Defendant billed for new wheelchairs, instead spruced up soiled, decrepit, used chairs

SEATTLE — Attorney General Bob Ferguson today announced the owner of a wheelchair company has been ordered to pay $2.7 million dollars for fraudulently billing the Medicaid program for 119 new wheelchairs, but instead delivering used wheelchairs to the poor and disabled across the state.

OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson joined seven attorneys general today in calling on U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald to restore education benefits to veterans who were victims of predatory institutions, such as Corinthian Colleges, Inc.

OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson today announced that his office has asked a court to rule that an out-of-state organization and its late-registered political committee illegally evaded the state’s campaign finance disclosure laws.

“I’m deeply disappointed the UTC has accepted this inadequate settlement. CenturyLink’s error denied 911 service to millions of Washingtonians.  

“I strongly disagree with the UTC that this resolution is in the public interest.  If this failure does not warrant a maximum penalty, I find it hard to imagine what circumstances would.

“Bottom line – CenturyLink is getting off with a slap on the wrist.”  

Documents shed more light on efforts to shield contributors to $11M voter initiative fight

OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson today announced his office has reached an agreement with the Grocery Manufacturer’s Association to unseal documents related to his campaign finance lawsuit.

Legislation to increase 45-year-old penalty from $100 to $500; enact $1,000 repeat-violator penalty

OLYMPIA — The Washington State Senate today approved Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s agency-request bill to increase transparency in government by enhancing penalties for violations of Washington’s Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA), in a unanimous 49-0 vote.

Lawsuit target duped homeowners into unnecessary $89 payments for deeds

SEATTLE — Attorney General Bob Ferguson prevailed today in his lawsuit against a California company that scammed new property owners into buying overpriced deeds.

Impacts include safety warnings, ingredients listing, restriction on sales
 

OLYMPIA — The Washington State House of Representatives today approved Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s agency-request bill to reduce youth access to vapor products, in a 59-36 vote.

Cautions outside agent charges one-third of claims recovery for a process consumer can do easily themselves for free

SEATTLE — The Washington State Attorney General’s Office (AGO) will soon launch a website for consumers to file claims for their share of the $63 million LCD recovery. In the meantime, the AGO cautions consumers that a third-party agent has set up a website to file claims on behalf of consumers, but will charge one-third of the recovery money to do so. When the AGO claims website goes live, consumers can file their own claims for free.

OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s agency-request bills to combat Medicaid provider fraud by reauthorizing the state’s highly effective Medicaid Fraud False Claims Act (FCA) today unanimously passed the Senate, and passed the House 88 to 8.

Unscrupulous medical providers seek to profit from the state’s Medicaid program — performing unneeded tests, charging for services not provided, and otherwise defrauding and abusing the Medicaid system.