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Washington State

Office of the Attorney General

Attorney General

Nick Brown

Public Counsel and Low-Income Advocates Seek to Trim PSE Rate Hike

SEATTLE -- The Attorney General's Public Counsel section today challenged rate increases proposed by Puget Sound Energy (PSE) that would add about $5 to a typical residential customer's monthly electrical bill, and about $4.35 to a gas bill.

Papers opposing the proposed rate increases were filed today with the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC). PSE's request would generate an additional $81.6 million from electric customers and $47 million more from gas customers.

Renton Dentist Sentenced in Medicaid False Billing Case

SEATTLE -- A Renton dentist today was sentenced to serve six months on home detention and ordered to pay $175,000 in restitution to the state after pleading guilty in December to theft and fraud charges filed after he billed the state Medicaid program for services he did not provide.

The sentence was handed down to Dr. Hoi Lee by King County Superior Court Judge Michael Hayden.

AG Seeks Supreme Court Review of Wildlife Management Initiative

OLYMPIA -- The Washington State Attorney General's Office today asked the state Supreme Court to review a recent lower court decision that ruled Initiative 655 (I-655) unconstitutional.

The initiative, approved by voters in 1996, makes it unlawful to hunt certain game animals with the aid of bait or dogs. In June, a Jefferson County District Court judge ruled that I-655 violates the Washington State Constitution by dealing with more than one subject. As a result of that ruling, charges against several defendants accused of unlawfully hunting black bear with bait were dismissed.

St. John Pharmacist Charged in Medicaid Fraud Case

COLFAX -- The former operator of the St. John Pharmacy, James Craig Hudkins, was charged today with nine counts of first-degree theft for allegedly billing the state Medicaid program in 2002 and 2003 for prescription medications he did not provide to patients.

The Attorney General's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU) filed the charges in Whitman County Superior Court. Each count, which is a Class B felony carrying a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison and/or a $20,000 fine, represents a month of fraudulent billings covering November 2002 and January-August 2003.

AG McKenna Drives Home SUV Safety Message

SEATTLE -- Introducing Esuvee-- a new national mascot to promote Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) safety, particularly among young adult drivers. Washington joins 49 other states and three jurisdictions in announcing Esuvee's drive to educate consumers on SUV safety messages.

"The goal of this educational campaign is to help curtail the number of SUV rollover accidents and save lives," Attorney General Rob McKenna says. "We are particularly targeting male drivers between the ages of 21-39, who are most vulnerable to rollovers."

McKenna intervenes to defend people’s primary initiative

OLYMPIA – Attorney General Rob McKenna filed a motion in U.S. District court today to intervene in the legal challenge against Initiative 872 on behalf of the Attorney General and the Secretary of State.

Approved by roughly 60 percent of Washington’s voters, I-872 created a “top two” primary where the top two candidates in the primary election advance to the general election regardless of party affiliation and voters are allowed to vote across party lines on their primary ballots.

Claims Period Opens For Firm That Pays Web Surfers

SEATTLE - Oct. 24, 2002 - A company that promised consumers they could make money viewing advertising over the Internet will now use the Internet to offer restitution to the same consumers.

In a settlement with the Attorney General's High Tech Unit, Seattle-based 180 Solutions Inc., will be required to spread the word of its consumer restitution program via e-mail, on web sites and through Internet newsgroups its former customers are likely to visit.