Washington State

Office of the Attorney General

Attorney General

Bob Ferguson

Seattle - March 8, 2001- A nearly two-year state effort to reform the nation's sweepstakes industry concluded today with a settlement that will require the Reader's Digest Association to pay approximately $200,000 in restitution to Washington consumers.
Olympia - March 7, 2001 - By passing SSB5528, the state Senate today took a necessary and important step to protect our children from school violence.
Seattle - March 1, 2001 - In the wake of Wednesday’s 6.8 earthquake that rattled the Puget Sound region, consumers must be particularly vigilant to protect themselves from fraudulent home repair scams and charity appeals.
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.
Olympia -2/22/01-Attorney General Christine Gregoire has sued a Blaine tobacco company for failing to make state-mandated payments that are set aside to cover possible judgments against the company in future state lawsuits.
Olympia -- For the third year in a row, the communications industry, which includes telecommunications and on-line services, accounted for the most complaints received by the Attorney General's office last year.
Seattle -February 7, 2001- Operators of a cross-border lottery scam that targeted elderly Americans have agreed to pay more than $334,000 to settle a complaint filed by the Federal Trade Commission and the attorneys general of Washington and Arizona.
Olympia - Feb. 5, 2001 - In recognition of National Consumer Protection Week (Feb. 5 -10) Washington state Attorney General Christine Gregoire today warned consumers to beware of predatory lending practices that could threaten their credit ratings and, in some extreme cases, force them from their homes.
OLYMPIA - A criminal investigative report on alleged animal cruelty and violations of the Humane Slaughter Act at a southeast Washington meatpacking plant today was forwarded to the Walla Walla County prosecuting attorney.
Olympia - Millions of pages of once-secret tobacco industry documents will have a permanent home on the Internet thanks to a grant from the American Legacy Foundation to the University of California, San Francisco.

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