LONDON, Oct 16 (Reuters) - Johnson & Johnson ( JNJ ) is

facing the first lawsuits in Britain over allegations that its

talc products cause cancer, as it fights tens of thousands of

similar claims in the United States.

The lawsuit was filed at the English High Court on Tuesday

against J&J and Kenvue UK Limited, a subsidiary of Kenvue ( KVUE )

, J&J's former consumer health unit which was spun off

in 2023.

KP Law said it filed the case on behalf of more than 3,000

people who allege their ovarian cancer, mesothelioma or other

diseases were caused by use of J&J's baby powder between 1965

and 2023.

The firm says J&J's talc products contained carcinogenic

fibres, including asbestos, which has been linked to deadly

mesothelioma. J&J has long maintained that its talc products are

safe and do not contain asbestos.

J&J referred queries to Kenvue ( KVUE ), which it said "retained the

responsibility and any purported liability for talc-related

litigation outside of the United States and Canada".

Kenvue ( KVUE ) said in a statement that J&J baby powder "did not

contain asbestos, and does not cause cancer".

LATEST LAWSUITS OVER TALC

J&J is separately facing tens of thousands of lawsuits in

the U.S., where claimants allege they were diagnosed with cancer

after using baby powder and other company talc products.

J&J stopped selling talc-based baby powder in the U.S. in

2020, switching to a cornstarch product. It did the same in the

United Kingdom in 2023.

The company has sought to resolve the litigation through

bankruptcy, a strategy that has been rejected three times by

federal courts.

Last week, J&J was ordered to pay $966 million to the family

of a woman who died from mesothelioma, one of the largest

awarded against the company that could be reduced on appeal.

Damages awarded by courts in England are generally limited

to compensation for losses caused by a defendant's actions,

whereas $950 million of last week's award in the U.S. was for

punitive damages.

In England, courts can award so-called exemplary damages

where, for example, a defendant has wilfully wronged a claimant,

though sums are typically far smaller than in the U.S.

KP Law said it had estimated the value of the lawsuit at

around 1 billion pounds ($1.34 billion).

Significantly, these lawsuits - like virtually all civil

suits in England - will be determined by a judge, rather than a

jury.

Kenvue ( KVUE ) said in its statement that it believed a judge will

conclude its talc-based baby powder does not cause cancer.

($1 = 0.7472 pounds)