Washington State

Office of the Attorney General

Attorney General

Nick Brown

MEDIA ADVISORY: McKenna to participate in “Babies on the Move” tomorrow in Kent

OLYMPIA – Attorney General Rob McKenna will join other community leaders and members of the Kent Police and Fire departments at the Pediatric Interim Care Center in Kent for their “Babies on the Move” ceremony Saturday.

The event marks the opening of the center’s new location roughly one block from their existing location.

MEDIA ADVISORY: States to Announce Settlement with Ameriquest Monday, Jan. 23

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.

McKenna Names New Forensics Investigator to Fight High-Tech Fraud

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.

Firestone Tire Centers Ordered to Reimburse Customers for Road Hazard Warranties

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.

Multi-State Settlement with Enron Signed Today

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.

Eagle Healthcare Ordered to Promptly Refund Deposits to Discharged Patients and their Families

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.

McKenna Announces Nearly $15 Million in Grants Available to Educate Consumers, Physicians about Drug Marketing

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.

AG McKenna Flags Consumers on False Billing for On-line Advertising

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.