OLYMPIA -- Two major pharmaceutical companies will reimburse the state of Washington $5.2 million to settle claims they illegally manipulated prescription-drug price information in order to avoid paying rebates to the state Medicaid program, Attorney General Christine Gregoire announced today.

Olympia -- The judge exercised his option to balance important interests in setting the appeal bond. As we suggested to the court, the new appeal bond will avoid adverse impact on the states and still be sufficient to protect the interests of Illinois consumers.

The Judge accepted an appeal bond of $6.8 billion which includes a $6 billion note and $800 million cash to be paid in $200 million quarterly payments beginning in September 2003.

Seattle -June 19, 2000- Robin Leach, host of "Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous," has settled a lawsuit with Washington and 11 other states over his role as spokesperson for a travel service whose "dream vacations" proved to be nightmares for some consumers.

"Next time Robin Leach puts his name behind a vacation package, promising caviar wishes and champagne dreams, he’d better know those promises are true," said Washington Attorney General Christine Gregoire.

Olympia - May 12, 2000 - Three Intercity Transit employees and its board today agreed to settle for $60,000, a lawsuit that alleged they violated state laws.

The lawsuit alleged the defendants, collectively and individually, used the facilities of Intercity Transit – including public funds, employee labor, transit facilities and vendor/consultant contracts to promote a March 9, 1999 sales-tax ballot measure. The measure would have increased Thurston County’s sales tax to fund Intercity Transit operations and offset budget deficits.

Olympia- March 22, 2000 - Governor Gary Locke and Attorney General Christine Gregoire today asked President Clinton to direct the Coast Guard to adopt new federal regulations protecting Puget Sound from oil spills.

The request came after the U.S. Supreme Court on March 6 struck down important provisions of Washington’s regulations on oil tankers that use Puget Sound and other state waters. The protections were designed to prevent environmental disasters such as the Exxon Valdez oil spill.

OLYMPIA - March 6, 2000 - Attorney General Christine Gregoire is calling for the Coast Guard to take action in the wake of today’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling that invalidates much of the state’s oil spill prevention law.

Olympia Ð November 28, 2000 - The State of Washington today filed suit against six foreign insurance companies that have refused to reimburse the state for their share of the cost of settling the Linda David case.

The suit claims the companies breached a contract by refusing to pay the state $3.8 million in costs arising from the David settlement last August. The total settlement cost was $8.8 million.

Olympia -March 17, 2000- The Attorney General’s Office today filed a formal notice appealing the March 14 ruling that declared Initiative 695 unconstitutional.

The notice seeks to bypass the Washington Court of Appeals and have the Washington Supreme Court review the decision directly. Oral arguments before the Supreme Court are now expected at the end of June.

Olympia - February 9, 2000 - the Attorney General's Office today filed the state's response in five of the seven King County Superior Court cases that have raised constitutional or other legal challenges to Initiative 695.

The AG's Office, which is defending the initiative on behalf of the state, filed a cross-motion for summary judgment and a memorandum in opposition to the plaintiffs' motions for summary judgment. Oral argument on the motions and cross motions is scheduled March 6 before King County Superior Court Judge Robert Alsdorf.

SPOKANE - May 23, 2001 - The Attorney General's Office today asked a court to order the HomeBase home-improvement stores in Washington to close their doors and halt further going-out-of-business sales in Washington after May 29.

In a lawsuit filed in Spokane County Superior Court, the state alleges the chain violated the state's Going Out of Business Sales Act, which, among other things, limits the length of going-out-of business sales to 60 days.