Washington State

Office of the Attorney General

Attorney General

Nick Brown

Washington State Attorney General sues 5-hour ENERGY® for misleading advertisements

Seeks to refund money to consumers, stop deceptive ads

SEATTLE—Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson filed a lawsuit today against the makers of 5-hour ENERGY®, the popular energy drink. The AGO alleges they misled consumers with ads claiming that doctors recommend 5-hour ENERGY®, by implying the product is safe for teenagers and claiming that the product causes ‛no sugar crash’ when the companies’ own study showed it triggers a caffeine crash.

Washington Attorney General recognizes second annual Military Consumer Protection Day

Joins national effort to help military families avoid scams and fraud

OLYMPIA – Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson joins other government agencies, advocacy organizations and private sector groups today, July 16, 2014, in commemorating the second annual Military Consumer Protection Day.

“The men and women who serve to protect our country don't deserve to be taken advantage of by businesses that don't play by the rules," said Ferguson. “I am making sure that my office stands firmly for military families against fraud and scams.”

Court Order Reverses Puget Sound Energy Rate Plan Charges

OLYMPIA… Thurston County Superior Court Judge Carol Murphy has reversed a key portion of a decision approving Puget Sound Energy’s multi-year energy rate plan, which could roll back automatic rate increases for PSE customers.

The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) approved the rate plan for PSE in 2013.  The plan included automatic rate increases for PSE customers beginning in 2013 and continuing until 2016 or 2017— at PSE’s option.

Theft charges for Seattle contractor accused of scamming homeowners

News Release Courtesy of Washington Dept. of Labor and Industries

 

SEATTLE — A Seattle contractor faces charges that he defrauded homeowners who paid him more than $45,000 to upgrade their bathrooms and kitchens, and do other home renovation projects.

Instead of improving homes, the Attorney General's Office alleges Gary Shannon Edwards pocketed payments for work that he never completed or never even started.

CONSUMER ALERT: AGO lawsuit returns approximately $120K to over 11,000 consumers for purchase of worthless food handler certificates

SEATTLE—A Washington State Attorney General’s Office lawsuit has stopped deceptive business practices and will return money to over 11,000 Washington state consumers. These consumers purchased worthless food handler certificates from eFoodhandlers, Inc. that do not comply with Washington state law.

“Consumers paid for a worthless piece of paper,” said Attorney General Bob Ferguson. “eFoodhandlers’ deceptive practices made it difficult for food service workers to keep a job and businesses to stay open. My office will not tolerate deceptive business practices.”

CONSUMER ALERT: Attorney General’s Office sues Mandatory Poster Agency for $362,500

Roughly 2,900 small businesses may receive refunds

OLYMPIA— The Attorney General’s Office recently filed suit in King County Superior Court against Mandatory Poster Agency (MPA), doing business as Corporate Records Service, and its top corporate officers, for unfair and deceptive business practices in violation of Washington’s Consumer Protection Act.

Attorney General’s Office nets $36K in Snohomish charity scam crackdown

OLYMPIA— The Attorney General’s Office will recover roughly $36,200 from a Snohomish couple who claimed to be collecting funds for charity but instead pocketed more than half of the money.

The Attorney General’s Office filed a consumer protection complaint against Knowledge for Kids (K4K), which also does business as “Kures for Kids,” and its owners/operators, a married couple, Michael and Amy Gannon, in December.