Williams Settlement
El Paso Settlement
Duke Energy Settlement
Enron Settlement
Reliant Settlement
AMC and Loews Movie Theater Merger Settlement
Paxil Settlement
Augmentin Settlement
Remeron Settlement
Williams Settlement
Williams Companies, Inc. and the Williams Energy Marketing and Trading Company were among several energy companies under investigation after the energy crisis of 2000-2001. Both companies entered into monetary settlements. As a result of the settlement, Williams Companies, Inc. and the Williams Energy Marketing and Trading Company paid $15 million to resolve state claims that it participated in market manipulations and overcharges that caused electricity rates to skyrocket for Washington consumers over the winter of 2000-2001. Williams Energy was the first of several energy companies under investigation by the Attorneys General of Washington, Oregon and California to reach a settlement with those states.
El Paso Settlement
El Paso Corp. was also among several energy companies under investigation after the energy crisis of 2000-2001. El Paso Corp. entered into a $15 million settlement with Washington state to resolve state claims that it manipulated market prices for natural gas and abused its position in the natural gas market.
Duke Energy Settlement
The Duke Energy settlement resulted in a $3.25 million payment to Washington. Duke Energy was under investigation after the energy crisis of 2000-2001 and settled with Washington State to resolve state claims that it participated in market manipulations and overcharges that caused electricity rates to skyrocket for Washington consumers over the winter of 2000-2001. The settlement money was used to benefit residential and business customers of utilities injured during the energy crisis of 2000-2001.
Enron Settlement
Enron was among several energy companies under investigation after the energy crisis of 2000-2001. Enron entered into a monetary settlement with the Antitrust Division for restitution to injured Washington State consumers. The Division began receiving payments from the Enron bankruptcy in settlement of the claim filed against Enron. To date, the total amount paid is approximately $5.9 million. The money from the settlement will be used for energy education and training programs for commercial and industrial users, as well as low income energy assistance and weatherization for residential customers.
Reliant Settlement
Reliant was among several energy companies under investigation after the energy crisis of 2000-2001. A settlement with Reliant has resulted in payment of $3.5 million to Washington for restitution to injured consumers. The money from the settlement will be used for energy education and training programs for commercial and industrial users, as well as low income energy assistance and weatherization for residential customers.
AMC and Loews Movie Theater Merger Settlement
After reviewing proposed merger between AMC Loews movie chains, Washington and parties entered a consent decree, filed Court Western District Washington, that required divesture of Meridian 16 in downtown Seattle which is now owned by Regal theater chain. Divesture was necessary to ensure the market for first run movies in Seattle's central area remained competitive.
Paxil Settlement
Washington and forty-three other states reached a $14 million settlement with the makers of Paxil, in response to our claims that Glaxo Smith Kline filed baseless patents and also brought sham patent infringement actions, in an effort to prevent generic competition. Washington state agencies received $332,762.
Augmentin Settlement
Washington and other states alleged that SmithKline Beecham and GlaxoSmithKline engaged in fraud on the patent office, by failing to disclose prior art, resulting in a delay of generic entry. In settlement of that claim, Washington state agencies received $50,485.
Remeron Settlement
This multistate action alleged that Organon misled the FDA regarding the scope of its patent and that Organon delayed the listing of the patent, thereby delaying the introduction of generic competitors. The settlement provided $7.5 million to consumers nationally and $3.8 million to state agencies. Washington’s Medicaid program will receive approximately $82,000 and consumers will receive $166,000.
Washington consumers who purchased the prescription antidepressant drug Remeron in the last four years may be entitled to a refund. This is part of a $36 million national settlement of an antitrust lawsuit brought by 50 states against drug manufacturer Organon USA Inc. and its parent company Akzo Nobel N.V. The suit alleged that Organon violated FDA patent laws in order to prevent the entry of low-cost, generic equivalents of the drug. Remeron and its generic equivalent mirtazapine is a mental health drug used primarily for the treatment of depression. Consumers who purchased who purchased Remeron and mirtazapine between June 15, 2001 and January 25, 2005 may be eligible for a refund. It is estimated that approximately $170,000 to $200,000 will be distributed to Washington consumers. The deadline for submitting claim forms is June 13, 2005. For more information about the settlement and to obtain claim forms, go to www.RemeronSettlement.com or call 1-866-401-6807.
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