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Washington State

Office of the Attorney General

Attorney General

Nick Brown

AG's Office Files Shellfish Appeal to the U. S. Supreme Court

December 23, 1998 - The Attorney General's Office has filed a petition with the U. S. Supreme Court appealing a Ninth Circuit ruling that awarded shellfish harvesting rights to Washington Indian Tribes.

The state petition questions whether the tribes have rights to an allocation of 50 percent of deepwater shellfish, such as crabs, sea urchins, and geoducks, since those shellfish were rarely used by Indians at treaty time. The state's petition also focuses on the issue of whether tribes can harvest shellfish from staked and cultivated beds as the treaty language says they cannot.

AG's office opposes Avista Corp. rate hike request; recommends decrease

SEATTLE - May 5, 2000 - The state Attorney General's office today filed papers formally opposing a rate increase for Avista Corp. and recommending instead that the utility's rates be decreased.

In papers filed with the Washington State Utilities and Transportation Commission, the Attorney General's office contends that the requested increase would produce an excessive profit margin and would force Washington state consumers to pay for company restructuring, a name change and expansion.

Shellfish Case Will Not Be Heard by U. S. Supreme Court

OLYMPIA -April 5, 1999 - State Attorney General Christine Gregoire said she is disappointed with today’s refusal by the U. S. Supreme Court to hear arguments in a case that awarded shellfish harvesting rights to Washington Indian Tribes.

"State agencies, private landowners and shellfish growers were looking to the Court to clarify lower court rulings on treaty rights," Gregoire said. "There are several questions unanswered and we are disappointed the Court declined to review these issues."

AG Reaches Settlement with Avista Utilities to Lower Rate Increase

Olympia - February 20, 2002 - In a settlement with the state filed today, Avista Utilities has agreed to cut in half its proposed interim rate increase and contribute $50,000 to a fund providing emergency energy assistance to consumers, Attorney General Christine Gregoire announced.

“While no one likes to see rate increases, this agreement protects customers from a far more drastic hike,” the Attorney General said. “At the same time, it provides much-needed assistance for those consumers least able to absorb these higher costs into the family budget.”

Gregoire, FTC Announce Online Auction Fraud Sweep

Washington, D.C. - April 30, 2003 - Attorney General Christine Gregoire and Federal Trade Commission consumer protection chief Howard Beales today announced a nationwide enforcement sweep targeting fraudulent online auction sellers.

In the sweep, 27 states announced the filing or settling of about 65 cases, and the FTC announced the filing of four cases of its own.

In most cases, Beales and Gregoire said, victims complained they received merchandise that wasn't of advertised quality or they never received the merchandise they paid for.

AG'S AGREEMENT WITH SHELL AND TEXACO AIMED TO KEEP NORTHWEST GASOLINE PRICES COMPETITIVE


Olympia- December 19, 1997 - The State of Washington today joined three other states and the Federal Trade Commission in signing consent decrees aimed at keeping gasoline prices competitive.

The agreement, with Shell Oil Company and Texaco, Inc., is in response to a proposal by the two companies to form a joint venture for their refining and marketing operations in the western United States.

ARCO Agrees to Take Steps to Reduce Tobacco Sales to Minors

OLYMPIA - Washington and four other western states have reached an agreement with the operator of ARCO gas stations that is intended to reduce the amount of tobacco products sold to minors at those stations, Attorney General Christine Gregoire announced.

The agreement, expected to be filed Wednesday in Thurston County Superior Court, calls for the implementation of new employee hiring and training policies to prevent persons under legal age from purchasing tobacco products at ARCO stations and convenience stores.

States, FTC settle with BP Amoco and ARCO

SEATTLE - April 13, 2000 - Washington state, Oregon, California and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) today filed settlement papers that clear the way for the merger of BP Amoco and ARCO.

The states and the FTC challenged the proposed merger of the two oil giants, alleging that it could have led to higher crude oil prices or tightened supplies for refiners in the western states by reducing the number of suppliers of Alaskan crude oil. The states’ concern was that this could lead to higher consumer prices for gasoline.

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