Washington State

Office of the Attorney General

Attorney General

Nick Brown

States Settle Payment Dispute With Tobacco Company

OLYMPIA -04/05/02 - Attorney General Christine Gregoire said today Brown and Williamson Tobacco Company, the nation's third largest cigarette manufacturer, has agreed to pay 52 states and territories approximately $204 million that it withheld from payments due in January.

Washington's share will be about $4 million, which would push the April tobacco company payment to about $111 million.

Brown and Williamson disputed the validity of industry-wide figures, which form the basis for calculating payments to states under the Master Settlement Agreement.

AG Sues Online Tobacco Sellers

Olympia - Washington State today filed suit against two on-line companies for selling cigarettes to minors, according to Attorney General Christine Gregoire.

The suits allege that Cyco.net, Inc., based in New Mexico and S4L Distributing, Inc., based in Virginia, have continued selling cigarettes online to minors after being warned last fall by several states, including Washington, that minors were able to purchase products from their websites.

CONSUMER ALERT: Charity Scams Get Early Jump on Holidays

The Attorney General's Office today warned consumers throughout Washington that charity scams have gotten an early jump on the holiday giving season. Consumers in the Seattle area are currently being called by "Operation Holidays - Set the Table Food Basket Drive," which asks for donations to buy gifts for holiday baskets they claim will be distributed by Northwest Harvest and Seattle Emergency Housing.