Major lawsuits in 2025 focus on products linked to serious health risks. Companies are being sued for selling items that allegedly cause cancer, organ damage, and other medical issues.
Some cases involve household products like weedkillers and baby powder, while others target prescription drugs and medical devices. Courts will decide if companies ignored risks or failed to warn consumers.
Many cases could lead to large settlements or verdicts. Here are the biggest lawsuits to watch.
1) Social Media and Adolescent Mental Health Lawsuits
A mother in France found her teenage daughter lifeless in her room, a suicide note beside her phone. The note blamed the endless stream of self-harm videos on TikTok’s algorithm.
She wasn’t alone. Across the world, families faced the same heartbreak, convinced that social media had trapped their children in a cycle of addiction and despair.
In the U.S., teachers watched students withdraw, their mental health crumbling under the weight of Instagram’s beauty filters and TikTok’s viral trends. School districts, overwhelmed with rising cases of depression and anxiety, took action.
Lawsuits were filed against Meta, TikTok, and Google, accusing them of designing platforms that exploited young minds, pushing them deeper into harmful content.
Key Allegations Against Social Media Companies
- Addictive Algorithms: Platforms are designed to maximize screen time, keeping users engaged with endless, personalized content.
- Exposure to Harmful Content: Teens encounter material promoting eating disorders, self-harm, and suicide.
- Mental Health Decline: Studies link heavy social media use to rising rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide among minors.
- School Disruptions: Lawsuits claim social media addiction strains school resources, increasing counseling needs and behavioral issues.
Major Lawsuits and Legal Developments
- France: Families sued TikTok, arguing its algorithm directly contributed to their children’s suicides.
- United States: Houston ISD and other school districts sued Meta, TikTok, and Google for harming students’ mental health.
Legal Status & Potential Outcomes
Meta, TikTok, and Google deny responsibility, arguing that they provide safety tools and parental controls.
Possible Outcomes
- Massive settlements if courts hold platforms liable.
- Stricter government regulations on social media for minors.
- Companies forced to change algorithms to reduce harm.
These lawsuits could permanently change how social media operates, either forcing platforms to take real responsibility—or proving that big tech remains untouchable.
The first major trial in October 2025 will set the tone for what happens next.
2) Roundup Weedkiller Litigation
A farmer in California spent decades using Roundup, trusting Bayer’s claim that it was safe. Now, he battles non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, along with thousands of others who believe the glyphosate-based herbicide caused their cancer.
Bayer, which acquired Monsanto in 2018, agreed to a $10 billion settlement in 2020, hoping to put the issue to rest. But lawsuits keep piling up. With over 67,000 cases still active, the company is now lobbying Congress, warning that it may stop selling Roundup in the U.S. if it does not receive stronger legal protections.
Key Allegations Against Bayer
- Glyphosate Causes Cancer: Lawsuits argue that Roundup exposure increases the risk of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
- Failure to Warn: Plaintiffs claim Bayer knew the risks but misled consumers about the dangers.
- Regulatory Conflicts: The EPA insists Roundup is safe, while other studies suggest strong links to cancer.
Major Lawsuits and Legal Developments
- California and Federal Cases: Thousands of cases remain in court despite prior settlements.
- Bayer’s Legal Strategy: The company won several trials but lost massive verdicts, including a $2 billion award to one couple.
- Legislative Push: Bayer is pressuring U.S. lawmakers for legal protections to limit liability.
Legal Status & Potential Outcomes
- More Trials in 2025: Courts will continue ruling on individual claims.
- Potential Supreme Court Appeal: Bayer may seek a ruling that federal regulations override state lawsuits.
3) Paraquat Herbicide Lawsuits
A lifelong farmworker in Illinois shakes uncontrollably, unable to hold a cup of coffee. His doctor tells him he has Parkinson’s disease, a diagnosis he never expected. After years of exposure to Paraquat, a powerful weedkiller, he believes the pesticide is to blame.
Lawsuits against Syngenta and Chevron argue that Paraquat causes Parkinson’s and that manufacturers failed to warn users of the risks. As of early 2025, over 5,800 cases are part of a multidistrict litigation (MDL), with bellwether trials set for October 2025.
Key Allegations Against Paraquat Manufacturers
- Link to Parkinson’s Disease: Research suggests chronic exposure increases the risk of nerve damage.
