OLYMPIA — The U.S. Supreme Court Thursday ruled that out-of-court statements made to non-law enforcement individuals can potentially be used in criminal prosecutions, endorsing the position advocated by Attorney General Bob Ferguson in a “friend of the court” brief that was joined by 41 other state Attorneys General.

SEATTLE — The calls are often along the same lines:  A “technician” claiming to be from a well-known company, like Microsoft, tells you your computer is infected with a virus. He throws around some technical jargon, often walking you through some benign activities like opening a Web browser or some computer utility.
 

Sold investments with no benefit, misrepresented qualifications

SEATTLE — Attorney General Bob Ferguson has filed a lawsuit against a Snohomish couple who scammed elderly Washington residents applying for Medicaid and veterans benefits.  The Attorney General’s Office alleges that the Cooks’ actions violated the state Consumer Protection Act.

OLYMPIA — Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson issued this statement today in response to the recent announcement by the U.S. Department of Education outlining a new debt relief process for Corinthian Colleges, Inc. (“Corinthian”) students.

SEATTLE — Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced today his office will offer a formal opinion in response to a request from Senator Pam Roach related to the City of Pasco’s proposed district-only voting system.

In Opinion Docket No. 15-06-01, Roach asks: “May a non-charter code city subject to RCW 35A.12.180, having a large minority population, adopt a district-based general election procedure to avoid a potential violation of Section 2 of the Federal Voting Rights Act?”

First conviction of healthcare provider for felony-level mistreatment

SEATTLE — A former adult family home operator pleaded guilty today to charges he criminally mistreated a man in his care.

The Attorney General’s Office Medicaid Fraud Control Unit charged Alfredo Tia with second-degree criminal mistreatment in King County Superior Court. Tia was arrested at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport April 22 as he returned from the Philippines.

SEATTLE — Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced that the King County Superior Court yesterday convicted Elene Allonce of forging a nursing license that she used to fraudulently serve as a Medicaid healthcare provider. Allonce is sentenced to six months in jail, the most time allowed for this 16-year-old crime.

OLYMPIA — Today the Washington State Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to the state’s voter-approved recreational marijuana law.

Instead, the justices referred MMH, LLC v. Fife to Division Two of the Washington Court of Appeals.

Restitution available for eligible Classmates subscribers

SEATTLE — Attorney General Bob Ferguson joined with attorneys general from 21 other states to announce that social networking site Classmates.com and floral delivery company FTD have agreed to pay $11 million to resolve allegations the companies engaged in misleading advertising and billing practices.

SEATTLE — Today Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed an amicus, or “friend of the court,” brief supporting Seattle’s $15-an-hour minimum wage ordinance in the case of International Franchise Association v. City of Seattle.