General Knudsen's discretion and can be used for restitution and grants for the Children’s Advocacy Centers of Montana.