Thousands join Johnson & Johnson talc case as court decides whether to group claims

The High Court will rule on whether cases can be grouped into a single action and whether it should be fast-tracked as many claimants face serious illness.

The UK’s first group action against Johnson & Johnson over claims its talcum powder caused cancer has reached a key stage. This week, KP Law asked the High Court for a Group Litigation Order. The order would combine thousands of claims under one legal framework.

The hearing, taking place on 29 and 30 April 2026, will determine how the litigation is structured and managed going forward. KP Law is also asking the court to expedite the timetable for trial – something Johnson & Johnson is opposing. 

There are currently 1,964 issued claims with more than 5,000 further clients waiting to join, and KP Law says the case is time-sensitive: it has been notified of the death of a claimant on average once every three days since proceedings were issued.

Tom Longstaff, Partner and Head of Product Liability at KP Law, said:

“Thousands of women are suffering now and have already died after using Johnson & Johnson’s products because they were wrongly told those products were safe.

“We will be asking the court to expedite the timetable for the trial of these claims (something which is opposed by Johnson & Johnson), and also hope the court recognises that a Group Litigation Order is the most appropriate way to deal with this claim quickly and fairly in order to achieve justice for everyone affected.”

We’ve teamed up with KP Law to make sure people have clear, reliable information about this claim. You can read more about the case and our role, or check whether you might be eligible to take part.

Why speed is a key issue in the case

KP Law says the case needs to move quickly because of the seriousness of the illnesses involved.. 

All claimants in the case have been diagnosed with malignant conditions, including mesothelioma and ovarian cancer. KP Law has been notified of the death of a claimant on average once every three days since proceedings were issued.

There are currently 1,964 claims before the court, with more than 5,000 others waiting to join. KP Law wants the court to deal with the key questions first – including whether the talc was contaminated, what the company knew about any risks, and whether the product could cause these conditions – rather than waiting for every individual case to be fully prepared.

Johnson & Johnson is opposing the expedited approach.

What the Group Litigation Order would do

A Group Litigation Order is a formal court mechanism that groups together claims involving the same legal and factual issues, so they can be dealt with collectively rather than individually. 

If granted, the court can ask key issues once – such as whether the talc was contaminated, what Johnson & Johnson knew and whether it could have caused these conditions – with those findings then applying across all cases. This means individual claimants would not have to prove the same points from scratch.

The GLO would also require the litigation to be publicised, which could allow others who believe they were harmed by Johnson & Johnson talc to come forward and join the action.

What the claim alleges

The £1 billion group action, filed at the High Court last October, alleges that Johnson & Johnson sold asbestos-contaminated talcum powder for decades while knowing of the risks. The claim covers the period 1965 to 2023 and alleges the company received internal warnings about asbestos contamination as early as the 1960s, yet continued to market its products as safe.

Johnson & Johnson withdrew its talc-based powders from sale in the UK in 2023, three years after doing so in the United States and Canada. The company continues to deny that its talc products were contaminated.

Diseases linked to talc exposure

The claim details how prolonged use of Johnson & Johnson talc has been linked to several serious and sometimes fatal conditions, including:

• Malignant pleural mesothelioma
• Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma
• Ovarian cancer
• Lung granulomata and/or fibrosis with uterine fibroids

Claimants include those exposed during infancy or childhood, individuals who applied the powder to others, and long-term adult users. Many are represented by family members bringing claims under the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1934 and the Fatal Accidents Act 1976.

Consumers encouraged to check eligibility

KP Law is inviting others who believe they developed cancer after using Johnson & Johnson talc to join the group litigation. People who used talc regularly for five or more years, beginning at least ten years before diagnosis, may be eligible to take part.

Consumer Voice has teamed up with KP Law to raise awareness of this claim and to ensure affected consumers have access to trusted information and legal advice.

If you think you may have been affected, visit the official talc scandal claim website to check your eligibility and find out how to join the action.

Start your claim with KP Law now if you think you could have been affected.