OLYMPIA – The Washington State Attorney General’s Office (AGO) and a special assistant attorney general recovered $31 million for the State Investment Board (WSIB) in a settlement announced today related to the 2008 collapse of Lehman Brothers, Inc.—the largest corporate bankruptcy in history. Before declaring bankruptcy, Lehman Brothers was the fourth largest investment bank in the U.S.
 

 After high-profile national data breaches, Attorney General’s Office encourages consumers to safeguard data

SEATTLE — In recognition of Data Privacy Day, the Washington Attorney General’s Office (AGO) is urging businesses and individuals to take a moment to learn how to better protect information.

January 28 is Data Privacy Day, an international effort to empower people to protect their online privacy and control their “digital footprint” — information they leave behind on the Internet that is collected by companies or other entities.

SEATTLE — Consumers, keep an eye out for a post-holiday email scams carrying malicious malware disguised as a link to a helpful “change of address” form. Malware is software used to disrupt computer operation and gather sensitive information.

Washington consumers have reported receiving emails containing names and logos of legitimate companies such as Costco and Walmart, notifying the recipient that their “order has been cancelled.” Scams that employ the names and logos of trusted businesses are a favorite of con artists.

Attorney General warns to be wary of scams to follow

SEATTLE — Neiman Marcus, a luxury specialty department store, has announced a payment card data breach. The store announced some of its customers’ payment cards were fraudulently used after making purchases at its stores.

OLYMPIA—Attorney General Bob Ferguson today filed a motion to intervene in a civil lawsuit against Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation.

The suit alleges Novartis paid kickbacks to BioScrip, Inc., a pharmacy headquartered in New York, to boost sales of Novartis’ drug, Exjade. Exjade was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in late 2005 for the treatment of chronic iron overload due to blood transfusions.   

Healthcare provider will pay full restitution

OLYMPIA — A King County woman was sentenced today to a month of community service and ordered to pay full restitution after being convicted of First Degree Theft and four other felony counts of Medicaid False Statement. 

Opinion states Initiative 502 does not prevent cities and counties from banning marijuana businesses

Both leaked hundreds of gallons of fuel into Puget Sound, clean-up costs could exceed $1 million

OLYMPIA—Pierce County Superior Court Judge Jerry Costello will determine whether there is probable cause to believe a local sex offender meets the definition of a sexually violent predator (SVP) at a 1:30 p.m. hearing this Friday.

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

OLYMPIA — The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) kicks off the first week of the Legislature’s 60-day session with six hearings on bills requested by Attorney General Bob Ferguson. Ferguson and his staff will be testifying in favor of these bills throughout the week.