AGO News Releases

Shoe-maker accused of sketchy advertising settles lawsuit

Wed, 16 May 2012 07:00:00 GMT

SEATTLE – Reality star Kim Kardashian, fresh from a sweaty workout, decides to dump her personal trainer. “It’s not someone else, it’s something else” said the celebutante in a recent television advertisement. After a gratuitous shot of one of the starlet’s most photographed body parts and a scene of Kardashian glamorously lacing up a pair of Skechers, text on the screen says, “Bye-bye trainer, hello Shape Ups.”

Alleged “Likejackers” agree to root out Facebook spam

Mon, 07 May 2012 07:00:00 GMT

Adscend Media LLC also pays $100,000 in attorneys’ fees to state

SEATTLE – The owners of a California-based online marketing company have agreed to stop spamming Facebook users. The details were revealed today in a settlement – a consent decree – between Adscend Media LLC and the Washington State Attorney General’s Office.

Huge seizure-drug settlements recover $12 million for Washington state

Mon, 07 May 2012 07:00:00 GMT

Settlements involving consumer protection, Medicaid claims over illegal marketing of Depakote

SEATTLE – Working with other states, attorneys for the Washington State Attorney General’s Office have recovered more than $12 million through settlements with Illinois-based Abbott Laboratories, accused of illegally marketing an anti-seizure drug. The state will recover more than $10 million, split with the federal government, in a multi-state Medicaid fraud case against the company and more than $2 million from a consumer protection case.

McKenna: Ruling in State Supreme Court protects public from sex predators

Thu, 03 May 2012 07:00:00 GMT

OLYMPIA – In a rare turn of events, the State Supreme Court today reversed a previous decision in a challenge filed by a pedophile against the state’s Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) law.

Media Advisory: Gregoire and McKenna honor fallen heroes Friday

Thu, 03 May 2012 07:00:00 GMT

The Washington state Law Enforcement Medal of Honor/Peace Officers Memorial ceremony will be held in Olympia on Friday.

Governor Chris Gregoire and Attorney General Rob McKenna 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 have displayed exceptionally meritorious conduct.

McKenna: free help available for struggling Pierce County homeowners

Wed, 02 May 2012 07:00:00 GMT

State Attorney General warns borrowers to avoid mortgage-related scams

UNIVERSITY PLACE – About a year ago, Irene Failor was on a ladder repairing her roof. Looking down, she watched a man walk up and nail a foreclosure notice to her house.

McKenna warns teens about driving-while-texting

Tue, 01 May 2012 07:00:00 GMT

NASCAR Driver and NW Native Kasey Kahne featured in new PSA on first annual “Stop the Texts Day”

SEATTLE – A shocking number of young drivers – who are already more accident-prone than older drivers –“text while driving.” As president of the National Association of Attorneys General, Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna is helping sound the alarm about the dangerous practice.

Attorney General’s Office leads argument urging courts to force movement on Yucca Mountain

Tue, 01 May 2012 07:00:00 GMT

Washington State Senior Counsel Andy Fitz will appear tomorrow before the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia as lead counsel for several jurisdictions urging the court to force a federal regulatory agency to move forward in the licensing process, issue a decision within 14 months and break the logjam preventing completion of a national repository for America’s high-level treated nuclear waste.

Two new attorneys to investigate and prosecute workers’ comp fraud

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 07:00:00 GMT

OLYMPIA – Richard (Rick) Weber and Tienney Milnor will join the Attorney General’s Office to investigate and prosecute workers compensation fraud for the Department of Labor and Industries’ Fraud Investigations Program (L&I). Weber started today. Milnor joins him May 16.

Man charged for stealing nearly $107,000 from Medicaid

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 07:00:00 GMT

Arrest warrant issued for former medical equipment supplier believed to have left the country

OLYMPIA — A Thurston County Superior Court Judge Tuesday issued an arrest warrant for the owner of medical supply company accused of Medicaid fraud. The warrant was requested so that the defendant can be arrested should he return to the United States.

McKenna: free help available for struggling Vancouver, Portland homeowners

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 07:00:00 GMT

VANCOUVER – “I just started to accept that I was going to lose the house I raised my kids in – that I thought I’d spend my final years in,” Vancouver’s Jim Fleming explains.

Eye doctor admits stealing more than $51,000 from Washington State, Medicaid and Medicare programs

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 07:00:00 GMT

OLYMPIA — An ophthalmologist today pled guilty to stealing more than $51,000 from state and federal health care programs. In July, state prosecutors charged Dr. Behrouz Pirouzkar with three counts of First Degree Attempted Identity Theft and two counts of Medicaid False Statement.

McKenna plugs free help for struggling Tri-Cities homeowners

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 07:00:00 GMT

State Attorney General warns borrowers to avoid mortgage-related scams

Record $25 Billion National Mortgage Servicing Settlement finalized by court order

Fri, 06 Apr 2012 07:00:00 GMT

SEATTLE – The record $25 billion dollar national mortgage servicing settlement over alleged widespread mortgage fraud, negotiated by Attorney General Rob McKenna along with 48 state attorneys general and the federal government, is now finalized by court order.

Mexican prosecutors latest to visit Seattle for law enforcement training

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 07:00:00 GMT

SEATTLE – In a continuing, bi-national effort to strengthen the legal systems in both the United States and Mexico, Attorney General Rob McKenna will host eighteen prosecutors from six Mexico states participating in a four-day, cross-jurisdictional law enforcement training to be held in Seattle this weekend.