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The Federal Talcum Powder MDL: Where MDL No. 2738 Stands

Vetted by Stefan Rest 2 min read

Federal lawsuits alleging that Johnson & Johnson talc products contributed to ovarian cancer are gathered in one multidistrict litigation, MDL No. 2738, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey. As of the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation's September 1, 2026 report, 69,250 actions were pending in it, out of 71,935 filed over its history. Here is what an MDL is, who is overseeing this one, and how bankruptcy has affected it.

What an MDL is

When many similar federal lawsuits are filed around the country, the Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation can send them to one judge for pretrial work such as evidence exchange and rulings on expert testimony. Each case remains its own lawsuit. An MDL is not a class action, and being part of one does not mean a case will settle.

MDL No. 2738 by the numbers

  • Court: U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey (court page)
  • Judges: U.S. District Judge Michael A. Shipp and U.S. Magistrate Judge Rukhsanah L. Singh
  • Master docket: 3:16-md-02738
  • Actions pending: 69,250, as of September 1, 2026 (JPML report)
  • Total actions over the MDL's history: 71,935

These numbers change every month. They count lawsuits filed, not proven claims. Each case still has to be proven on its own facts.

What plaintiffs allege, and what Johnson & Johnson says

Plaintiffs allege that long-term genital use of Johnson & Johnson talc products, such as baby powder, contributed to their ovarian cancer. Johnson & Johnson denies that its cosmetic talc caused cancer and has defended these claims in court. Those are allegations and defenses, not findings.

How bankruptcy affected the cases

Johnson & Johnson created a subsidiary, LTL Management LLC, to hold its talc liabilities, and LTL filed for bankruptcy. On January 30, 2023, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit ordered that bankruptcy dismissed, holding that LTL was not in financial distress and so did not file in good faith. (Third Circuit opinion) The federal cases are still pending in large numbers.

What this means for someone considering a claim

An active MDL does not mean any particular person has a claim, and it does not predict any result. Whether someone may still file depends on the facts and the deadlines that apply. Our talcum powder page explains what attorneys may look at.

This article is general information, not legal or medical advice, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Allegations in lawsuits are not findings of fact.

This article is general information about how these cases work. It is not legal advice, it does not create an attorney-client relationship, and no two claims are alike. If something here sounds like your situation, the useful next step is a conversation about the facts.

Sources and citations

Statutes, regulations, agency material and decisions referred to above.

  1. Pending MDL Dockets by District (September 1, 2026)U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict LitigationCase counts for MDL No. 2738.
  2. Johnson & Johnson Talcum Powder Litigation, MDL No. 2738U.S. District Court for the District of New JerseyCourt page.
  3. In re LTL Management LLC (3d Cir. 2023)U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third CircuitOpinion of January 30, 2023.

Vetted by

Stefan Rest, managing director of CBW Law

Stefan Rest

Managing Director, CBW Law

Stefan Rest has spent more than two decades advocating for consumers and helping people understand how the law may provide a path forward when they’ve been wronged. As Managing Director of CBW Law, he oversees client relations, the firm’s national law-firm network and new partnerships. He writes about developing litigation and consumer legal issues because the right information can help people recognize when their own story may matter.

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