Attorney General Bob Ferguson today announced that a sham veterans’ charity is legally required to pay $95,000 to Washington state. Healing Heroes Network Inc. deceived donors into believing most of their donations would help provide medical care for wounded veterans. In fact, it spent less than one percent of individuals’ donations on veterans’ medical care. For example, in 2016, the charity received $2.7 million in donations nationwide, yet spent only $1,128 to fund veterans’ medical care.

TACOMA — A Pierce County Superior Court judge ordered a charity that deceptively claimed to help veterans to pay a total of nearly $1 million in restitution and financial penalties. The sham charity’s sole officer, Michael Friedmann, told consumers and donors their donations would benefit veterans and their families when none of the money raised did.

OLYMPIA — To mark the upcoming Veterans Day holiday, Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s Office of Military and Veteran Legal Assistance (OMVLA) today announced a centralized calendar of upcoming free legal aid clinics across the state. These events, which are coordinated with community partners, provide qualifying military personnel and veterans with free assistance for a range of civil legal issues. 

The Attorney General’s Office will offer a free legal clinic on Tuesday, Sept. 24, for Everett-area military service members and veterans in need of legal help with basic will preparation, driver's license restoration, small claims assistance and select family law issues.