Attorney General Mark Brnovich Announces $1.5 Billion in Consumer Protection Recoveries Since 2015

PHOENIX - Attorney General Mark Brnovich is kicking off Consumer Protection Week (March 6-12, 2022) by thanking his office (AGO) for securing nearly $85 million in consumer restitution and other consumer relief in 2021 to date. The AGO is now on track to secure more than $1.5 billion in consumer protection recoveries for Arizona during General Brnovich’s tenure.

“It has always been a priority for our team to protect Arizona consumers who have been harmed by unlawful conduct,” said Attorney General Mark Brnovich.  “From responsive consumer investigations to record levels of restitution, I am proud that we are reaching new milestones in the fight to help keep Arizonans safe."

AGO Consumer Protection Accomplishments 2021 To Date

  • Secured nearly $85 million in consumer restitution and other consumer relief through settlements and lawsuits, including:
  • Announced Arizona’s intent to sign on to a nationwide opioid settlement, under which Arizona and its subdivisions as a whole would receive nearly $542 million (State’s share $238.5 million), and worked with all Arizona counties, cities, and towns to develop and agree to a One Arizona Plan to use those funds to combat and abate the opioid crisis.
  • Obtained over $32 million in civil penalties, costs, and other payments to the State from matters related to consumer protection, including a $14.5 million settlement with JUUL Labs, Inc and $13.35 million with McKinsey.
  • Maintained a COVID-19 consumer webpage to provide information about the latest scams and resources.
  • Received the Consumers’ Champion award for the first-in-the-nation settlement with Ticketmaster that returned more than $71 million in refunds for consumers who purchased tickets to Arizona live events that were canceled, postponed, or rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In addition to consumer investigations and legal action, the AGO’s Consumer Information and Complaints Unit (CIC) has recovered tens of millions of dollars during Attorney General Brnovich’s administration by working together with consumers and entities to resolve complaints. In 2021 alone, CIC recovered a record-breaking $5 million for consumers.

$800 Million in Tobacco Recoveries Secured
General Brnovich and his administration served in a leadership role as part of a multi-state effort that successfully settled a dispute regarding Arizona’s eligibility for eight annual payments of approximately $100 million from the major cigarette manufacturers.  Arizona is eligible for these payments under the terms of the tobacco Master Settlement Agreement (MSA). These funds are vital to health care programs administered by the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System. Under certain circumstances, the manufacturers can dispute the amount of the payment, subjecting the state to a risk of losing the entire payment. Because of General Brnovich’s efforts to resolve disputes concerning the receipt of eight annual MSA payments, Arizona secured without the risk of loss approximately $800 million. This amount is now protected, with no ability for the manufacturers to reduce the payment or seek to have any returned. In fact, with a focus on protecting the rights of Arizona, the settlement extends beyond the Brnovich administration, protecting the MSA payment to be received through 2023.

National Consumer Protection Week
National Consumer Protection Week (NCPW) is an opportunity for government agencies, consumer protection groups, and the public to work together to help others understand their consumer rights and make well-informed decisions about money.

File AGO Consumer Complaints
If you believe you have been the victim of consumer fraud, you can file a consumer complaint by visiting the Attorney General’s website.  If you need a complaint form sent to you, you can contact the Attorney General's Office in Phoenix at (602) 542-5763, in Tucson at (520) 628-6648, or outside the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas at (800) 352-8431.