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Attorney
General Bob Ferguson today announced the hiring of Alison Dempsey-Hall as
Deputy Communications Director.
The Attorney General’s Office and the Better Business Bureau are
warning Washington residents to read the fine print before responding to
letters from businesses offering to sell them copies of records easily
accessible from local government offices for a much lower price.
Governor Jay Inslee today signed Attorney General-request
legislation making courthouses safer for the people of Washington. He
also signed measures supported by the Attorney General expanding the use
of treatment courts and creating a statewide coordinating committee to
fight child sex trafficking
TUMWATER — A 39 year old Tacoma woman faces charges on five counts of
theft for fraudulently collecting more than $50,000 in workers’
compensation benefits from the Washington State Department of Labor
& Industries (L&I).
CAMP MURRAY, WASHINGTON – The Washington Employer Support of the
Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense operational committee,
announced that Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson signed a
Statement of Support for the Guard and Reserve today at Camp Murray.
Attorney General Bob Ferguson today announced he has selected Senior Counsel Pam Anderson as the new Torts Division Chief.
The Washington State Law Enforcement Medal of Honor/Peace Officers
Memorial Ceremony will be held at 1 p.m. today in Olympia. The ceremony
will be webcast via TVW as well.
Gov. Jay Inslee and Attorney
General Bob Ferguson will award law enforcement officers with Washington
state’s highest law enforcement award: The Medal of Honor. The medal is
given to officers who made the ultimate sacrifice or who have displayed
exceptionally meritorious conduct.
Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced today Washington has joined a
national settlement against the drug manufacturer Amgen, Inc., resolving
allegations that Amgen violated certain state false claims acts by
reporting inflated pricing data for its prescription drugs Aranesp,
Enbrel, Epogen, Neulasta, Neupogen, and Sensipar.
Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s High-Tech Unit has secured a $97,000
settlement with ZookaWare, an Arizona-based software company, and its
owner for engaging in unfair and deceptive practices against consumers
over the last several years.
The Legislature has approved a bipartisan measure proposed by Attorney
General Bob Ferguson to extend current courthouse protections to all
residents accessing the courts.
The Public Counsel Section of the Washington Attorney General’s Office
today filed expert testimony recommending modifications to a multi-year
rate plan filed by Puget Sound Energy (PSE).
Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson and the Better Business
Bureau are teaming up to remind consumers that scammers never take a
vacation. Both the AGO and the BBB have seen a recent spike in
“Timeshare Reseller” scams. Together both agencies have received more
than 20 complaints since the start of the year.
Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson has ordered T-Mobile to
correct deceptive advertising that promised consumers no annual
contracts while carrying hidden charges for early termination of phone
plans. Today, the Attorney General's Office filed a court order
signed by T-Mobile and effective nationwide that will ensure the company
clearly communicates the limitations of its new “no-contract” wireless
service plans and allows customers duped by the deceptive ads to exit
their contracts with no penalty.
Attorney General Bob Ferguson and Secretary of State Kim Wyman
today expressed their condolences to the victims of the horrific
violence at the 2013 Boston Marathon—and warned people not to fall
victim to fake fundraisers using the tragedy to scam people into making
bogus contributions.
Attorney General Bob Ferguson today announced his office has filed a consumer protection lawsuit against Arlene’s Flowers and Gifts in Richland, Wash. On
March 1, 2013, Barronelle Stutzman, owner of Arlene’s Flowers, refused
to provide wedding flowers to long-time customer, Robert Ingersoll,
based on her opposition to same-sex marriage.
OLYMPIA—Attorney General Bob Ferguson today shared news that Microsoft recently used a new Washington unfair competition law to resolve a dispute over software licensing issues with the world’s fourth largest aircraft manufacturer, Embraer.
Attorney General Ferguson was infuriated to learn unauthorized financial planning companies
were targeting senior veterans with schemes promising new untapped
veterans benefits—if the veterans were willing to let these “planners”
help manage their financial assets.
Pasco—Franklin County Superior Court Judge Vic L. VanderSchoor sentenced
Dennis Merle Huston of Pasco, Wash., to 16 years today after Huston
pled guilty to a complicated embezzlement scheme involving millions of
dollars dating back to March 1990.
Attorney General Bob Ferguson reiterated Washington state’s support for
marriage equality today as the US Supreme Court hears two landmark
cases. Washington joined more than a dozen other states in two
“friend-of-the-court briefs” in these cases in late February.
As
Americans celebrate National Medal of Honor Day today, Attorney General
Bob Ferguson unveiled one of the first major pieces of his veterans’
initiative: new Web-based resources for Washington’s veterans,
active-duty military service members and their families.
SEATTLE – The Public Counsel Division of the Washington State Attorney
General’s Office will recommend Friday that the Washington Utilities and
Transportation Commission (WUTC) continue investigating the so-called
“hedging” strategies used by utility companies in their natural gas
purchasing strategies. Public Counsel will also further recommend that
the WUTC order that certain hedging costs not be passed to customers.
The Washington State Senate today approved a bipartisan measure proposed by Attorney General Bob Ferguson to extend current courthouse protections to all residents accessing the courts.
