SEATTLE – The Washington State Attorney General’s Office today filed expert testimony with the state Utilities and Transportation Commission that gives consent to a proposed merger of Verizon Communications and MCI – but only if conditions are placed on the companies to help ensure consumers are not adversely affected.

“Verizon announced last winter that it is purchasing MCI, one of its primary competitors, and the state needs to ensure that Washington residents are not harmed by the merger,” Public Counsel Section Chief Simon ffitch said.

OLYMPIA – Consistent with his support for a federal reporter shield law, Attorney General Rob McKenna plans to request a state reporter shield measure in the 2006 legislative session.

“I believe that the reporter's privilege is important to maintaining an open and accountable government and society,'' McKenna said. “In their work to uncover wrong-doing and to cover tough stories, reporters must often rely on the responsible use of confidential sources. Those sources risk losing their jobs or putting their families at risk if their identity is revealed.”

OLYMPIA - A bipartisan group of legislators will sponsor Attorney General Rob McKenna's request legislation to create a reporter shield law in Washington this session.

Sen. Adam Kline, a Seattle Democrat and Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Sen. Stephen Johnson, R-Kent, the ranking Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee, will co-sponsor the bill with Sen. Karen Keiser, D-Kent, and Sen. Dave Schmidt, R-Mill Creek.

OLYMPIA – Attorney General Rob McKenna today asked the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to assist Washington veterans whose information was stolen in agency’s recently reported data security breach.

In a letter sent to Veterans Affairs Secretary James Nicholson, McKenna asked the agency to provide Washington veterans with the documentation victims need to request a credit report security freeze to protect themselves from identity theft. He also asked for details about how many Washington veterans were among those whose information was potentially compromised.

SEATTLE – The Washington State Attorney General’s Office filed a court petition to prevent a New Jersey-based traveling salesman from promoting products – including a machine he claims can make a car engine run on pickle juice or cola.

The petition filed Feb. 10 in Spokane Superior Court accuses Dennis Lee of violating a 2002 court order when he made a presentation last week at the Seattle Public Library.

Multi-state settlement benefits five Washington businesses that rented “Matrix” box with the unmet promise of lower phone and Internet bills

SEATTLE – Five small businesses in Washington state that lost phone and Internet services when their telecommunications provider, NorVergence, Inc., went bankrupt in 2004 will not have to pay the full amount due on their rental contracts, the Washington State Attorney General’s Office announced today.

Former Insurance Agent Agrees to Settle Accusations of High-Pressure Sales and Deceptive Marketing

SEATTLE – Attorney General Rob McKenna today announced a settlement with a former insurance agent accused of deceptively marketing in-home care services to senior citizens.

OLYMPIA – Attorney General Rob McKenna today announced the promotion of Assistant Attorney General Paige Dietrich to division chief for the Labor and
Personnel Division of the Office of the Attorney General.

OLYMPIA -- Attorney General Christine Gregoire announced today that Rite Aid has entered into an agreement with 20 states, including Washington, to help reduce the sale of tobacco to minors.

Rite Aid, the latest national retailer to reach such an agreement with state attorneys general, will adopt procedures to prevent tobacco sales to underage youth in its more than 3,000 stores across the country, including 134 stores in Washington.

Judge’s order comes in response to Washington’s first case under the federal anti-spam law

SEATTLE – A California marketing firm today was ordered to pay $3 million in civil penalties and $375,000 restitution to the Seattle School District for sending junk e-mails. Attorney General Rob McKenna today announced the U.S. District Court order against AvTech Direct, which came as a result of Washington’s first lawsuit under the federal anti-spam act.