SPOKANE - Aug. 24, 2001 - The Washington state Attorney General's office went to court today to prevent a New Jersey man from seeking investors in phony devices that he claims provide free or low-cost power.

In papers filed in Spokane County Superior Court, state attorneys are seeking a court order that bars Dennis Lee and his company, United Community Services of America, from soliciting money, monetary investment or financial commitments from consumers at a sales presentation scheduled for Aug. 28 at a Spokane hotel.

Seattle - Legal victories scored by the Attorney General’s Office in two consumer-protection cases this week resulted in a total of $3.6 million in penalties and fees against the owner of a now-defunct computer company and an Everett-based distributor of unsolicited junk faxes, Attorney General Christine Gregoire said.

On Thursday, U.S. District Court Judge Barbara Rothstein granted summary judgment against Tri-Star Marketing of Everett and its owner, Dary G. Riedlinger. She ordered the defendants to pay nearly $2.1 million in damages, penalties and fees to the state.

Olympia - July 5, 2000- Funds in the Washington Advanced College Tuition Payment Account may be invested in private corporate stocks, the Attorney General’s Office has concluded.

A formal AGO opinion released today concludes that it is constitutionally permissible for the state Investment Board to invest the tuition money in corporate stocks because the money consists of private funds contributed by families to pay for their children’s future college tuition.

(Note: The "Tuff Customer" page has been removed.)

OLYMPIA - February 17, 2000- Attorney General Christine Gregoire today launched a statewide Internet-based educational initiative to help Washington’s teenagers become smarter consumers.

"Tuff Customer" is a scavenger hunt on the Web that allows teens to uncover answers to consumer-related questions. The questions cover topics of interest to teens, such as mail order music clubs, Internet purchasing, credit cards and buying used vehicles.

REQUEST FOR EXCLUSION FROM PCH SETTLEMENT

Use this form if you do NOT want to be included in the class action settlement involving Publishers Clearing House

****************************************************************************

I want to be excluded from the class action settlement referred to in the notice I received from Publishers Clearing House dated August 3, 1999.

Signature: ____________________________ Date:_____________________

(Please print clearly below)

BACKGROUND PAPER ON CASE INVOLVING STATE USE OF SOCIAL SECURITY PAYMENTS RECEIVED ON BEHALF OF FOSTER CHILDREN
Washington State Department of
Social and Health Services, Et Al.
v.
Guardianship Estate of Danny Keffeler,
By Wanda Pierce, Guardian,
and Other Persons Similarly Situated

SEATTLE -- More than 150,000 consumers nationwide who leased vehicles through Ford Motor Credit Co. and Ford and Lincoln Mercury dealers may be eligible for reimbursements of up to $100 through a multi-state settlement announced today by Attorney General Christine Gregoire.

Consumers in Washington and 38 other states who terminated their leases early and either purchased the car and kept it or traded in on another car were sometimes overcharged by dealers. An investigation determined the language in leasing contracts regarding early termination was often unclear.

SEATTLE -- The Attorney General’s Office is urging consumers, businesses and health care providers to be on alert and immediately report suspected price gouging or counterfeit/diluted flu vaccine by either distributors or providers.

So far, the office has received at least two reports from Grant and Pierce counties about overpriced flu vaccine and is concerned there may be more.

SEATTLE -- Two California-based companies that sold legal service plans, including estate planning, agreed today to stop doing business in Washington and to refund consumers who either failed to receive legal advice from a licensed attorney or bought products as a result of high-pressure sales.

Attorney General Christine Gregoire today entered an Assurance of Discontinuance in King County Superior Court in the case of Family First Advanced Estate Planning, Inc., and Group Legal Services, Inc.