WASHINGTON (Legal Newsline) — District of Columbia Attorney General Karl A. Racine announced May 24 that the district and 42 states will receive $33 million after a settlement with Johnson & Johnson and Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. related to the sale of allegedly adulterated versions of common over-the-counter (OTC) drugs.
According to allegations, a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary – McNeil-PPC Inc. – unlawfully sold adulterated versions of Tylenol, Motrin, Benadryl, St. Joseph aspirin, Sudafed, Pepcid, Mylanta, Rolaids, Zyrtec, and Zyrtec eye drops. Additionally, the subsidiary failed to take action to recall the affected drugs.
“District residents deserve to know that the over-the-counter drugs they purchase meet robust safety standards,” Racine said. “Any pharmaceutical company or any other company that defrauds consumers and risks their health and safety will be held accountable.”
The District of Columbia will receive $615,223.06 in this settlement. Other states participating in the agreement are Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington state, West Virginia and Wisconsin.