OLYMPIA -- In a Washington state case argued by the Attorney General’s Office, the U.S. Supreme Court this week issued a unanimous opinion that will protect police officers from false-arrest allegations if they misstate the reason why a suspect is being arrested.

Olympia -2/28/01- Governor Gary Locke and Attorney General Christine Gregoire today announced the formation of a Risk Management Task Force to address an increase in state tort lawsuits and payouts.

In the last ten years there has been an 80 percent increase in tort lawsuits against the state and payouts, which for five years averaged about $22 million, soared to more than $65 million in 2000.

The group will assess the state's risk management programs and look for ways to reduce or mitigate risk.

Pasco -March 1, 2000- Washington Attorney General Christine Gregoire today filed a lawsuit against 13 promoters of Renewal Celebration, a large-scale illegal pyramid scheme operating out of the Tri-Cities.

The lawsuit stems from a Renewal Celebration meeting in Kennewick last September. Plain clothes police officers estimate as many as 1,800 people attended and as much as $2.1 million was put in circulation during the evening. The officers broke up the meeting and with court authorization seized various records and about $50,000.

OLYMPIA—Attorney General Rob McKenna today released the following statement regarding a U.S. District Court judge’s decision to strike down Washington’s voter-approved “top two” primary as unconstitutional:

“We strongly believe the ‘top two’ primary, adopted by Washington voters last fall, meets the constitutional standards set by the U.S. Supreme Court. The Attorney General’s Office is reviewing today’s ruling and we plan to appeal the case to the 9th Circuit.”

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SEATTLE - September 30, 1999 - Attorney General Christine Gregoire today announced Mazda Motor of America , Inc. will pay just over $5.2 million to Washington, 24 other states and the Federal Trade Commission for violating a 1996 consent decree which required the auto dealer to change the way it advertises auto leases.

"Mazda did make some changes, however, it continued to highlight low monthly payments while obscuring the total lease cost, "Gregoire said. "Using small size type and obscuring the cost amidst advertising clutter misleads consumers," she added.

OLYMPIA -- Attorney General Christine Gregoire has issued this statement in response to today's 7-2 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court in the Locke v. Davey case.

February 13, 1996 - The Attorney General's Office today warned consumers to avoid illegal pyramid schemes including those involving long distance phone cards.

Consumers from Vancouver to Tacoma already have been lured with promises of 1000 percent return on an initial investment of about $100. The scheme is also expected to hit the Seattle area and Eastern Washington. About 10 consumers have filed formal complaints, although many more individuals have contacted the Attorney General's Office to inquire about the scam.

Olympia - August 10, 1999 - A Washington-based employment agency that hired people to replace striking Kaiser Aluminum workers in Spokane violated state law when it hired people outside Washington, according to the Attorney General’s Office.

Seattle - September 16,1999 - Attorney General Christine Gregoire has appointed Tina Kondo as the new chief of the Antitrust Division. The division is responsible for enforcing state and federal antitrust laws and investigating complaints about potential anti-competitive activity.

"The antitrust division is responsible for making sure the public’s interest is represented in today’s rapidly evolving business environment," said Gregoire. "Now, more than ever, consumers need the benefit of a market which is competitive and free of collusion."

OLYMPIA -- Pharmaceutical manufacturer Schering Plough will reimburse Washington's Medicaid program $3.57 million in a nationwide settlement of allegations the drug maker failed to offer state Medicaid programs its best price for the popular antihistamine drug Claritin.

Under the settlement, Schering will reimburse overcharges totaling $140.7 million to Medicaid programs in 49 states and the District of Columbia. The states' settlement was reached in conjunction with a federal settlement also filed today in U.S. District Court in Philadelphia.