$10.2 Million Verdict for Minnesota Man With Mesothelioma Linked to Store-Brand Talc Powders

Daniel Heyer was 43 years old when he received a mesothelioma diagnosis in late 2024. The disease, a rare and aggressive cancer of the body's lining, is closely linked to asbestos exposure. Over the course of his life, Heyer had regularly used baby powder, body powder, and foot powder, including store-brand talc products sold under the 'Equate' label at Walmart, the 'Up and Up' label at Target, and Walgreens' house brand. Each of those products was manufactured by St. Louis-based Vi-Jon LLC.

The lawsuit, filed in Ramsey County District Court, named Vi-Jon alongside four co-defendants: Sanofi (Gold Bond), Merck (Dr. Scholl's), Johnson and Johnson, and Perrigo Co. of Tennessee. Plaintiffs argued that asbestos naturally present in talc ore contaminated the finished products and that the manufacturers had known about the risk for decades. Evidence introduced at trial showed that warnings about asbestos in cosmetic talc dated back to 1924, yet Vi-Jon never conducted adequate safety testing on its products.

The trial team for Heyer was led by Shaina Weissman and Holly Peterson of Simon Greenstone Panatier PC, with Chad Alexander of Sieben Alexander, P.A. serving as Minnesota co-counsel. Plaintiffs contended that each defendant manufactured talc products in a defective and unreasonably dangerous condition and failed to warn consumers of the asbestos hazard.

The jury found all five defendants liable and returned a verdict of $10.2 million in May 2026. The award ranks as the second-largest mesothelioma personal injury verdict in Minnesota history, following a separate $65.5 million verdict obtained by Sieben Alexander in December 2025. No post-verdict reduction had been reported as of the verdict date.