Promise of easy money and a free lunch proved costly for Washington consumers

SEATTLE – All they wanted was to start an online business. But many Washington residents who agreed to pay thousands of dollars to a company called StoresOnline claim they were suckered.

More than 58 million acres of forest land protected from logging, development

OLYMPIA— State officials are celebrating a court victory that walls off millions of acres of public lands from new development. On Wednesday the 9th Circuit Court ruled in favor of a lower court’s decision to turn back a 2005 effort to open up some federal lands to new road construction and the harvest of timber.

Company agrees to Attorney General’s restrictions on its collection practices and to reform its consumer contracts

SEATTLE – Seven months after the Washington Attorney General’s Office sued Rent-a-Center and accused the national lease-to-own chain of crossing the line with its collection tactics – including cussing at customers, pounding on doors, peering in windows and threatening arrest – the company agreed to settle.

Attorney general announces nearly 1,000 Washington residents eligible for relief payments

SEATTLE – Nearly 1,000 Washington residents who lost their homes to foreclosure are a step closer to receiving some money to ease their pain, Attorney General Rob McKenna announced today.

SEATTLE – A New York-based organization that offers face-to-face charitable solicitors for hire entered into an agreement with the Washington Attorney General’s Office concerning its business practices.

Satellite company stacked up complaints about sales practices

OLYMPIA – Attorneys general in 46 states served up some relief for DISH Network customers today. The satellite TV provider will pay nearly $6 million to settle allegations that the company and its third-party retailers engaged in deceptive and unfair sales practices.

Firms operating in Washington state in government crosshairs for taking advantage of homeowners facing foreclosure

SEATTLE – In the aftermath of the mortgage industry shakedown, a new type of bottom-feeder is chomping at homeowners struggling to keep up with their loan payments. Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna announced today that his office joined the Federal Trade Commission and other states in a nationwide crackdown on foreclosure rescuers and loan modification businesses that charge hefty upfront fees and often provide no help.

Merck, Schering-Plough agree to pay $5.4 million to resolve investigation by state attorneys general

SEATTLE – Marketers of the cholesterol-lowing drug Vytorin will pay $5.4 million to resolve an investigation by attorneys general into the companies’ delayed release of negative study results, Attorney General Rob McKenna announced today.

SEATAC – The Washington Attorney General’s Office will hold a press conference at SeaTac Airport on Wednesday, July 15, at 12:30 p.m. to announce five new cases concerning loan modification and foreclosure rescue businesses that have solicited Washington homeowners, as well as additional initiatives that are part of a nationwide federal/state enforcement initiative.

Attorney General McKenna says today’s settlement will offer mortgage relief to nearly 10,000 Washingtonians, helping themavoid foreclosure

SEATTLE--Attorney General Rob McKenna Monday announced a landmark settlement brokered by  Washington  and other states requiring sub-prime lender Countrywide Financial Corp. to provide loan modifications for as many as 395,000 borrowers nationwide. As a result, nearly 10,000 Washington homeowners will receive about $200 million in payment relief.