Olympia, WA – Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna, Assistant Attorney General Dave Huey, and Chuck Cross, Director of Consumer Services for the Department of Financial Institutions, will be available by phone from Los Angeles on Monday to brief reporters on a multi-state settlement with Ameriquest. The briefing will provide background on the case, information about the terms of the settlement, and a description of how Washington consumers are affected.

OLYMPIA – Attorney General Rob McKenna today announced formal adoption of a model rule on public disclosure. 

The anticipated effect of the rule is to streamline compliance, standardize best practices and reduce litigation by establishing a culture of compliance among agencies and a culture of cooperation among requestors.

SEATTLE – Attorney General Rob McKenna today announced the hiring of a new computer forensics investigator to help fight high-tech fraud schemes including identity theft.

Aaron Munn will join the Consumer Protection Division in Seattle starting Sept. 26. Munn has worked for the Attorney General’s Office as an information technology specialist for the past five years.

SEATTLE – Consumers who purchased additional tire warranties within the past two years from a Firestone Tire & Service Center in Washington may be eligible for a refund. Attorney General Rob McKenna today announced a settlement with Firestone Tire & Service Centers, resolving allegations that the company sold road hazard warranties with its tires without informing consumers that the warranties were optional.

SEATTLE - A $1.52 billion multi-state settlement with Enron became official today when attorneys on both sides signed the agreement. Attorney General Rob McKenna first announced the settlement last month. It resolves some of the claims of market manipulation and price gouging stemming from the energy shortage of 2000-2001.

The states of Washington, California and Oregon, as well as some California utilities and other organizations, are parties to the settlement. The agreement must be approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the Enron bankruptcy court.

SEATTLE – Attorney General Rob McKenna today announced a settlement with Eagle Healthcare, resolving allegations that the company failed to provide timely refunds to former residents and families of deceased patients. The Bothell-based company operates long-term care facilities throughout Washington.

“This agreement serves as a reminder that state law requires long-term care facilities to promptly refund deposits and advance payments when a resident is discharged or passes away,” McKenna said.

SEATTLE – Attorney General Rob McKenna today announced that up to $14.9 million is available to fund programs that educate the public about drug marketing techniques. The grant money is part of a multi-state settlement with the makers of Neurontin, a prescription epilepsy drug.

OLYMPIA – After several weeks of intensive review, Attorney General Rob McKenna today announced his draft model rules for public disclosure are now available for public comment.

SEATTLE -- Billing complaints for on-line advertising that was never ordered have flooded the Seattle Consumer Resource Center (CRC) of the Washington Attorney General’s office in the last two weeks.

Attorney General Rob McKenna is cautioning consumers about receiving bills for on-line advertising that they may not have affirmatively ordered. Complainants said they received a bill for $399 from a business they had never heard of, for a service they had never purchased. As of Feb 14th, the CRC had received nearly 50 complaints.

SEATTLE -- Millions of dollars are still available to consumers who used the cancer drug Taxol or its generic equivalent, paclitaxel from January 1, 1999 through February 28, 2003.

While $12.5 million was awarded nationally to consumers who paid too much for the drug, only a handful have filed claims to get their money. In Washington, the state Attorney General's Office reports 125 people have filed claims since March, 2003. There are an estimated 3,000 consumers here eligible to receive money.