Kansas’ Consumer Protection Division recoups $248 million in 2022
TOPEKA – Preliminary accounting indicates that the attorney general’s Consumer Protection Division recovered $248.8 million for Kansas consumers and taxpayers in calendar year 2022, by far a new single-year record, Attorney General Derek Schmidt announced today.
“These record-shattering sums our consumer protection team recovered in 2022 reflect the hard work our professionals have maintained throughout my time in office,” Schmidt said. “From the large, complex multistate settlements our office has participated in to the individual consumers we were able to help with obtaining refunds from businesses that ran afoul of the law, I am incredibly proud of the work our Consumer Protection Division has done these past 12 years.”
The 2022 tally is more than four times the previous single-year record for recoveries of $61.9 million, set in 2017. Each of the four biggest years for consumer recoveries in state history occurred during Schmidt’s tenure. Cumulative consumer protection recoveries during Schmidt’s 12 years leading the office total more than $514 million, by far the most of any Kansas attorney general’s administration – in fact, more than all previous administrations combined.
The largest component of the 2022 recoveries is the more than $194 million Schmidt’s office recovered through multiple multistate settlements with opioid manufacturers and distributors that contributed to the opioid addiction crisis.
The proceeds from these settlements will be used to address substance abuse and help ensure addiction services are provided throughout the state. Funding will be available through a grant review board created by the Kansas Fights Addiction Act, proposed by Schmidt and enacted by the Legislature in 2021.
Kansas also is engaged in ongoing investigations and negotiations with other companies the state believes played a role in illegally fueling opioid addiction. When all is done, the total money that will come to Kansas to combat substance abuse as a result of these settlements will exceed $340 million.
“These recoveries from companies associated with the opioid crisis present a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Kansas to invest in addiction prevention, treatment and recovery programs,” Schmidt added. “Kansas has been a key participant in these complex settlements, and I am pleased that many of these cases were able to be resolved and funds secured to help prevent future tragedies.”
Deputy Attorney General Fran Oleen leads the Consumer Protection Division, and Special Agent in Charge Tonya Hutchings leads the team of investigators. Schmidt is a former assistant attorney general for consumer protection, a position he held during a previous administration.