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Wednesday, September 09 2020

A federal judge has thrown out a lawsuit filed by Jim Bakker and his production company, Morningside Church Productions, Inc., against the states of Arkansas and California.

Last March, we reported on a lawsuit filed by the State of Missouri against Jim Bakker and his production company for false advertising for selling Silver Solution, a product marketed by "natural health expert" Sherrill Sellman and touted on Bakker’s show to treat COVID-19. Several other state attorneys general, including Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge, filed similar suits against Bakker, purportedly prompting Bakker to counter with the federal lawsuit against Arkansas and California protesting the states’ requests to turn over records, including names, addresses and personal financial information of the people who purchased the products. In the ruling dismissing the federal case, the judge wrote that the court did not have jurisdiction over the officials investigating the consumer protection violations and, thus, the requests for additional information could not be stopped.

"Jim Bakker’s attempts to distract my office by filing a federal lawsuit failed. We will not be deterred from the important job of protecting Arkansas consumers from fraudulent and deceptive claims," said Attorney General Rutledge. "I will not tolerate illegal schemes used by Mr. Bakker that directly harm Arkansas consumers financially or physically. Bakker has historically cloaked his illegal action in the name of religion, yet he continues to deceive Arkansans for his own glory and wealth by peddling unsafe and ineffective potions as a cure for COVID-19."

According to news reports, both Bakker and Sellman have received warning letters from the Federal Drug Administration and the U.S. Federal Trade Commission for selling unapproved drugs to cure or prevent COVID-19. 

Source: nwahomepage.com