BBB and Attorney General’s Office warn against purchasing pricey documents

OLYMPIA…The Attorney General’s Office  and the Better Business Bureau are warning Washington residents to read the fine print before responding to letters from businesses  offering to sell them copies of records easily accessible from local government offices for a much lower price.

TUMWATER — A 39 year old Tacoma woman faces charges on five counts of theft for fraudulently collecting more than $50,000 in workers’ compensation benefits from the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I).

According to the Washington State Attorney General’s Office, Deana S. Cook filed workers’ compensation claims for injuries that occurred in 2007 and 2009. The claims were allowed and Cook received the benefits based on her contention that she was unable to work due to the injuries.

Joint release with the Washington ESGR Committee

CAMP MURRAY, WASHINGTON – The Washington Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense operational committee, announced that Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson signed a Statement of Support for the Guard and Reserve today at Camp Murray.   

OLYMPIA—The Washington State Law Enforcement Medal of Honor/Peace Officers Memorial Ceremony will be held at 1 p.m. today in Olympia. The ceremony will be webcast via TVW as well.

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Attorney General Bob Ferguson announced today Washington has joined a national settlement against the drug manufacturer Amgen, Inc., resolving allegations that Amgen violated certain state false claims acts by reporting inflated pricing data for its prescription drugs Aranesp, Enbrel, Epogen, Neulasta, Neupogen, and Sensipar. The inflated pricing data reports caused Washington and the other settling states’ Medicaid programs to overpay for those drugs.

Software company to pay $97K, restitution for misleading customers

OLYMPIA…Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s High-Tech Unit has secured a $97,000 settlement with ZookaWare, an Arizona-based software company, and its owner for engaging in unfair and deceptive practices against consumers over the last several years.

OLYMPIA…The Legislature has approved a bipartisan measure proposed by Attorney General Bob Ferguson to extend current courthouse protections to all residents accessing the courts.

OLYMPIA…Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson and the Better Business Bureau are teaming up to remind consumers that scammers never take a vacation.  Both the AGO and the BBB have seen a recent spike in “Timeshare Reseller” scams. Together both agencies have received more than 20 complaints since the start of the year.

SEATTLE – The Public Counsel Unit of the Washington Attorney General’s Office today filed expert testimony recommending modifications to a multi-year rate plan filed by Puget Sound Energy (PSE).  

In its proposal, PSE includes automatic cost escalators to calculate electricity and gas rates during life of the rate plan, based on cost increases projected by the company.

Early cancellation of phone plans results in undisclosed balloon payment