Attorney General Bob Ferguson today joined 37 other states and the District of Columbia in a $7 million settlement
with search engine giant Google for collecting data from unsecured
wireless networks nationwide while taking photographs for its Street
View service
BELLINGHAM, WA – March 14, 2013 – The operator of the now-closed Bayside
Café in Bellingham has been charged with the theft of at least $286,000
in sales tax he collected from customers but failed to remit to the
Washington State Department of Revenue.
OLYMPIA-- Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced today that Washington has joined with other states and the federal government in a $22.5 million settlement with Par Pharmaceutical Companies, Inc. (“Par”). The states allege Par promoted sales of the drug Megace ES for uses not approved as safe and effective by the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) and not covered by the State Medicaid programs.
The Attorney General’s Office has learned people are receiving
e-mails that
appear to be from the AGO Webmaster or other “@atg.wa.gov” e-mail
addresses with subject lines offering stock tips and other news. These
are spoofs to trick people into parting with their personal information
or lure them into clicking on a document or link that will infect their
computer with viruses or malware.
EVERETT – March 6, 2013 – A Bothell contractor was charged today with
stealing nearly $23,000 in sales tax between 2004 and 2010 and covering
up the theft by filing fraudulent tax returns.
OLYMPIA...Call them scammers, swindlers, fraudsters or grifters. But whatever you do, don’t believe a word they say.
OLYMPIA—The Walla Walla County Superior Court Friday entered a
preliminary injunction, ordering several Northwest auto dealerships
owned by Mark Gilbert to comply with Washington dealer and consumer
protection laws, requiring prompt payoff of customers’ trade-in
vehicles.
Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson this week joined two
friend-of-the court briefs in support of marriage equality in two
landmark cases soon to be argued before the U.S. Supreme Court.
“We all share the desire to provide the highest quality education for
our children. As the state’s attorney, it’s my responsibility to defend
the will of the voters and I will be directing my legal team to do so in
this case.”
In a case involving multiple jurisdictions, tracking the accused to
Nigeria and Texas and back to Washington, a man charged with committing
roughly $100,000 in Medicaid fraud finally pled guilty to 10 counts of
First Degree Theft in Thurston County Superior Court today.
SPOKANE –
Feb. 25, 2013 – The operator of now-closed Alpine Auto Wholesale in
Spokane pled guilty today to felony theft of sales tax and filing false
state tax returns.
Earlier today, Attorney General Bob Ferguson learned the U.S. Dept. of
Energy has now increased the number of identified leaking single-shelled
radioactive waste storage tanks on the Hanford Nuclear Reservation from
the one they reported last week to six—and they admit there may be
more.
Attorney General Bob Ferguson learned the U.S. Dept. of Energy has
identified a leak in one of the single-shelled radioactive waste storage
tanks on the Hanford Nuclear Reservation, releasing between one-half to
one full gallon of liquid per day..."I have met with my legal team and asked them to develop new
legal options to enforce the U.S. Department of Energy's current
obligations to clean up Hanford. We must ensure that Washington
communities and our environment are protected."
Today Attorney General Bob Ferguson joined 29 other states in announcing a multi-million dollar settlement with Toyota and its related North American entities over allegations the company concealed safety issues related to unintended acceleration.
The corporation that operated El Mestizo Restaurant on First Hill was
charged today with filing a false or fraudulent state tax return after
failing to report sales tax it collected from customers but failed to
remit to the state.
Today’s courthouse shooting in Delaware is a grim reminder that
courthouse violence is on the rise. Attorney General Bob Ferguson is
working with lawmakers to help him extend protections to all who access our justice system.
The Attorney General’s Office today warned parents to be careful
about educational companies who claim to be affiliated with their
child’s school as a way to sell their wares.
Attorney General Bob Ferguson today joined a group of state attorneys
general and the U.S. Dept. of Justice in filing suit against Standard
& Poor’s. The group alleges the credit rating agency misled
investors with regard to structured finance securities backed by
subprime mortgages that were at the center of the national financial
crisis.
Attorney General Bob Ferguson today announced the hiring of Kendee
Yamaguchi as Director of Policy, Legislative Affairs and External
Relations.
Pasco—Dennis Merle Huston of Pasco, Wash., entered a plea of guilty as charged in Franklin County Superior Court today, after admitting to a complicated embezzlement scheme involving millions of dollars, dating back to March 1990. The state auditor’s office says this is the largest public embezzlement case in state history.
“Today, we had a cordial, successful first meeting. Governor Inslee and I
communicated Washington state’s intention to move forward in
implementing I-502. We have assembled a legal team in the Attorney
General’s Office, and I have made legal implementation of this
initiative a top priority. This will be an on-going discussion, and we
plan to continue our dialogue with Attorney General Holder in the coming
months.”
Washington state strikes back against rigged Internet auctions
SEATTLE – Bidders on electronics and other goods auctioned on ArrowOutlet.com thought they were competing with other human beings. But it turns out, according to a lawsuit filed by the Washington State Attorney General’s Office, they were often battling “bots.”
Attorney General-Elect Bob Ferguson today announced the selection of Seattle attorney Noah Guzzo Purcell as the new Solicitor General for the Washington State Attorney General's Office (AGO), replacing retiring Solicitor General Maureen Hart
OLYMPIA – The Washington State Attorney General’s Office’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) today announced the resolution of cases against two women accused of criminal negligence and fraud at an Eatonville boarding home.
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