MEDIA ADVISORY: States to Announce Settlement with Ameriquest Monday, Jan. 23

Olympia, WA – Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna, Assistant Attorney General Dave Huey, and Chuck Cross, Director of Consumer Services for the Department of Financial Institutions, will be available by phone from Los Angeles on Monday to brief reporters on a multi-state settlement with Ameriquest. The briefing will provide background on the case, information about the terms of the settlement, and a description of how Washington consumers are affected.

NOTE:   Details of the settlement will not be revealed until Monday’s press conference.

WHEN:  Monday, January 23, 2006

                  In-person press conference at 10 a.m. PST in Los Angeles
                  California Department of Justice
                  300 South Spring Street – North Tower, 5th Floor Press Room

                  National media briefing conference call at 11:15 a.m. PST
                  Call-in number: 888-982-7409
                  Enter Passcode: 4356635 
 
WHO:     Bill Lockyer, California Attorney General (Leader)
                  Rob McKenna, Washington Attorney General
                  David Huey, Washington Assistant Attorney General
                  Chuck Cross, Washington Department of Financial Institutions
                  Tom Miller, Iowa Attorney General
                  Charles Foti, Louisiana Attorney General
                  Terry Goddard, Arizona Attorney General
                  Peg Lautenschlager, Wisconsin Attorney General
                  Alan Weinger, California Department of Corporations
                  Barbara Kent, New York State Department of Banking

CONTACTS:
Kristin Alexander, Attorney General’s Office Public Affairs, 206-464-6432
Scott Kinney, Director of Communications, DFI, 360-902-0517