More than 800,000 Washington borrowers owe more than $24B in student loan debt

OLYMPIA — The number of student loan borrowers in Washington state likely exceeds 800,000, an increase of more than 35 percent compared to a decade ago, according to a report released today by the Washington State Attorney General’s Office.

Washingtonians collectively owed $24.4 billion in student loan debt at the end of 2016.

Haueter family spent most of $1.5M in donations for personal benefit, vacations

SEATTLE — Attorney General Bob Ferguson today announced a lawsuit against a Leavenworth man and his family for pocketing most of $1.5 million in donations that thousands of Washingtonians thought were going to disadvantaged children. Roy Bronsin Haueter’s family instead used most of the donations to pay themselves and go on family vacations.

New evidence reveals more than half of sampled customers signed up without consent

SEATTLE — Today Attorney General Bob Ferguson amended his lawsuit against Comcast to include new evidence revealing even more deceptive conduct than previously alleged.

Consumers deceived by ads, sometimes zero dollars actually went to charity

SEATTLE — Attorney General Bob Ferguson today announced a consumer protection lawsuit against the for-profit company that owns Value Village, alleging Bellevue-based TVI, Inc. has deceived thousands of Washington consumers and donors for more than a decade.

The company is the largest for-profit thrift retailer in the world, generating more than $1 billion in annual revenue. It runs 330 stores worldwide and 20 Value Village stores in Washington state.

SEATTLE — Attorney General Bob Ferguson released the following statement on today's Federal Communications Commission vote to repeal net neutrality.

"Yesterday I sent a letter to the FCC asking them to delay their vote gutting net neutrality. Unfortunately, they did not.

"Today, I am announcing my intention to file a legal challenge to the FCC’s decision to roll back net neutrality, along with attorneys general across the country.

OLYMPIA — Algunos estafadores se están haciendo pasar por el Secretario del Tribunal Superior para llamar a los habitantes de Washington para exigirles dinero y amenazarlos con arrestarlos. Hasta el momento, las llamadas han tenido como blanco personas con apellidos hispanos.

Bob Ferguson, el Procurador General, y Mary Fairhurst, Presidenta del Tribunal, exhortan a los consumidores a no caer en el engaño de los estafadores. El Tribunal Superior nunca amenaza a las personas con arrestarlas ni les exige pago alguno.

OLYMPIA — Scammers are posing as the Washington State Supreme Court Clerk to call Washingtonians to demand money and threaten arrest. The fraudulent calls have so far targeted individuals with Hispanic last names.

Attorney General Bob Ferguson and Chief Justice Mary Fairhurst urge consumers not to fall for the scammers’ ploy. The Supreme Court will never threaten people with arrest or demand payment.

Washington first state to win injunction of Trump transgender military ban

SEATTLE — A federal judge today granted a preliminary injunction against President Donald Trump’s ban on transgender individuals serving in the military. The ruling came as part of a challenge brought by Attorney General Bob Ferguson, nine individual plaintiffs and three organizations.

“The Court finds that the policy prohibiting openly transgender individuals from serving in the military is likely unconstitutional,” the court wrote.

Customers promised easy income, but got empty promises instead

OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed a consumer protection lawsuit today against a Massachusetts-based company, alleging it deceptively advertises and sells training packages to potentially thousands of Washingtonians for as much as $35,000 with promises of inside information on how to make money selling on Amazon.

EPA failed to meet ground-level ozone pollution deadline in October 

OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson and 14 other attorneys general filed a lawsuit today accusing the Environmental Protection Agency of violating the Clean Air Act by delaying air quality standards for ground-level ozone pollution.

Ground-level ozone causes asthma and other respiratory problems. The EPA determined a new standard, adopted in 2015, would have public health benefits worth an estimated $2.9 billion to $5.9 billion.