South Dakota gets cut of $700m Johnson & Johnson baby powder settlement
'This lawsuit is about safety and protecting babies and children,' AG Jackley
Allegations the world’s leading baby powder producer misled the public about talc danger has millions headed to the Mount Rushmore State.
South Dakota will receive $3.6 million as part of a multi-state settlement entered into by Johnson & Johnson after the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical technologies giant was accused of misleading consumers about the safety and purity of its talc products like baby powder and other baby powder products.
“This lawsuit is about safety and protecting babies and children,” said South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley, who was among 42 attorneys general to sign onto the lawsuit claiming Johnson & Johnson engaged in “deceptive” marketing practices. “Parents should be assured that the products they are buying for their children are safe.”
The total settlement is valued at $700 million, to be dispersed in four installments across dozens of jurisdictions throughout the United States.
Under the terms of the settlement, Johnson & Johnson will stop manufacturing and selling its talc-based baby powder and body powder products in the United States.
The $3.6 million headed to South Dakota will be allocated to the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division to support ongoing consumer protection investigations, enforcement, and education initiatives.
Attorneys general also involved in the lawsuit are from Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Why does the state get a "cut"? I doubt the money will reduce our taxes one cent.