SEATTLE – Thousands of consumers from Washington and 49 other states who used the antidepressant drug Remeron may be entitled to reimbursements from drug maker Organon USA Inc. and its parent company Akzo Nobel N.V., Attorney General Rob McKenna announced today.

OLYMPIA – Attorney General Rob McKenna today called the Legislature’s support of his requests to strengthen the Public Disclosure Act, curb methamphetamine production and improve consumer protection “three big wins for the citizens of Washington.”

The Public Disclosure Act bill passed into law last week was McKenna’s first proposal to the Legislature. The new law makes it easier for citizens to obtain public records by requiring state and local agencies to improve access to records, and increasing penalties for agencies that do not comply with the law.

Multi-State Agreement With Major Retailers Covers 209 Washington Stores

OLYMPIA – Attorney General Rob McKenna today announced an agreement with 7-Eleven, Inc. under which the nation’s largest seller of tobacco products will implement new procedures to reduce such sales to minors at its 209 Washington stores as well as at 4,707 outlets in 33 other states and Washington D.C.

SEATTLE – While citizens are encouraged to consider giving generously to tsunami-relief efforts, the Attorney General’s Office today advised doing some research to make sure the relief money is going to organizations that will use the donations effectively.

The best advice is to give to well-established organizations with proven track records of assisting in foreign countries following major disasters.

SEATTLE – Attorney General Rob McKenna and Labor &Industries Acting Director Judy Schurke warned consumers today to be on the lookout for The Washington Labor Law Poster Service that is sending out direct mail notices threatening businesses with $7,000 fines and state investigations for not having labor law posters displayed on the premises.

OLYMPIA – Attorney General Rob McKenna and other leaders in Washington’s legal community will hold a media availability on Friday, July 22, 2005, to comment on the nomination and confirmation process of Judge John Roberts, Jr. for the vacancy on the U.S. Supreme Court, and how his nomination could impact Washington state.

SEATTLE – Attorney General Rob McKenna today announced a multi-state agreement with Western Union Financial Services in which the company will increase its efforts to warn consumers about wire transfer scams.

The agreement came about in response to concerns about the use of the company’s wire transfer services by fraudulent telemarketers. Under the agreement, Western Union will warn and help educate consumers about telemarketing fraud when they use the company’s services, and will pay nearly $8.2 million toward a national consumer awareness program.

SEATTLE – Attorney General Rob McKenna today announced a settlement with Thesaurus Fine Arts, an Asian antiquities dealer that sold merchandise over eBay and in a downtown Seattle store. The proposed order, which does not contain an admission or finding of wrongdoing, would prohibit Thesaurus from selling Chinese antiques in Washington or misrepresenting the age of any Chinese antiquity.

OLYMPIA – Attorney General Rob McKenna today announced two Supreme Court victories for the Attorney General’s Office and the citizens of Washington state.

OLYMPIA -- The National Association of Attorneys General has given its annual award for excellence in legal brief writing to the Washington State Attorney General’s Office.

This year’s award went to the team working on the Locke v. Davey case. Team members include Attorney General Christine Gregoire, Solicitor General Narda Pierce, Senior Assistant Attorney General Bill Collins and Assistant Attorney General Michael Shinn.