OLYMPIA…Washington State Senior Counsel Andy Fitz will appear tomorrow before the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia as lead counsel for several jurisdictions urging the court to force a federal regulatory agency to move forward in the licensing process, issue a decision within 14 months and break the logjam preventing completion of a national repository for America’s high-level treated nuclear waste.

NASCAR Driver and NW Native Kasey Kahne featured in new PSA on first annual “Stop the Texts Day”
 
SEATTLE – A shocking number of young drivers – who are already more accident-prone than older drivers –“text while driving.” As president of the National Association of Attorneys General, Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna is helping sound the alarm about the dangerous practice.

OLYMPIA – Richard (Rick) Weber and Tienney Milnor will join the Attorney General’s Office to investigate and prosecute workers compensation fraud for the Department of Labor and Industries’ Fraud Investigations Program (L&I). Weber started today. Milnor joins him May 16.

“Having dedicated, experienced attorneys prosecuting cases of fraud is key to maintaining a record of success,” said Doric Olson, manager for the L&I Fraud Investigations Program. “My team looks forward to working with Rick and Tienney as we continue our fraud-fighting efforts.”

Arrest warrant issued for former medical equipment supplier believed to have left the country

OLYMPIA — A Thurston County Superior Court Judge Tuesday issued an arrest warrant for the owner of medical supply company accused of Medicaid fraud. The warrant was requested so that the defendant can be arrested should he return to the United States.

State Attorney General warns borrowers to avoid mortgage-related scams

VANCOUVER – “I just started to accept that I was going to lose the house I raised my kids in – that I thought I’d spend my final years in,” Vancouver’s Jim Fleming explains.

OLYMPIA — An ophthalmologist today pled guilty to stealing more than $51,000 from state and federal health care programs. In July, state prosecutors charged Dr. Behrouz Pirouzkar with three counts of First Degree Attempted Identity Theft and two counts of Medicaid False Statement.

“This was a particularly brazen case of fraud and we’re happy to see justice done today,” said Assistant Attorney General Carrie Bashaw of the Washington State Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU).

State Attorney General warns borrowers to avoid mortgage-related scams

KENNEWICK – In 2008, Burbank mom Aileen Eriksen (photo) began receiving postcards from businesses offering to help – for a fee – save her home from foreclosure. Eriksen figures they must have combed through public records showing which homes are in foreclosure.

Settlement provides direct relief and new protections for Washington consumers

SEATTLE – The record $25 billion dollar national mortgage servicing settlement over alleged widespread mortgage fraud, negotiated by Attorney General Rob McKenna along with 48 state attorneys general and the federal government, is now finalized by court order.

McKenna, Martha Coakley announce ongoing effort to stop modern day slavery
 
SEATTLE – Standing today with two survivors of modern day slavery, the attorneys general of Washington state and Massachusetts announced that the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) will continue the fight against traffickers after McKenna steps down as the organization’s president.

Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna will host 18 prosecutors from struggling Mexico states

SEATTLE – In a continuing, bi-national effort to strengthen the legal systems in both the United States and Mexico, Attorney General Rob McKenna will host eighteen prosecutors from six Mexico states participating in a four-day, cross-jurisdictional law enforcement training to be held in Seattle this weekend.