- No Warnings for Farmers: Despite decades of use, companies never warned workers of the neurological risks.
- EPA Controversy: The EPA has reapproved Paraquat, but lawsuits claim it ignored key evidence.
Major Lawsuits and Legal Developments
- Illinois MDL: The largest group of cases is in federal court, where early trials will influence future settlements.
- Global Research Conflicts: Some studies support a Parkinson’s link, while others claim insufficient evidence.
- Tighter Restrictions in Other Countries: Paraquat is banned in Europe, China, and Brazil, but still widely used in the U.S.
Legal Status & Potential Outcomes
- Bellwether Trials in Late 2025: The first cases will set precedent for thousands of claims.
- Possible Settlements: A big verdict against Syngenta and Chevron could force payouts for victims.
- Regulatory Changes: U.S. courts may force stricter Paraquat regulations, or even a ban.
4) AFFF Firefighting Foam Litigation
A retired firefighter in South Carolina was diagnosed with kidney cancer, a disease he never expected.
After years of exposure to Aqueous Film-Forming Foam (AFFF), he learned that the foam contained PFAS chemicals, known as “forever chemicals”, linked to cancer and other health problems.
Firefighters, military personnel, and airport workers have filed lawsuits against manufacturers like 3M, DuPont, and Chemours, claiming that they knew the dangers of PFAS exposure but continued to sell the foam without proper warnings.
Key Allegations Against AFFF Manufacturers
- PFAS Chemicals Cause Cancer: Linked to kidney, testicular, prostate, and pancreatic cancers.
- Failure to Warn: Companies knew PFAS chemicals persist in the body and environment, yet failed to disclose risks.
- Water Contamination: Lawsuits claim PFAS polluted drinking water, affecting firefighters and local communities.
Major Lawsuits and Legal Developments
- South Carolina MDL: Over 8,400 cases consolidated, with both personal injury and water contamination claims.
- Firefighter Cancer Claims: Many lawsuits involve firefighters diagnosed with severe illnesses.
- Speculation of Settlements: Companies may settle cases to avoid massive jury verdicts, following prior water contamination payouts.
Legal Status & Potential Outcomes
- Bellwether Trials in 2025: First major personal injury trials expected to set precedent for settlements.
- Government Action: The EPA now regulates PFAS, but lawsuits argue action came too late for many victims.
- Possible Large-Scale Settlements: Firefighters and affected communities could receive billions in compensation.
5) Johnson & Johnson Talcum Powder Litigation
A woman in New Jersey used Johnson & Johnson’s Baby Powder for years, unaware it contained asbestos-contaminated talc.
Now diagnosed with ovarian cancer, she is one of 58,000 plaintiffs suing the company for knowingly selling a dangerous product.
Johnson & Johnson has spent years denying any link between talc and cancer, despite internal documents showing concerns about asbestos contamination. The company has attempted to settle cases while also using legal maneuvers to avoid massive payouts.
Key Allegations Against J&J
- Asbestos in Talc Causes Cancer: Linked to ovarian cancer and mesothelioma.
- J&J Knew the Risks: Internal memos from the 1970s showed concerns about asbestos, yet the product remained on shelves.
- Deceptive Marketing: The company targeted women and minorities, despite health risks.
Major Lawsuits and Legal Developments
- New Jersey MDL: Nearly 60,000 cases consolidated, making it one of the largest mass torts in history.
- Proposed Settlement: J&J offered $6.48 billion to settle cases, spread over 25 years.
- Bankruptcy Controversy: J&J attempted to shift liability to a subsidiary, a move facing legal challenges.
Legal Status & Potential Outcomes
- February 2025 Court Hearing: A judge will decide if J&J’s bankruptcy plan can limit payouts.
- Government Opposition: Federal agencies oppose the settlement, fearing it blocks cancer victims from full compensation.
- Potential for Higher Payouts: If bankruptcy is rejected, J&J could face billions more in jury verdicts.
6) GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Lawsuits
A woman in Michigan started Ozempic for diabetes management but soon suffered severe stomach paralysis. She could barely eat, lost weight dangerously fast, and ended up in the hospital.
Her experience is now part of a growing multidistrict litigation (MDL) in Pennsylvania, where over 1,000 lawsuits claim that drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Mounjaro cause gastroparesis, bowel obstructions, and other gastrointestinal damage.
