SEATTLE - The nation's largest recorded-music distributors and compact disc retailers will pay a combined total of $143 million to settle a national price fixing case in which states alleged consumers paid too much for compact discs.

KENNEWICK - Jan. 24, 2002 - Nine people named in a lawsuit filed against organizers of a "Gifting Club" pyramid scheme in the Tri-Cities area have settled with the state and agreed to pay $56,136 in civil penalties, costs and fees.

Washington, D.C. – Attorney General Christine Gregoire told a U.S. Senate subcommittee today that recently adopted measures assisting identity theft victims in Washington should be extended to identity theft victims nationwide.

Audio message from Attorney General Christine Gregoire:
"Senatetestimony3_032002.mp3"  (245K)

SEATTLE -Thousands of Washington homeowners who were overcharged for home loans issued by Household International will share millions of dollars in one of the largest direct consumer restitution cases in U.S. history, Attorney General Christine Gregoire announced today.

In addition to restitution, the settlement requires the Illinois-based company, whose subsidiaries include

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Washington will not trade quality for speed in the clean-up of radioactive waste at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation, Attorney General Christine Gregoire told a U.S. Senate Committee today.

SPOKANE - Three members of a door-to-door vacuum sales ring that allegedly used high-pressure sales tactics on elderly consumers will be required to pay $30,000 in consumer restitution and $20,000 in attorney fees, Attorney General Christine Gregoire announced today.

In a consent decree filed in Spokane County Superior Court, the three -- Carol Weeks, Frederal Lopez and Alfred Lopez --

Olympia – Nov. 7, 2001 - Attorney General Christine Gregoire today warned consumers to be wary of websites offering products that claim to protect people from bioterror agents such as anthrax.

In recent days, state consumer protection offices around the country have observed a wave of new websites selling products such as gas masks, home-

Seattle - November 21, 2001 - Governor Gary Locke and Attorney General Christine Gregoire, along with representatives of state law enforcement and prosecutors’ organizations, announced proposed joint legislation Wednesday which would provide tough, comprehensive new tools to fight terrorism.

SEATTLE - April 29, 2002 - In the wake of its settlement with tire giant Bridgestone/Firestone Inc., the Washington Attorney General's office today announced a new initiative to educate the public about tire safety.

SEATTLE - Attorney General Christine Gregoire today accused a Houston, Texas man of violating the state's anti-spam law by deceiving Washington residents into opening e-mail that contained sales pitches for prescription medications and pornographic web sites.

In a civil lawsuit filed in King County Superior Court, Gregoire's High-Tech Unit accused Ernesto Haberli -- also known as Eduardo Warren -- of sending e-mails with deceptive subject lines and attempting to conceal his identity through the use of a phony name in the e-mail's "from" field.