Olympia -- Attorney General Christine Gregoire today opposed Qwest's request to the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC) to deregulate rates for its business customers.

In testimony filed with the WUTC, attorneys for the Public Counsel Section of the Attorney General's Office argued that deregulation would harm the company's small and medium-sized business customers because Qwest continues to dominate the local telecommunications market in Washington State.

Spokane - June 28, 2001 - Washington Attorney General Christine Gregoire today sued members of an Eastern Washington vacuum cleaner sales ring for using unfair and high-pressure sales tactics on vulnerable elderly citizens.

"These defendants preyed on vulnerable people and in some cases held them virtual hostages in their own homes," Gregoire said. "This is one of the most disturbing examples of illegal sales tactics that my office has seen."

CD Case Distribution List

SEATTLE - October 8, 1997 - In an agreement negotiated by the Attorney General's Office, Vacation Time Worldwide will reimburse consumers who purchased travel club memberships and have not received their promised vacations. The Bellevue travel club has established a $100,000 trust fund to cover the reimbursement costs.

Olympia - May 29, 2001 - The U.S. Supreme Court today decided not to review a case brought by three University of Washington Law School applicants who claimed that a former school admissions policy encouraging racial diversity discriminated against them on the basis of race.

Seattle -September 22, 2000 - US Bank has agreed in a settlement not to share their customers' personal financial information with bank affiliates or other businesses until consumers are given the opportunity to keep the information confidential, Attorney General Christine Gregoire said today.

"Consumers trust banks with their money," Gregoire said. "In exchange, banks should respect the privacy of consumers' credit cards, Social Security numbers and other personal financial information. Unfortunately, that's all too often not the case."

Seattle -August 3, 1999 - Washington State Attorney General Christine Gregoire today filed action against Ultima Systems, Inc. of Bothell for continuing to violate a 1997 consent decree and simultaneously filed a new lawsuit against a related travel marketer, Vacation Marketing Systems, Inc. of Lynnwood.

"The business name may have changed but the deception is the same," said Gregoire. "Vacation Marketing appears to have stepped right in and picked up where Ultima left off."

OLYMPIA -March 17, 2000 -A Bothell travel company will have to pay $90,000 in immediate restitution to consumers for continuing violations of an agreement to stop deceptive practices in the sale of travel club memberships in Washington and Oregon.

February 3, 1997 - SEATTLE -- The Washington Attorney General's Office today announced that Ultima Travel Inc., of Bothell and Lynnwood has set aside $100,000 to reimburse consumers who never received services or discounts promised by the club.