DIY legal forms aren’t a substitute for an attorney

SEATTLE – If you’ve watched cable TV, you’ve likely seen celebrity attorney Robert Shapiro tout his company, LegalZoom, as a way to start businesses, patent inventions and create wills. “We put the law on your side,” he says.

But the Washington Attorney General’s Office wants to be sure consumers aren’t misled by LegalZoom’s cost-saving claims.

SEATTLE – A Vancouver man who sells business cards and graphic design services over the Internet will refund customers who never received their orders under an agreement reached this month with the Washington Attorney General’s Office.

Joel McDonald sells graphic design and print services on Web sites including nwcreativeservices.com, designerbizcards.com and blueorbphoto.com.

State Attorney General’s Office partners with Drug Enforcement Administration to promote prescription drug safety

McKenna: “If the state attorneys general don’t defend their states' rights against unconstitutional federal encroachment, who will?”

OLYMPIA— The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) made its second argument before a US District Court judge today, continuing efforts to fend off constitutional challenges to provisions of the nation’s new health care law.

OLYMPIA — The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) will make its second argument before a US District Court judge this week as it continues to fend off constitutional challenges to the nation’s new health care law.

On Tuesday, Sept. 14, Judge Roger Vinson of the US District Court for the Northern District of Florida in Pensacola will hear the DOJ’s motion to dismiss a multistate suit brought by Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum, Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna, 18 other states, two individuals and the National Federation of Independent Business.

Sweepstakes giant agrees to clearer warnings to consumers

SEATTLE – An Ohio-based window manufacturer has settled allegations over erroneous energy-savings claims. In a settlement with the Washington State Attorney General’s Office, Great Lakes Window, Inc. agrees not to make false or unsubstantiated representations about the energy efficiency of their window products.

Washington state receives nearly $1.2 million from makers of Topamax

OLYMPIA – Attorney General Rob McKenna announced today that Washington state has joined with other states in reaching an agreement with the manufacturer of a drug to treat epilepsy and migraines.

By Rob McKenna, Special to The Seattle Times 

State Foreclosure Prevention Working Group report urges additional efforts to help homeowners

OLYMPIA – Following concerted efforts to prevent unnecessary foreclosures, the Washington Attorney General’s Office and a group of other state attorneys general and banking regulators say they’ve seen improvements in programs designed to help homeowners. But they’re concerned that foreclosures continue to outpace loan modifications, and note that most modifications increase the loan balance.