Attorney General’s Office prevents community release of violent predator

OLYMPIA, WA — A Cowlitz County jury has decided that repeat sex offender Ivan Walkowski is a dangerous predator and must remain confined to the State’s Special Commitment Center on McNeil Island.  In the interest of public safety, prosecutors from the Attorney General’s Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) Unit have been fighting since late 2012 to prevent Walkowski from being released into the community.

OLYMPIA—The Washington Attorney General’s Office started trial this week in Cowlitz County Superior Court seeking to civilly commit a Cowlitz county sex offender and prevent his release into the community.

Washington’s Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) law allows the state Attorney General’s Office (AGO) to petition for the civil commitment of violent sex offenders who, because of a mental abnormality and/or personality disorder, are proven likely to engage in predatory acts of sexual violence if released.

OLYMPIA— Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced today that Washington homeowners will share in $550 million secured for homeowners nationwide through a legal action against SunTrust Mortgage, Inc. by 49 states, the District of Columbia and the federal government.
 
The legal action announced today addresses mortgage origination, servicing and foreclosure abuses by the Richmond, Virginia-based company. Washington borrowers represent 744 of the company’s 48,223 foreclosures from 2008 through 2013.
 

Thurston County Superior Court judge rejects GMA’s efforts to dismiss entire case as unconstitutional, AG will continue to pursue largest concealment case in state history

OLYMPIA— Thurston County Superior Court Judge Christine Schaller today ruled the state’s case against the Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) could move forward, rejecting the GMA’s motion to dismiss the case in its entirety on constitutional grounds.

OLYMPIA—Negotiators from Washington state and the federal government have agreed to extend the 40-day dispute resolution period triggered under a 2010 court order to clean up high-level radioactive and chemically hazardous waste at Hanford.

Gov. Jay Inslee and state Attorney General Bob Ferguson said they agreed to the extension to allow time for additional discussions, including another full day in-person meeting between the parties to more fully explore whether an agreement can be reached on a path forward to clean-up.

OLYMPIA — Attorneys from the Sexually Violent Predator (SVP) Unit of the Attorney General’s Office were successful in persuading a Tri-Cities jury to prevent the release of a Franklin County sex predator who has been confined to the state’s Special Commitment Center for the past 13 years.  
 

SEATTLE--Attorney General Bob Ferguson issued the following
statement after today's deadly shooting at Seattle Pacific University.

“My sympathies go out to the victims of the SPU shooting, their friends, families
and classmates. On behalf of our community, we appreciate the efforts of
those who apprehended the suspect and saved lives.”

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OLYMPIA — Attorney General Bob Ferguson, Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler and Human Rights Commission Executive Director Sharon Ortiz today released a joint letter to Washington state employers, insurance companies and benefit plan administrators regarding healthcare benefits.

SEATTLE — Attorney General Bob Ferguson today announced that legal action by Washington along with 44 other states has resulted in drug manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline, LLC (GSK) paying the states $105 million to resolve claims of deceptive marketing and promotion of non-approved uses of certain drugs. Washington’s share is $2.1 million.

The attorneys general allege that GSK unlawfully promoted its asthma drug, Advair, and antidepressant drugs, Paxil and Wellbutrin.

EPA announces new rules governing existing power plants

OLYMPIA—Attorney General Bob Ferguson applauded new rules announced by Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy today setting strong emission limits on existing fossil-fuel power plants to reduce pollution in the U.S.

“Existing fossil-fuel power plants are the single largest source of climate change pollution,” said Ferguson. “These new federal rules will help limit pollution to protect the environment and improve the health of our communities.”