Joe.My.God. LGBT News
Via press release:
Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge today announced a lawsuit against Morningside Church Productions, Inc., which conducts business as The Jim Bakker Show, as well as Jim Bakker and Sherrill Sellman, for falsely telling Arkansas consumers that colloidal silver products would cure, eliminate, kill or deactivate COVID-19. The lawsuit was filed in Pulaski County Circuit Court under the Arkansas Deceptive Trade Practices Act.
“Jim Bakker has exploited Arkansas consumers by leveraging COVID-19 fears to sell over $60,000 worth of their products that do nothing to fight the virus,” said Attorney General Rutledge. “Let me be clear, this case is not about freedom of religion. This is a consumer fraud case and I urge any Arkansans who have experience with these false advertisements claiming silver to be a COVID-19 cure to immediately call my office.”
Approximately 385 Arkansans made purchases from Bakker’s company totaling approximately $60,524 for colloidal silver products between January 1 and March 9, 2020. Rutledge is seeking restitution for affected consumers, injunctive relief, and civil penalties. Violations of the ADTPA may be assessed with a civil penalty of up to $10,000 per violation. Rutledge is urging all consumers who have purchased products from Bakker or Sellman to contact the office immediately.
Charisma News reports:
The lawsuit centers on a segment from the Feb. 12 episode of The Jim Bakker Show, in which Bakker hosted natural health expert Sherrill Sellman, who allegedly implied that Silver Solution could cure COVID-19, in addition to HIV, SARS and other diseases.
In the episode—which has since been removed from Bakker’s website and YouTube channel—Bakker asked Sellman, “This influenza that is now circling the globe—you’re saying that ‘Silver Solution’ would be effective?”
Sellman replied, “Well, let’s say it hasn’t been tested on this strain of the coronavirus, but it has been tested on other strains of the coronavirus and has been able to eliminate it within 12 hours. Totally eliminate it. Kills it. Deactivates it.”
She added that Silver Solution “has been proven by the government that it has the ability to kill every pathogen it has ever been tested on, including SARS and HIV.”
At $10K per violation, the potential fine is $3.85 million.