OLYMPIA -- Attorney General Christine Gregoire has appointed Simon ffitch as the new chief of the Public Counsel Section. The section represents the state's telecommunications, gas, and energy customers before the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC), as well as the courts, the Legislature and other bodies.

SEATTLE -- Attorney General Christine Gregoire today filed a lawsuit against Tri-Star Marketing of Everett for illegally sending junk faxes across the country.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Seattle, names Tri-Star Marketing and its president and chief executive officer Dary G. Riedlinger. The lawsuit alleges the company faxed unsolicited advertisements in violation of the state’s Consumer Protection Act and the federal Telecommunications Act.

SEATTLE -- A California company has been sued by the Washington State Attorney General’s Office for sending unsolicited faxes advertising herbal Viagra and get-rich schemes to government offices, in violation of federal and state laws.

"This company wasn't very smart," said Attorney General Christine Gregoire. "Even after we warned them to stop, my office continued to receive dozens of these faxes."

OLYMPIA -- Attorney General Christine Gregoire today announced the appointment of Assistant Attorney General Mary E. Fairhurst as the next chief of the office's Revenue Division.

The division provides legal services to the Washington Department of Revenue, which administers and collects the state's major excise taxes. The Revenue Division also administers Washington's unclaimed-property law and addresses legal issues related to the administration of the state property-tax system.

SEATTLE -- The Attorney General filed a lawsuit against a Seattle athletic club for allegedly failing to provide services promised in their advertisements including free trial memberships, child care, personal trainers, and special services for the elderly.

“Consumers were promised anything to overcome their objections to joining this club,” said Attorney General Christine Gregoire. “If child care was a problem, it was available. If the facility was too small, an expansion was planned.”

SEATTLE -- The Attorney General and the Region 18 United States Trustee announced that Federated Department Stores, Inc., owners of The Bon Marche, have agreed to pay approximately $7.5 million as part of a multi-state settlement for improper debt collection practices.

Attorney General Christine Gregoire and state and federal recovery agencies are warning flood-stricken Wash ington residents not to fall victim to flood-related scams.

"Once the waters recede, scam artists often descend into a flood area," said Gregoire. "They take advantage of people with innocent-sounding offers of help."

VANCOUVER -- Following an extensive investigation, State Attorney General Christine Gregoire today filed felony criminal charges against 10 individuals and a corporation for allegedly committing perjury and falsifying documents in connection with illegally obtaining state electrical licenses.

All 10 defendants are associated with Farwest Electric, Inc., a Vancouver-area electrical contractor.

"Our investigation indicates Farwest officials falsely reported the amount and type of work hours in order to obtain electricians' licenses for unqualified workers," Gregoire said.

On April 17, 1996 the Washington State Attorney General's Office filed a Consumer Protection lawsuit against two Washington optometrists, Leonard and David Vainio and American Eyecare of Bellevue, Inc.

SEATTLE -- One of the never ending contests to win a brand-new "black" truck displayed in malls, fairs, and recreational shows, came to an end yesterday with a lawsuit filed by the Attorney General's Office.

The Attorney General's lawsuit alleges that Evergreen Resorts, a Tukwila company which markets travel and camping clubs and sells lists of potential customers to other marketers, deceived consumers by displaying a truck it never intended to give away.