Claims Against Drugmakers
- Severe Side Effects: Patients report extreme nausea, vomiting, and intestinal blockages.
- Failure to Warn: Lawsuits allege Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly knew the risks but did not properly warn users.
- FDA Reports: Growing complaints have led to increased scrutiny of GLP-1 receptor agonists.
Legal Status & Potential Outcomes
- First bellwether trials expected in 2025.
- If plaintiffs win, settlements could reach billions.
- Drugmakers deny wrongdoing, arguing the benefits outweigh the risks.
7) Depo-Provera Lawsuits
A California woman took Depo-Provera for birth control for years, unaware that it might lead to brain tumors. After suffering memory loss and severe headaches, doctors found a meningioma, a type of brain tumor linked to prolonged use of the drug.
Now, she joins hundreds of others suing Pfizer in a newly formed MDL in Florida.
Claims Against Pfizer
- Long-term Depo-Provera use linked to meningiomas.
- Pfizer failed to warn about risks despite emerging studies.
- Victims suffered brain damage, requiring surgery or lifelong care.
Legal Status & Potential Outcomes
- MDL is rapidly growing, with trials expected in late 2025.
- Plaintiffs push for settlements covering medical costs and damages.
- Pfizer argues the drug is safe and FDA-approved.
8) Suboxone Film Lawsuits
A man recovering from opioid addiction started using Suboxone Film, believing it was a safer alternative. Years later, he faced severe tooth decay, losing multiple teeth despite no prior dental issues.
His case is one of over 700 lawsuits filed against Indivior, the manufacturer of Suboxone, accusing the company of failing to warn users about the drug’s link to extreme tooth damage.
Claims Against Indivior
- Suboxone causes dry mouth, leading to tooth decay, infections, and loss.
- The company ignored early reports of dental issues and only updated warnings after FDA intervention.
- Many victims require costly dental work, including implants and extractions.
Legal Status & Potential Outcomes
- Lawsuits are part of an MDL in Ohio, rapidly growing with thousands of claims expected.
- Bellwether trials could begin in 2025, setting a precedent for future payouts.
- Indivior denies responsibility, arguing that dental risks were only recently confirmed.
FAQs
What is the typical settlement range for product liability lawsuits?
Settlement amounts vary widely based on the severity of injuries, the strength of evidence, and past verdicts in similar cases. In large-scale litigations, settlements can range from thousands to millions of dollars per plaintiff, with some cases—like Roundup and Talcum Powder—resulting in billion-dollar payouts.
How long do product liability lawsuits typically take to resolve?
Most mass tort cases take several years to reach a resolution. Some lawsuits, like those against Johnson & Johnson and Bayer, have dragged on for over a decade. Individual settlements can take anywhere from a few months to several years, depending on trial outcomes and negotiation processes.
Can a company still sell a product while lawsuits are ongoing?
Yes, companies can and often do continue selling products even while facing lawsuits. Bayer still sells Roundup despite ongoing litigation, and Novo Nordisk continues marketing Ozempic. However, some companies choose to withdraw or recall products to reduce liability risks, as seen with Johnson & Johnson’s talcum powder.
Are product liability lawsuits only filed in the U.S.?
No, lawsuits against major corporations occur worldwide. The Talcum Powder litigation now includes claims in the UK, and firefighting foam lawsuits have expanded to Europe and Australia. However, U.S. courts typically see the largest settlements due to stronger consumer protection laws and higher damage awards.
What happens if a company declares bankruptcy during litigation?
If a company files for bankruptcy, lawsuits can be paused or restricted, forcing victims to accept reduced settlements. Johnson & Johnson attempted this strategy in the talcum powder lawsuits, and Exactech’s joint replacement litigation stalled after its bankruptcy filing. Courts sometimes reject these bankruptcy maneuvers if they appear to be an attempt to escape liability.
The Bottom Line
Product liability lawsuits in 2025 target major corporations accused of selling harmful products without proper warnings. From toxic chemicals in household items to dangerous prescription drugs and medical devices, companies face billions in potential settlements and mounting public scrutiny.
Court decisions this year will determine if victims receive compensation or if companies successfully avoid liability through legal loopholes. With bellwether trials approaching and regulatory agencies under pressure, the outcomes of these lawsuits could reshape corporate accountability and consumer safety standards for years to come.